Everything you need to know about Hot Water Systems
I know what you’re thinking “what do I possibly need to know about hot water systems other than the fact that they heat water”. Well, true, many people don’t need to know any more than this. However, if you’re building a new home, or are looking to replace or upgrade your hot water system, it pays to know a little bit about them.
Here at iSpecialise, we provide all plumbing services across Auckland, including hot water system repairs and installations. Thus, there isn’t anything we don’t know about them.
Today, I thought it would be a good idea to share some of my knowledge with you to help you understand hot water systems a little better. We take a look at the types of hot water systems available, the sizes, cost and rebates.
Types of Hot Water Systems
The most important thing to know about hot water systems is that there are different types and different energy sources. The main types of hot water systems are storage and instantaneous. The primary energy sources are solar, gas, and electricity.
Let’s take a look at these:
Storage hot water systems are, by far, the most common. They store water in an insulated tank until required. They do, however, have a shortcoming; hot water can run out if consumption is higher than the tank capacity. Storage hot water systems are available in all energy sources: electric, gas, solar, and heat pump.
Instantaneous hot water systems, on the other hand, only heat water as it is required, and therefore, never run out of hot water. They are, however, more expensive than storage hot water systems. Instantaneous hot water systems are available with only electric or gas energy sources.
Size of Hot Water Systems
Storage hot water systems come in a range of sizes, and choosing the right size for your family’s needs is vital. The table below provides an overview of tank size vs the number of people in a household:
| No. of People | Size of Tank (L) |
| 1-2 | 90 |
| 2-4 | 130 |
| 3-5 | 170 |
| 4-6 | 200 |
| 5-9 | 270 |
Instantaneous hot water systems eliminate size as a factor. However, it is important to note; the flow rate will be affected by the number of tapes used at the same time.
Hot Water Systems Running Costs & Rebates
As mentioned, storage hot water systems are cheaper than their counterparts. However, the energy source affects the price further (as to does size for storage hot water systems).
- Electric hot water systems will set you back between $300 to $1500
- Gas hot water systems cost between $900 to $2000
- Solar hot water systems cost between $2000 to $7000
- Heat Pump hot water systems will cost you in the vicinity of $2500 to $4000
The prices above are excluding installation costs. If you would like a quote to have one of these hot water systems installed, please call 09-2322 895 or email us at [email protected]. We can provide a fixed upfront quote.
Sustainability Victoria offers a handy breakdown of hot water system costs by type, source and household size, which you can view here.
In terms of rebates, the QLD government provides an incentive to reduce the purchase price of solar water heaters, solar power systems and heat pumps in the form of the mall-Scale Technology Certificates (STCs). You can find out more about STCs here.
Conclusion
Hot water systems may only heat water, but there are many options available. Which hot water system you choose could be the difference in running out of hot water or not and the overall running costs.
If you would like to know which hot water system is best for your household, or like an installation quote, pick up the phone and give Tomkinson and Gas a call. We’re Auckland’s hot water system experts and are only too happy to provide advice or help you in any way we can.
