HOT WATER SYSTEMS
HOT WATER SYSTEMS
We supply and install all types of hot water heaters from all the major manufacturers such as Bosch, Rheem, Rinnai, Dux, Aquamax etc
We often take our hot water for granted… Until it breaks. When that happens or if your hot water heater is getting a little tired and you are in the market for a new one it is important to look at and understand all the options available to ensure you get what you and your family needs, and get the best value for money.
The supply and installation cost is insignificant when weighed up against what you spend on energy whether gas or electricity over the lifespan of the heater. Selecting the right hot water heater now has a major impact on your energy bill and should not be ignored.
We’ve done the hard work for you and assembled all the relevant information you need to make an informed decision and listed it in the links below. Take 5-10 minutes and have a good read-through and see which heater is right for you.
Electric Hot Water Tanks
Rheem, Everhot, Aquamax, Thermann
Electric hot water heaters are without a doubt the cheapest heater to install. They are very basic in design with only a few components.
Vitreous enamel coated steel tank – higher-end tanks available in Stainless Steel
A replaceable sacrificial anode inside the tank roughly the size and shape of a broom handle. These erode over time but prevent corrosion of the tank. These can be changed around the 5-year mark to considerable extend the life of the tank, though few people are aware of this.
A heating element, usually 3600 watts or 4800 watts and on larger electric hot water tanks sometimes 2 of these i.e. Dual Element models
A thermostat that measures the water temperature and determines when to turn on the heater element.
Manufacturers seem to have become quite good at building storage tank heaters to last just past the warranty period. Perhaps something to do with the size of the sacrificial anode used. Tanks are available with different warranties, usually, it’s 7 years however some are only 5 years and some of the higher-end stainless steel models come with 10-year warranties.
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Although the initial installation cost of an electric hot water tank makes them the cheapest choice, they are the most expensive to run energy-wise, even on off-peak or shoulder electricity rates. Here is a great calculator from Rheem to compare energy costs. Rheem running cost calculator
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Since 2013 all hot water supplied to sanitary fixtures (basically anything except the kitchen sink or laundry tub) must be tempered to a maximum of 50 Celsius.
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Pros
Cheapest supply and installation cost.
When replacing like with like there is no need to consider current plumbing as it should go straight in.
Quickest and simplest of all heaters to install.
Practically the only option where there is no Natural Gas available.
Cons
Most expensive as far as running costs are concerned.
Large bulky footprint and not the most aesthetically pleasing sight down the side of a house.
As hot water is used cold water enters the tank to replace it. The more hot water used the lower the temperature in the tank as the heating element cannot keep up with the demand.
The first part to fail is usually the tank itself at around the 8 to 12 year mark and it is not repairable. Only option is to replace it.
Water wastage through worn temperature relieve valves is common especially in Summer.
Gas Hot Water Tanks
Gas hot water tanks are the second cheapest heater to install next to electric. They are fairly basic in design with only a few components.
Vitreous enamel coated steel tank – higher-end tanks available in Stainless Steel
A replaceable sacrificial anode inside the tank roughly the size and shape of a broom handle. These erode over time but prevent corrosion of the tank. These can be changed around the 5-year mark to considerable extend the life of the tank, though few people are aware of this.
A gas burner under the tank
Constant gas pilot light to ignite the gas burner
A thermostat that measures the water temperature and determines when to turn on the gas burner.
Manufacturers seem to have become quite good at building storage tank heaters both electric and gas, to last just past the warranty period. Perhaps something to do with the size of the sacrificial anode used. Tanks are available with different warranties, usually, it’s 5 or 7 years however some of the higher-end stainless steel models come with 10-year warranties.
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Although the initial installations cost of a gas hot water tank makes them the a cost effective choice, they are the most economical heater to run in the long term however that are still far cheaper to run than the electric alternative.
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Since 2013 all hot water supplied to sanitary fixtures (basically anything except the kitchen sink or laundry tub) must be tempered to a maximum of 50 Celsius.
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Pros
Second cheapest supply and installation cost.
