Hot Water System choices
·
Natural gas – can be used in
storage water heaters and continuous flow heaters. Natural gas systems
are rated according to their energy efficiency and come in both internal and
external versions. Gas storage heaters have a smaller capacity than
off-peak electric as they are able to heat the water up at any time of the day
or night as opposed to within a certain time period. For more information see gas hot water
systems.
·
Off peak electriic – has similar
running costs to a natural gas system but is only available where the hot water
system has a storage capacity 170 liters plus. The hot water is generally
heated overnight for use throughout the day. It cannot be used by
continuous flow systems and is available for both internal and external use
sytems.
·
Solar energy – can provide up
to seventy percent of your hot water free of charge, making it a very
environmentally friendly option. They are the cheapest systems to operate
but do have a high initial purchase price. All solar hot water systems
come with a “booster” source of power (such as gas or electric) to provide hot
water during times when there is little sun. Mains pressure and constant
pressure is available. For more information please see solar hot water
systems.
·
Peak electricity – is used for
electric continuous flow units and storage water heaters that are smaller than
170 liters in capacity. They can be expensive to run but are the most
popular in areas where space is limited such as in units and apartments. For
more information please see electric
hot water systems.
·
LPG – is used in
areas where natural gas is not available. It is suitable for both
continuous flow and storage hot water.
·
Solid fuels – this includes
wood, coal, briquettes etc, so the cost of the fuels can vary widely.
Solid fuels can be used on their own with off peak electricity or solar in constant pressure
systems. They cannot be used with mains pressure systems unless a heat
exchanger is used and cannot be used in continuous flow systems.
·
Heat pumps – is high efficiency
and uses around sixty percent less electricity than other electric hot water
systems. They work by extracting heat from the atmosphere using a
refrigerant gas and a compressor and using that heat water stored in a tank at
ground level.
Hiring a Hot Water Systems Specialist
Hot
water system suppliers can
assist with:
·
Advising on a suitable hot water system
·
Installation
·
Service and repairs
·
Supply of the hot water unit
·
Minor plumbing
Make
Sure that they are able to help you to choose the correct system for the number
of people in your household. They should also allow for possible changes
in the use of the hot water system in the future brought about by such things
as an expanding family, the introduction of new appliances such as dishwashers and
so forth. An expert plumber can
install or replace al types of hot water systems, including electric, gas and
or solar.
Ensure
that the system comes with a warranty, and that the supplier is willing to
provide installation in a reasonable time. It is also useful if your
supplier can provide emergency repairs or be able to direct you to someone that
does.
The best method to find out about a hot water system is to get in touch with a professional plumbing business such as Melbourne 24 Hour Plumbing, Mr
Plumber Sydney, Manly Emergency Plumber or Geelong 24 Hour Plumbing.
