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Electric, gas, solar or heat pump?

Ipswich hot water is your local family owned and operated hot water specialist. We offer a wide range of products to suit any of your hot water needs. Domestic, commercial, Electric, gas, solar and heat pumps. We offer free quotes and competitive pricing. Whether you are needing repairs or replacement or are just after some advice give us a call and one of our friendly tradesmen will get you back up and running in no time.

Electric

An electric heated storage hot water system is usually relatively cheap to buy and install, but is usually the most expensive to run, especially if it’s on the continuous (full day) rate.
Systems that run on off-peak electricity are much cheaper to run, but need a larger tank as the water heated overnight has to last you all day. And off-peak electricity isn’t available to all homes.
A four-person household typically needs a 125–160L tank for a continuous system or 250–315L for off-peak.
Can be installed indoors or outdoors.

Cost: They range in price from about $400 (25ltr) to $1500 (400+ltrs) (not including installation).

Gas

Natural gas is a good option if you have the connection for it. It’s cheaper than electricity (though gas prices are rising) and because gas rates don’t vary through the day, gas hot water systems can heat water as needed.
A four-person household needs a tank of about 135–170L. You also have the option of a continuous flow system.
A continuous flow hot water system is a process of delivering a continuous flow of hot water at a constant temperature, without the need for storage. Continuous flow will only ever utilise energy whenever heat is needed. I.e. the opening of a shower. With the most advanced systems the user will be able to set the desired temperature of hot water required to suit their needs therefore vulnerable users such as child and the elderly can be safeguarded from the risk of scalding.
Energy is only consumed when an outlet is opened
Usually installed outdoors due to venting requirements, but can be installed indoors with a flue.
Have an energy efficiency star rating.
Liquid petroleum gas (LPG) bottles are an alternative to natural gas – 45kg bottles vary in price from supplier to supplier generally ranging from $100 to $140 per bottle. Bottles will last between 2-3 months for the average family depending on the amount of hot water used.
Pros: Space saving as there is no need for water storage, Low maintenance cost, Flexibility of usage – multiple appliance systems can be utilised to supply greater hot water requirements (modular), Near zero energy losses, Fast recovery time, Direct mains fed
Cons: Consideration needs to be given to available gas supply, Lower performance from prolonged exposures to poor quality untreated water

Cost: They range in price from about $700 to $2000 (not including installation).

Solar

Consists of solar collector panels and a storage tank. A four-person household typically needs about four square metres of solar collector area (two panels) and a 250ltr tank. You need a large tank to allow for days with less sunlight (or more hot showers than usual).
If your panels can’t be installed in an ideal location, they may be less efficient and you’ll need a larger collection area.
The storage tank usually has an electric or gas booster element to keep the water hot on days with less sunshine.
Comparatively expensive and time-consuming to install, but a well-chosen system will pay for itself in the long run due to very low running costs.

Cost: They range in price from about $3000 to $7000 (not including installation).

Heat pump

A much more efficient form of electric storage tank system that works on the same principle as a fridge or air conditioner, by extracting heat from the air and using it to heat the water tank.
Units are usually integrated (tank and compressor together) but can also be split (separate tank and compressor).
They need to be installed in a well-ventilated area – usually outdoors.
The compressor on the unit can be noisy, like the outdoor unit of an air conditioner, so you can’t install them too close to a neighbouring home.
They tend to work best in warm and temperate regions, but there are models designed to work well in cold climates too, and most systems have a booster element for days of cold weather or high demand.
You’ll typically need a 270–315L tank for a four-person household.

Cost: They range in price from about $2500 to $4000 (not including installation).

Are you getting the most out of your hot water system?

This guide will give you expert DIY tips and a yearly plan to ensure your system lives a long life.

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