How To Buy The Best Hot Water System
When your hot water system goes kaput, it tends to happen suddenly and for good. When it happens, you don’t really have the option to be picky with a solution either. Instead, you tend to call a hot water system supplier and order more of the same, hoping that the new system arrives overnight and that you don’t have to bear too many cold showers. While this is effective enough in many cases, there may be better alternatives to your first instinct available. In this blog post we discuss how to buy the best hot water system when yours goes bust.
Reviewing Hot Water System Alternatives
Heating cold water takes up approximately 25% of your electricity expenditure. It’s worth reviewing alternatives to the model you had last time because there have probably been innovations in engineering that offer more efficient alternatives on the market. You might be able to switch to an alternative that costs you less and that is more eco-friendly.
Similarly, new regulations that have been put in place with the goal of reducing household energy consumption make electric hot water storage inaccessible to many homes. You should always check the regulations in your state before buying the best hot water system.
Electric, Gas, Solar or Heat Pump?
An electrically heated storage tank system is usually cheaper to buy and install, but tends to cost more to run compared with other alternatives. Electric systems can be more affordable if they use off-peak electricity, but this arrangement requires a larger storage tank. Also, off-peak electricity isn’t available to all homes. A four-person home typically needs a 125-160L tank for a continuous system 250-315L for off-peak. This will cost between $300 and $1500.
Gas systems are cheaper to run than electric systems and because gas rates don’t fluctuate during the day, it doesn’t matter how large your storage tank is. A four-person household needs a tank of about 135-170L. The tank itself will usually cost more than an electric variant, but you will probably save money in the long run on running costs. These range in price from $900 and $2000.
Solar panel hot water systems typically require four metres squared of solar panels and a 300-360L tank. The larger tank size is needed due to dynamic weather conditions which can power your heater one day, but not the next (due to cloud cover). Indeed, most solar panel hot water heaters include a gas or electric booster in the instance bad weather persists for more than a day. Solar panels are the most expensive hot water heater option, but they offer essentially free heating due to their sustainable nature. Government rebates can help offset the initial cost too. These range in price from $2,000 to $7,000.
Heat pump water heaters use the principle of extracting heat from the air to heat the water tank. They typically need to be installed in a well-ventilated area and get rather noisy, so you can’t place them right next to your neighbour’s window. A four-person household will typically need a 270-315L tank and the system will cost between $2,500 to $4,000 .
Depending on your available budget, the climate where you live and your preference for sustainable energy, we guarantee that one of the options above is right for you. Please call NSW Hot Water when you have made your decision on (02) 9722 4500 and we’ll be able to supply and install the variant that you have chosen. We have many brands and tank sizes available, so if your household is smaller or larger than those described in this article, fear not, we have a solution available for you. We operate 24/7 too, so no matter the time, we’ve got you covered.