Many people tend to take their hot water systems for granted, but it’s actually a huge necessity, especially when living in cold areas. So when your hot water system starts showing signs of wear and tear, a replacement is a must. Sure, you can get the same model you usually invest in, but what if you can actually get a better one at similar price ranges?
While it does take some time and research selecting the best hot water system, it’s worth the effort to get adequately hot water for the entire household for a long time. The question is: What’s the best?
Read on as I show you my informative purchasing guide on hot water systems.
How to Get the Best Hot Water System
Companies like Brisbane Hot Water offer a wide selection of water systems, making it a bit confusing as to what you should get. Before you make that final purchasing decision, make sure to consider these important factors:
1. What Kind of Power?
The first thing to consider is how your chosen system is powered.
- With electric pumps, they are cheaper to purchase and install, though expensive to run, especially when running at a continuous rate
- Natural gas pumps are an excellent option if you have connections for it. They are cheaper than electricity but take note of gas prices rising
- Solar-powered systems have solar collector panels and a storage tank, requiring a large tank for it if there is less sunlight or you need more hot showers. They are expensive and take time to install, BUT there are government rebates and incentives, so you get your money’s worth
2. Storage or Continuous Flow Tank?
Should you get a system that has a tank or would only heat water as needed?
- Most hot water systems would use a tank, having one or two sacrificial anodes. This helps attract minerals and impurities which corrode the tank, with the anode corroding instead, therefore sacrificing it.
- There are two types of tanks: Mild-steel tanks corrode in a few years, while stainless steel tanks, though expensive, last longer and don’t require much maintenance.
- As for continuous flow tanks, they are also known as instantaneous, heating up as much water as required. It does take a few seconds for it to heat up and flow from your faucet, but it’s cheaper to run compared to storage tanks.
- What you need depends on you. If you’re thinking about your budget, then you may want to consider instantaneous systems to prevent higher electricity bills. But if you want hot water instantly, then storage tank is best.
3. What Brand Should I Get?
I always recommend that you get well-known brands that have positive reputations and performance. However, popular doesn’t always mean better, so make sure that you search for real customer testimonials to see if your branded system works well. You can find such reviews online and ask for referrals from others.
4. The Household Size and Your Water Usage
Take note that one person would use an average of 50L of hot water daily, or even more if you take longer showers, wash clothes, or use the dishwasher with hot water.
Here are some questions to ask yourself when determining the size of your hot water system:
- How many people live in the house?
- When and how many times do you take showers and baths a day? How long?
- Do you wash your clothes in cold or hot water?
- Do you use dishwashers or hand wash your dishes with hot or cold water?
You can get quotes from different suppliers to get a gist on how much you need. Here are the typical recommendations depending on your household size:
- Small households with 1-2 people will do well with continuous flow or small gas storage systems
- Medium households with 3-4 people will do well with gas systems or a heat pump
- Large households with more than five people will do well with multiple continuous flow systems, or large gas storage units and heat pumps
Wrapping It Up
Water heating systems can take account for up to a quarter of your household energy use, or even more! That’s why it’s best to upgrade from your current hot water system and see if there are more cost-effective options. Don’t worry, it will still provide the water your household needs!
I hope that my hot water system purchasing guide gave you an idea of what you should get. So begin investing in the right systems for your home and family’s comfort now.
Do you have any questions or want to share your tips and experiences in purchasing a hot water system? Then share it in the comments section below, I would love to hear what you have to think.
