So many people love shopping, whether it's for a new car, TV or just a new pair of shoes, but when a major home fixture stops working suddenly you are forced into a high-pressure situation where you need a replacement fast, but you know making the wrong decision will stay with you for a long time. This is not usually a good time to be pounding the pavement or searching the internet for all available options, price variations, advantages and disadvantages to ensure you get the best product for the best price.

This could happen in your household if you have an aging or unreliable hot water system. With that in mind take a minute to read about what could be the best hot water heater for your home if you suddenly needed a replacement.

There are pluses and minuses to each type of hot water system. The right system for your home needs to be able to cater for the number of people living in your house, the shower plus all appliances needing hot water such as the dishwasher and washing machine, frequency of use, as well as the space available for installation On top of all that you don't want to over cater so you're wasting money on unneeded hot water generation.

Electric Instantaneous Hot Water System Brisbane North
Electric Instantaneous Hot Water System

Generate the heat

Your choices for the type of power to used to heat the hot water extend from electricity, gas, heat pump to solar power. So, how do you know which is right for you? Running costs is a determining factor for lots households, plus the speed with which hot water can be generated.

  • Electric - a large electric storage hot water system can be the most power hungry of heaters although if set to an off-peak tariff the costs are reduced significantly. These can be slower to heat but the large tank capacity means you won't run out as often.
  • Heat pump - uses heat from the environment to heat the water. Electricity is used to run the compressor only, reducing the running costs enormously from a traditional electric storage heater. This style is about as efficient as an electrically boosted solar system. Heat pump hot water systems are ideal for warm, humid conditions. (So perfect for Brisbane north, Redcliffe, Caboolture and the Sunshine Coast)
  • Natural gas (mains gas) - Gas storage heaters are quick to heat up so can handle a busy household with a smaller storage tank. Instantaneous gas systems heat the water as you need it, standard systems don't cope with a large demand very well, but are ideal for smaller homes. Gas price varies but is usually cheaper than electricity.
  • LPG - more expensive to run than natural or mains gas. Room needs to be allowed for the large gas cylinders need for the LPG installation. Quick to heat.
  • Solar - up to 90% of your hot water generation could be free from the sun depending on the weather and your hot water use. A booster which is either electric or gas assists with hot water on the days without much sun for solar power . Slower to heat with solar only, booster assisted hot water is generated much faster if needed.
Heat Pump Hot Water System Brisbane North
Heat Pump Hot Water System

Storage or instantaneous - pro's and con's

If you're deciding between an electric hot water system and a gas system you'll need to consider whether a storage or instantaneous (continuous flow) system is the right one for your home. (Both heat pump and solar systems use storage tanks.)

Storage hot water

  • some tanks can corrode however regular servicing can prohibit corrosion.
  • can experience some heat loss even when insulated
  • can be connected to an off-peak tariff to reduce costs

Instantaneous or continuous flow hot water

  • only heats the water when you use it
  • usually cheaper to run than storage
  • electric systems can't be connected to off-peak power
  • less installation space needed, can usually attach to a wall

Some other helpful sources of information when deciding which hot water heater is right for your home:

Hot water system installation and repairs Brisbane north

Trusted Solar, Air & Electrical can service and maintain your electric hot water system to help extend the life of your existing hot water set up or install your new electric system, whether it is a storage, instantaneous or heat pump. Give our team a call on or complete our online service request form today.