Different Types Of Hot Water Systems

The different types of hot water systems which can be installed into homes and workplaces have their pros and cons. Electricity, gas, solar and heat pump heaters all will heat water for people. Each hot water heater has its own running costs and will heat water in different ways. Optimised Plumbing Services is here to perform hot water repairs, installations and replacements of any kind throughout all of Sydney.

The main types of hot water systems that will work in buildings to heat water are:

Electric Hot Water Systems
Gas Hot Water Systems
Solar Hot Water Systems
Heat Pump Water Heaters

Electric Hot Water Systems

Electric hot water systems can either use a storage tank or be instantaneous with their hot water. Hot water systems which use electricity to heat water and store it contains an electric storage tank which will have water stored. This water is already heated to be around 60-80 degrees celsius and will maintain this heated water. When this water is used then new water will be added into the water tank, often cold, which will need to be heated again.

If the hot water system is instantaneous means that by using electrical power water will be heated on demand. There is no storage tank and the system is designed to provide a consistent stream of heated water. A three-phase system is often needed to power this system as electric hot water units require a large amount of power.

Gas Hot Water Systems

A gas hot water system will use either Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or natural gas and can be instantaneous or stored. Gas storage systems will have a flame that will constantly ignite to create heat which will enter the tank. The heat is created on the bottom of the storage tank while some will enter the water directly. A thermostat is often connected to the system so the temperature can be adjusted.

When the gas hot water system is instantaneous then it will not have a storage tank. The continuous flow hot water system will heat water via a gas burner whenever water is needed. The amount of water needed will be heated and the system will stop working when it does not need to heat water anymore. This system will have no heat lost as there is no hot water storage tank.

If wanting to know if gas or electric hot water systems are best to use, our blog ‘gas or electric hot water systems’ offers helpful comparisons of the two.

Solar Hot Water System

Hot water systems which use solar energy to heat water are energy efficient and cost effective. The sun’s energy is used through solar panels which in a storage tank heats up the water. Cold water will run through the solar panels and be heated travelling back into the storage tank. This cycle loops where hot water is stored on the top of the tank and cold water is at the bottom ready to be heated through the solar panels.

Heat Pump Hot Water System

Heat pump hot water systems will use the warmth from the air and will absorb and transfer it into heat. They use electricity to be powered but are up to three times more energy efficient than electric hot water units. A refrigerant is used to heat the water and is pumped into the system. This refrigerant will absorb any heat gathered from the air and heat the water inside of the tank.

Normal electric hot water systems heat the water through electrical power but a heat pump only uses electricity to power the fans and compressors. Heat pumps are also extremely effective at grabbing heat from the air and heating the water this way. A heat pump is also well suited to climates that are mostly warm or hot as the higher the temperature the easier it is to heat the water.

What are the Pros and Cons of Different Hot Water Systems?

Hot Water System	Pros	Cons
Electric	Lower upfront cost Easier to use and install Hot water can be used on demand Best suited for families or places with more people and water use The space for the system to be installed can be smaller	The energy costs can be expensive It is often harder to repair these types of hot water units When there is a power outage hot water will be unavailable
Gas	Water will be heated quickly Will be able to heat water even if there is a power outage The energy bills are often lower The amount of hot water which can be created is often limitless	Installing the system is more likely to be harder and more expensive to install The chance that the gas hot water system can explode is there
Solar	The energy costs to run the system is lower than the others The system runs efficiently and is also easy to operate with Government rebates are often included due to using the solar hot water system	Purchasing and installing solar powered hot water units are likely to be expensive There needs to be adequate roof space for it to be installed The system will need adequate sun exposure to run correctly
Heat Pump	Highly efficient and effective at heating water Has a longer lifespan and will cost less to run	It is more expensive to purchase and install a heat pump There needs to be good ventilation and warmth for heat pumps to successfully work

Reliable Hot Water System Services

Optimised Plumbing Services with our Emergency Plumber team is here to work on all of the different types of hot water systems at any time. We will help repair, install or work on any type of hot water system in any property. From the Eastern Suburbs to Greater Western Sydney, we promise our hot water system services are the most trusted for locals.

Our Blocked Drain services are here as well for us to clear any drainage system and ensure systems function correctly.

Contact us today on 02 8074 1475 for us to work with hot water systems and operate on them!

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