Things to Know Before Replacing Your Hot Water System

The opportunity to replace your hot water system can improve the efficiency and comfort of your home. If you’re thinking about upgrading your current hot water system, here are some things to consider:

• Short and long-term budget
• Gas, Electric, or Solar
• Storage tank or Instantaneous system

What is Your Hot Water System Budget?

Perhaps the most important consideration when changing your hot water system is the amount of money you’re going to spend. The variety of hot water system has a range of unit prices and installation and running costs. Your short-term vs. long-term budget can change the type of system that is best for you. If your looking for the cheapest solution to replace your hot water system, we recommend replacing the system with the same make and model as the existing hot water system you have installed.

What Type of Hot Water System Are You Looking For?

The next thing to consider is the power source that your hot water system uses. The three major power sources are electric, gas, and solar. Each of these has pros and cons, but the most important consideration is what’s available in your home. If you have the freedom to choose which type is best for you, here are some pros and cons for each:

Electric

Electric hot water systems are less upfront, but they cost more to run and need replacing sooner than the other two options. Over time, electric systems are more expensive than a gas or solar unit because of operating costs and replacement. Also, electric units tend to take longer to heat compared to the other units.

Storage Gas

Storage gas hot water systems are the most common across Perth due to the ease of installation, operating costs and low pressure gas requirements. Storage gas hot water system have lower operating costs then storage electric hot water systems.

Instant Gas

Our most recommended hot water system type would have to be the instant gas hot water system due to their low operating costs, minimal maintenance cost and the attractive replacement costs. The downside to the instant gas hot water system is the initial setup cost applicable if you do not already have an instant gas system.

Solar

The upfront cost of a solar-powered system tends to be the highest compared to the other two types of system due to the cost of the system along with the difficulty of installation. However the operating costs are the lowest between the three types therefore the solar hot water system is a great long term solution.

Tank System or Instantaneous?

There can be quite a difference in the purchase price, operating costs, and lifespan between a storage and instantaneous system. Storage systems have a similar purchase price, but the operating and maintenance of an instantaneous system is much more affordable. Also, storing water breaks down a storage tank, so it needs replacement much sooner than an instant system.

Some important things to consider when looking at replacing your hot water system are the energy source and storage type. These two criteria determine the purchase price, running costs, and lifespan of your hot water system. Solar and instant hot water systems are the least expensive to run and last the longest. Gas units tend to be in the middle on both price and longevity. Electric tank units tend to be the cheapest to buy, the most expensive to run and will need replacement in the least amount of time. To answer any questions about replacing your hot water system, call the certified professionals at Ember Plumbing on 0477 777 301.