Beginners’ guide to hot water systems in Perth WA
Our beginners’ guide is here to help you understand the different types of hot water systems available to you in Western Australia, along with the pros and cons of each system and other important informations.
If your hot water system has suddenly stopped working, you are definitely in the market to get it replaced as quickly as possible. There is nothing worse than realising your next shower will probably be ice cold and washing dishes is probably going to be a challenge without hot water! If you have friends or neighbours who can let you use their shower, that is great, but you have to get busy to find a new system ASAP for your family.
It is not the time to play the guessing game when looking for new hot water systems or for a replacement unit. Our guide will provide you with free advice and show you the best hot water systems available and help you get the right match for your household and save energy.
Reviewing Hot Water Service Systems
The hot water system in your home is generally one of the leading uses of energy. When the existing hot water system goes out, you need to get it replaced and get a new one installed as quickly as possible. Adding to the stress, you must know which hot water unit is the right fit for your home and budget.
Reducing your consumption of hot water and energy bill should play a major role in your choice of a hot water system. With the right choice, you can also help out the environment while saving a considerable amount of money when you save energy.
Before purchasing a hot water system replacement, you need to know what type of hot water unit is required for your home. Do you run on gas, solar, electric, or air for a pump? There are 4 main hot water service types you can choose from:
Electric systems
A hot water system that is powered by electricity is usually inexpensive to purchase and install but, in the long run, will be more expensive to operate over time.
The hot water system installation or replacement job will take approximately 2 – 3 hrs if it is being replaced by a similar system.
Systems that run on off-peak electricity are cheaper but require a larger tank as the water will have to heat up overnight to provide hot water all day long. On top of that, not all homes have off-peak electricity as an option.
A typical 4-member household requires a 125-160L tank for a continuous system or 250-315L for off-peak hours.
Electric water heaters can be installed indoors or outdoors.
Electric instantaneous water heaters are also available but usually can only supply hot water for one outlet such as a shower or tap.
Your electric hot water system will be the major charge on your electric bill so it’s important to check your electricity plan for the best options available.
The cost for these units is generally between $400 to $1800, not including hot water system installation.
Pros of electric models
Cons of electric models
Gas hot water systems
If you have the proper connection, natural gas supply is a great option. It’s much cheaper than electricity and the rates do not change very often throughout the course of a year. Also, gas can heat water as it’s needed.
Gas hot water system installation takes around 2 or 3 hours if it’s a straight replacement of your old system.
A household of four members will need a tank around 135-170L and you will have the option of an instantaneous system.
Gas has an energy efficiency star rating. Please take into consideration that gas is a fossil fuel that will not eliminate carbon emissions making this option less appealing. Currently, it’s less expensive than electricity but not as cheap as your solar electricity if you have solar panels. The cost of gas, over the long-term, is uncertain but it’s believed it will become more expensive over time.
If the existing system has a pilot light it might use a very small amount of gas.
The standard cost is generally from $900 to $2000 which does not include installation.
Pros of gas
Cons of gas
Solar hot water system
Solar hot water requires solar panels and a storage tank. A four-family household needs approximately 4 square metres of solar collector area or two panels and a 300-360L tank. You will need a large tank to make up for days when there is little to no sunlight or if water consumption is higher than average.
Keep in mind, that if you cannot install panels in an ideal location, it could be less efficient and you will need to add a larger collection area.
Storage hot water systems should have an electric or gas booster element to keep the water hot on days when there is little to no sunlight.
Installation can be expensive and time-consuming. Your installer will have to inspect your home to install the system but it should only take one day or less. Choosing a good system will pay off in the long run as the cost of running will be quite low.
Find out if you will get government rebates or other incentives to help cover the purchase costs. (no rebates available in WA atm sorry)
The standard cost is $4000 to $8000 which does not include installation.
Pros of solar
Cons of solar
Heat Pump
Heat pumps are an effective form of an electric storage tank system that operates on the same principle as an air conditioner. It extracts heat from the air and applies it to heat the water tank.
Such pumps make a great deal of sense when you have solar panels already installed on your roof. You will be powering the hot water system with your free electricity.
Units are usually tanks and compressors joined together but can also be separate tanks and compressors.
Both must be installed in a well-ventilated area which is usually outdoors.
For a straight replacement for your old pump or electric storage hot water system, it should not take more than 2 or 3 hours.
Do not install these units too close to your neighbour’s home as the units can be quite noisy, similar to an outdoor air conditioner unit.
The system (tank and compressor) usually works best in warm and temperate areas but there are models designed for cold climates. Most of these systems offer a booster element for days that are colder or when water usage is high.
A household of 4 will need a 270-315L tank.
The standard cost is generally $3000 to $4000 which does not include installation.
Pros of a pump
Cons of a pump
After deciding on your water heating service method, decide if you want a water heater with a storage tank or a system that heats the water when it’s needed (also known as continuous flow)!
Storage Tank
Most heat pump hot water systems use a tank whether electric, gas or solar.
Most people have discovered that a storage tank system is the best choice for saving money.
Mild to steel tanks can easily corrode over time but good maintenance every few years will prevent corrosion from happening. Also, in most cases, there is a 5 to 10-year warranty.
Many tanks use 1 or 2 “sacrificial anodes”. This is a metal rod that is inside the tank and attracts minerals and other impurities that cause corrosion. The anode will be corroded instead of the tank. Have your plumber check the system and replace the anode every 5 years or as required by the manufacturer’s instructions. This will add years of life to your tank.
Although stainless steel tanks are more expensive, they will last longer and will not need as much maintenance. In most cases, these tanks come with a 10-year warranty and only need occasional hot water service to replace valves and seals.
The quality of your local water is important and will pretty much decide which system you should select. You should check with your installer.
