Buying guide: How to select the correct hot water system

Choosing the right hot water system for your home is essential. With the wide range of brands and models available, the process of choosing the best hot water system can be quite overwhelming. The team at No Probs Plumbing and Electrical has put together this guide to help you to make the right decision, leaving you with a lower energy bill and a consistent flow of hot water in your home.

Step 1: Identify available fuel types

The first decision that you will need to make when selecting a new hot water system is the heating method, or in other words, the energy source that you would like to use for your new hot water system.

The main heating sources available to you in Perth are electricity, natural gas, solar, and heat pump. While each of these different heating methods has its benefits, it’s important to briefly outline their differences to see which one may be best for your situation.

 

Electric hot water systems

• Electric hot water systems are usually cheaper to purchase and install compared to other systems, however, due to the cost of electricity, these systems will cost significantly more to operate on an annual basis.
• An electric hot water system that runs on off-leak electricity is cheaper to run, but will also require a larger tank because the heated water needs to last all day.
• They can be installed indoors or outdoors to suit the layout of the property.

Types of electric hot water systems

• Electric Storage hot water systems

• Electric Continuous Flow hot water systems

 

Gas hot water systems

• Gas hot water systems are usually slightly more expensive to purchase compared to electric hot water systems, however, the installation is often a similar price to an electric system, depending on the individual property and where the existing services are located.
• Gas hot water systems are usually more energy efficient, you’ll also find energy efficiency ratings helpful in making your choice based on economic factors.
• Gas storage hot water systems will ensure that you have hot water even during a power outage, whereas gas continuous hot water systems will often require power to ignite and may not provide you with hot water in the event of a power outage.
• They are usually installed outdoors.

Types of gas hot water systems

• Gas Storage hot water systems
• Gas Continuous Flow hot water systems

 

Heat pump hot water systems

• Heat Pump hot water systems are more expensive to purchase and install compared to gas or standard electric hot water systems.
• They are extremely efficient, ensuring their ongoing running costs are sufficiently lower when compared to gas or standard electric hot water systems.
• These systems typically use approx. 75% less electricity when compared to a conventional electric hot water system.
• They operate in a similar way to reverse cycle air conditioners, they harvest natural energy from the air to efficiently create hot water. Unlike solar hot water systems, heat pumps don’t rely on a consistent supply of sunlight in order to provide a steady stream of hot water, instead, they work at all times of the day or night. 

 

Solar hot water systems

• Solar hot water systems are the most expensive systems to purchase, with installation usually more expensive when compared to gas or electric hot water systems.

• They are often cheaper to operate when compared to electric and gas hot water systems, but you should be aware of your individual property as the location and angle of the panels are critical in getting enough energy to power the system.

• Ideally, they should be facing in a northerly direction to ensure you receive the most benefit out of these systems.

• A four-person family usually requires around 4 square metres of solar panel surface area and a minimum 300 litre tank.

Step 2: Identify household water requirements

The first step in choosing the best hot water system for your home is to look at the size of your household to understand your hot water needs. Generally speaking, one person typically uses 50L of hot water in a day but may require more if they shower longer, wash clothes in warm or hot water often, and use the dishwasher frequently.

Looking at the number of people in your household and their current hot water usage can help to narrow down your search for the best hot water system. It’s also important to look at the periods where there is a spike in usage, and how much hot water is used on an average day for your household. It makes a difference if all of your household showers in the morning or evening, which is why proper analysis of your individual water usage is important.

Step 3: Choose between a storage tank or continuous flow

Storage hot water systems

Storage tank systems are very common and are found all over the place. Gas, Electric, Solar and Heat Pump Systems are often storage hot water systems. If you’ve got an old tank hot water system – it’s worth checking for corrosion. Over time, low-quality steel tanks are known to develop serious corrosion issues. Getting a professional plumber to check the health of your tank is a good idea to avoid unnecessary contamination.

 

ALSO READ – 6 Reasons Why You’re Running Out of Hot Water. Plus How to Fix It.

Continuous Flow Hot Water Systems

Get a professional plumber to help you decide

When helping people to select their new hot water system in Perth, there are a couple of things that the No Probs Plumbing and Electrical team considers before providing you with the best recommendations. 

When choosing the best hot water system, it comes down to what you would like in your home, your long-term plans, and the current budget you’re working within. We strive to provide you with a few different options that we think would work best for your situation.

Hot water needs aren’t changing? Get a like-for-like replacement

When people are looking at replacing their current hot water heater, we can often recommend a straight swap option, whereby we replace the water heating system with a like-for-like system, whilst using the existing valves. This is the perfect solution for those whose hot water usage needs haven’t changed, and want a cost-effective replacement for their old system. However, we do recommend replacing the valves before swapping out your hot water system. That way you’ve got peace of mind that your system will be fully functional following installation and you won’t be calling your plumber a week later with another problem.

Which is the best hot water system?

Our preferred option for the best hot water system in Perth is a gas continuous flow system. These systems are very energy efficient, and only heat the necessary amount of water as required. 

Continuous flow gas hot water systems work by pushing cold water through copper pipes (heat exchanger), and direct heat is then applied to the copper pipes which heats the water when a hot tap is turned on, the water is heated to the correct temperature (usually 50 degrees) and then arrives at your tap. The hot water system will then turn off once the tap is turned off.

What brand do we recommend?

We prefer to work with Rheem, as we believe that Rheem Hot Water are the market leaders for the best Perth hot water systems. They also offer helpful after-sales support and are reasonably priced, but most importantly they’re energy-efficient.

Call the experts at No Probs Plumbing and Electrical 

Whether you’re thinking of upgrading, replacing, or simply need an assessment on your existing or future hot water system, our team is ready to come out to your property and have a chat about your situation and give you a rundown of the different types and help you find the best system for your needs.

Call No Probs Plumbing and Electrical to schedule an appointment for a Perth hot water specialist to attend your property to provide quality advice on the best hot water system for your situation. Give us a buzz on (08) 9315 5545.