Types of Hot Water Systems

For the average Australian home, your hot water will account for approximately 25% of your annual electricity bill. If you’re wondering what type of hot water system you should install in your home, there are plenty of options available. You should also consider your hot water consumption, your specific property, how many occupants are in your household and various other factors.

You can save significant energy and money by choosing an efficient model that suits your household’s size and needs.

We draw some comparisons to assist you in making a choice for your property.

Electric Hot Water Systems

Electric hot water systems heat the cold water in the storage tank through an electric element, so hot water is produced on demand.

They are one of the cheapest ways to install a hot water system, but the drawback is their energy efficiency. While electric elements usually provide a lot of heat, they are less efficient than their gas or solar counterparts. So even though they’re cheaper to run, they produce less hot water. You also will be left with no hot water in the case of a lengthy power outage.

Gas Hot Water Systems

Gas hot water systems differ from electric systems as they use gas burners to heat the water. This makes gas hot water systems much smaller than electric tank systems. A gas hot water heater usually has a capacity of about 5 gallons, compared to 10 gallons for an electric tank.

Another advantage of gas hot water heating is that it heats the water much faster than an electric tank and the hot water supply is not affected during a power outage. You won’t notice the temperature change in the water, whereas with an electric tank it takes longer to warm up the water.

The biggest drawback of gas hot water heating systems is that if there is no demand for hot water, the gas burner will shut off automatically and there is no way around this problem.

Solar Hot Water Systems

Solar hot water systems are becoming increasingly popular as people look toward greener forms of electricity supply. These systems are often seen as being particularly useful in new builds where solar panels are placed on the roof, thus freeing up space of a traditional electric or gas heating system.

They’re ideal for those living in areas with a high supply of solar energy, as the system uses free energy from the sun.

Australia provides government incentives in the form of energy rebates for those with solar power installations.

The biggest drawback is probably the initial installation cost and complexity to get connected to the grid, but in the long run, solar panels will save significantly on your energy bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Projection Plumbing provides and installs a wide range of hot water systems from leading brands, using licensed electricians. Book your service today.