When replacing like with like there is no need to consider current plumbing as it should go straight in
Second only to electric in terms of ease of installation
Around 25% more to run gas wise than a continuous flow heater which is still pretty cheap
Faster recovery rate than electric, therefore a smaller size tank requirement than electric
Cons
Large bulky footprint and not the most aesthetically pleasing sight down the side of a house
As hot water is used cold water enters the tank to replace it. The more hot water used the lower the temperature in the tank as the gas burner can’t always keep up with the demand.
The first part to fail is usually the tank itself at around the 8 to 12 year mark and it is not repairable. Only option is to replace it
Water wastage through worn temperature relieve valves is common especially in Summer
Continuous Flow Hot Water
Sometimes called “Instantaneous Hot Water“, these units heat water on demand. They only consume energy when a tap is turned on. This means that they do not need to keep hot water stored in a tank and therefore are one of the most efficient systems available. They can run on demand for as long as required, meaning there is no such thing as running out of hot water. Aside from the obvious energy savings they have a very small footprint. Where a traditional style storage tank generally takes up a lot of room, a continuous flow unit is around the size of a suitcase and attaches to the wall.
Older versions often referred to as “Instantaneous” were basic mechanical units with low hot water supply rates of around 10 to 13 litres per minute. Some people may have used these units in the past and might remember issues with hot water supply especially when multiple hot water taps were opened as these older units could generally only supply 1 or 2 taps simultaneously. Whilst fairly efficient, the inconvenience of having a shower and having the hot water supply drop out because someone opened the hot tap in the kitchen was annoying, to say the least. Additionally they had a constantly lit pilot light that could blow out on windy days adding further to the inconvenience. Being mechanically operated though they are very basic in operation and there are many still in working order that is over 30 years old and will probably continue working as long as basic spares are available.
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Still using the same principle of heating water on demand rather than storing it, they have far more control of internal flow rates of gas and water thanks to electronically controlled valves. What this means is that they constantly monitor hot water temperature and can maintain this temperature by adjusting the gas flow to the burners thus allowing them to run up to 4 to 5 hot water outlets simultaneously without major fluctuations in temperature. They have a more efficient heat exchanger (some even have 2) than older models allowing them in some cases to attain a 7-star energy efficiency rating. These can be combined with flow and return systems that circulate and effectively heat the water in the lines between the heater and the tap ensuring not only is the energy saved but so is water.
This electronic control also allows for new featuressuch ase “Bath Fill”, where you select the volume of water you want and the temperature and theheaterdoess the rest – Set and Forget. Or preselecting a favourite shower temperature at a controller located in the bathroom and just turning on the hot tap with no need to mix in cold water. Traditional controllers need to be wired back to the heater but some brands now offer wireless options alleviating the need for additional installation costs.
The are some basic requirements when it comes to installing these units. Hot and cold supply lines can be reused if installed in place of an old storage tank. Additionally, they need a 20mm ( 3/4) gas line and a PowerPoint. The power point is required to run the electronics and generally uses around 3 to 5 watts, only when the unit is running.
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Since 2013 all hot water supplied to sanitary fixtures (basically anything except the kitchen sink or laundry tub) must be tempered to a maximum of 50 Celsius. If you opt for a continuous flow heater that is factory preset at 50 Celsius (recommended) there is no need for a tempering valve. Some people still prefer to have a 60 Celsius heater and separate hot supplies, one for the kitchen and laundry at 60C and another line for the basins, showers etc set at 50C. This situation is the only time a tempering valve is required for a continuous flow hot water heater.
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Pros
Cheapest hot water, second only to gas-boosted solar
Smallest footprint of all systems
Best warranty of all systems
No tank to rust out – 20-year-old systems still running perfectly with basic maintenance
Copper and aluminium internals
Continuous hot water that never runs out
Excellent temperature control
Regular rebates to switch over from electric to gas can make them cheaper to install than replacing your existing electric heater
Cons
Marginally higher initial installation cost
Initially takes around 5 additional seconds for hot water to arrive at the tap
When you need top-class plumbing advice call, Michael -
The first choice for plumbing in Sydney’s Inner West & Metro Areas.