There can be some heat loss even though the tanks are insulated. You should have the tanks installed in a sunny spot or an insulated location.
These systems are normally installed outdoors due to venting requirements but can be installed indoors with an appropriate flue.
Pros of a storage system
Cons of a storage system
Continuous Flow
This is often called an instantaneous flow hot water system that heats only the amount of water you need on-demand. It can take a few seconds before the hot water starts flowing from your tap, especially if there is some distance between the hot water system and the tap.
Most models use gas while electric models are available but are only used to heat water for a single tap or shower.
For smaller households, such systems are cheaper to operate and are more practical than a storage tank system.
Running costs on electricity will be higher than off-peak tanks but less than a continuous system.
The size you need will depend on the number of hot water outlets that the hot water heaters will serve instead of the number of people in your household. In general, a two-bathroom home will need a flow rate of approximately 22-24L/min. Ask your supplier to provide you with the right capacity for your home.
Pros of a CF system
Cons of a CF system
From a survey taken in 2017, most people found gas and electricity are the most reliable options, with gas offering the best cost-efficiency while electric offers the best energy-efficiency!
Compare hot water services
Use the following comparison table to find out which hot water service is best for you:
| Electric storage | Gas storage | Continuous flow | Solar Electric boosted | Solar gas boosted | Heat pump | |
| Energy source | Electricity | Gas | Gas | Sun | Sun | Air |
| Environmental impact | High | Medium | Low | Low | Very low | Best |
| Running costs | High | Medium | Low | Very low | Best | Very low |
| Rebates | No | No | No | No * | No * | No * |
| Lifespan | Medium | Medium | Long lasting | Long lasting | Long lasting | Long lasting |
| Tank size | Medium to large | Medium to large | No tank | Medium to large | Medium to large | Medium |
| Tank location | Ground | Ground | No tank | Roof | Roof | Ground |
| Price | Low to Medium | Medium | Medium to high | High | Highest | High |
This data is provided to give you a general idea. Make sure you talk to your local plumber to confirm this data is still accurate before making a purchase!
General guidelines for hot water systems
Household Size & Water Usage
In general, one person will use approximately 50L of hot water each day and possibly more if they take several hot showers a day or wash clothes in warm or hot water.
You might be able to get information from your hot water service supplier after analysing your usage and making recommendations.
With the right system, an experienced team should offer free advice and ask you a few important questions to help you make the right choice and save money. Such questions are:
- Is it a new installation or do you have an existing unit?
- How many people live in your home?
- What is the average time of day for showers or baths?
- Do you use cold or hot water for washing clothes?
Many front loader washing machines only use cold water and heat the water themselves. These machines do not use your water system. If your washing machine is connected to the hot water tap and uses the hot wash feature, it’ll be taking the water from your water system.
- Washing dishes by hand vs a dishwasher?
Most dishwashers use cold water that is heated by the machine. Therefore, water is not being heated by your hot water system. If you wash by hand, you are using your hot water system.
If there is a long pipe running from the hot water system to the main outlets such as your kitchen sink or the shower, it could take longer for hot water to arrive at the outlet which will cause a lack of energy and water. A shorter run is better and the hot water pipe should be insulted. Your installer or plumber should be able to help you out but it will cost more.
Get At Least Two Free Quotes From Water Suppliers when looking for a professional service!
These are our general recommendations:
- For small homes with only one or two people, your best option is a continuous flow hot water system, either gas or electric, or a small gas storage hot water system.
- For medium homes with three or four people, gas systems continuous flow, storage, or a pump is your best option.
- For larger homes with 5 or more people, multiple continuous flow hot water systems may be a good option but gas storage hot water systems will be more economic. Another option might be large pumps.
Major brands in Australia include, Rinnai, Rheem, Vulcan, Bosch, Dux and others!
Energy Star Ratings
Minimum Energy Performance Standards, or MEPS, apply to electric hot water storage systems, gas hot water storage, and gas instantaneous systems. They are not required to have energy star rating labels.
Shortly, you will start seeing rating labels on gas hot water systems that are not regulated by the government they are an industry-managed scheme. This is not connected to energy efficiency star rating labels that only apply to products such as fridges and air conditioning.
MEPS are being considered for other water heater models. In turn, this will help to remove under-qualified models from the market and you could see star rating labels show up on all hot water systems.
There are a few state and federal ideas to encourage households to go more energy efficient with hot water systems, especially solar and heat pumps.
If you visit the federal government energy rebate site, you can enter details of your state and areas of interest to find rebates and incentives. You can enter the location of your home, stating you are interested in hot water it will give you rebates and incentives for your area when purchasing a new hot water system.
In most states, the only help will come from the small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme that provides a rebate for installing solar panels. It offers some incentives for installing a solar or heat pump hot water system.
Other incentives include:
There are currently no government incentives available in WA! We are monitoring the situation and will let you know should we see any changes.
- ACT to assist ActewAGL customers to replace conventional electric or gas hot water systems with heat pump hot water systems.
- South Australia which is the Retailer Energy Productivity Scheme or REPS, offers assistance to low-income households to help improve their home’s energy and water efficiency. This might include installing a more efficient hot water system.
- Victoria has incentives to help out consumers buy energy-efficient appliances and solar hot water systems.
Outside of the above-listed schemes, new ideas are popping up from time to time. It’s worth checking on the federal government site or your state and local governments for other help.
A good local hot water service can help you by providing good advice for any rebates that might apply in your area, provide a free quote, same day installation as well as a cost effective service.
Your hot water systems experts. We only repair, supply and install the best brands in Australia and can send a contractor on-site anywhere in the Perth metro.
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78 Fitzroy Rd,
Rivervale,
Western Australia – 6103
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