Hot Water Systems

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Selecting the right hot water system in your home can have big benefits in terms of household energy costs and meeting household hot water needs – one of life’s essentials. More than half of all hot water use is in the bathroom, a third in the laundry and the remainder in the kitchen. If you are building a new house or replacing an existing hot water heater, you can choose from a range of technologies to suit your home, climate, budget and impact on our environment such as greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Whatever your priorities or preferences, A-List Plumbing can assist you in making this important decision. We have experience in repairing and installing a range of hot water systems to ensure your home has dependable and consistent hot water available.

 

Electric

Electric storage systems use a heating element located inside a tank to heat water, similar to the way an electric kettle works. Water is heated and stored in the tank, available in various sizes, where it is kept hot and ready to be used. Instantaneous electric hot water heaters are also available, where water is heated instantly on demand; there is no storage tank involved and so this enables ‘endless hot water’ whenever a tap is turned on. Electric heaters may be cheaper initially but can be more expensive to run in the long term; this is important to take into consideration when deciding which water heater to buy.

 

Gas

Similarly to electric systems, gas storage heaters keep hot water stored in a tank; but use a gas burner for the process of heating the water. Compared to their electric counterparts, gas storage systems have quicker heat recovery times and generally use a smaller tank. Gas instant water heaters are also available, where a gas burner only heats water on demand and does not store hot water in a tank, meaning your hot water won’t run out!

 

Solar

Utilising a renewable energy source, solar powered hot water systems are a great way to heat water whilst reducing your environmental impact. These systems use a series of solar panels, commonly positioned on a roof where they gain maximum exposure, to absorb energy from the sun and heat the water as it is circulated through. These systems generally need to be used in conjunction with electricity or gas to maintain supply when there is no sun.

 

Heat Pump

A more efficient form of renewable energy, heat pumps extract heat from their surroundings (air, water or ground) to heat water, and often use up to two-thirds less electricity than an electric hot water heater. A heat pump water heater uses a ‘reverse refrigeration’ process to transfer heat, absorbed from the environment, into the water. These systems can initially be more costly than traditional methods, but save energy and can reduce energy bills in the long term.