If you’re wondering how to choose a hot water system for your home, then this blog is for you!
Whilst it’s hard to imagine your bathroom, laundry and kitchen without heated water, actually deciding on what type of system to install can be a little tough.
So, what are your options?
There are three main types of hot water systems available – powered either by Gas, Electricity or Solar. Here are the pros and cons of each to help you choose which is best for you.
Gas Hot Water
Gas hot water systems are generally cheaper to run than their electric equivalents, and there are two main types of units; Continuous Flow and Gas Storage. Whilst continuous flow (or instantaneous) water heaters do not require storage tanks (they heat water as it’s needed), gas storage systems rely on the installation of a tank.
Continuous Flow – You’ll Like:
- Hot water on demand – you’ll never run out
- Small in size and easy on the eye
- Can be installed with controllers for exact water temperature adjustment
- Ideal for smaller homes and apartments
You May Not Like:
- Most units need to be plugged into a power point and won’t work in blackouts
- Gas line upgrades can cause extra installation costs
Gas Storage – You’ll Like:
- Comparatively cheap to purchase and install
- No gas line upgrades required
- Better suited to large family or heavy-duty use
You May Not Like:
- Larger tanks take up space
- Not as energy efficient as continuous flow units
Hot Tip: When shopping for gas hot water, always check out the energy rating label and choose a system with the highest star rating you can afford. Highly efficient units such as the Solargain Continuous Flow Hot Water System with 6-Star energy ratings are an excellent choice.
Electric Units
Generally, electric hot water units cause more greenhouse gas emissions and are more costly to run than gas systems. On the other hand, they are generally simple and inexpensive to install.
Electric Hot Water Systems – You’ll Like:
- Comparatively inexpensive to purchase
- Easily installed when replacing equivalent units
- Water heating during off-peak times can attract lower tariffs
Electric Hot Water Systems – You May Not Like:
- More expensive to run and more pollutant than gas and solar powered systems
Hot Tip: The higher running costs of electric water heaters can be substantially offset by installing solar panels. When using clean energy from the sun, in most cases, your electric hot water system will be more efficient than using gas.
Solar Hot Water
Whether mounted on the ground, or on your roof, solar hot water systems provide the most energy efficient water heating available. They also add value to properties and substantially offset pollution.
Solar Hot Water Systems – You’ll Like:
- Highly energy efficient
- Add value to the properties on which they’re installed
- Some systems can reduce water heating bills by 85%
- Water remains hot throughout the day and night, but is boosted by gas/electricity if required
Solar Hot Water Systems – You May Not Like:
- Higher purchase and installation price
Hot Tip: Government incentives which lower the price of solar hot water are still available in Australia and can have a substantial impact on the price of purchasing your unit. To find out how much you can save with government incentives in your state, contact our friendly team.
If you’re still wondering how to choose a hot water system, speak to the team at Solargain. Whilst we specialise in solar hot water products, we can also help you offset the costs of electric systems using solar panels and our range of 6-star continuous flow gas units are industry leading!
Speak to you soon,
Solargain
