Need a new fridge? There are plenty of styles, brands, prices and sizes, but the overall technology is pretty much standard. It’s the same with vacuum cleaners and toasters, and if you’re buying a laptop it’s really just a choice of PC vs Mac. But when you’re in the market for hot water, you really are spoiled for choice at the most fundamental technological level – because while all of the different types of hot water systems all produce hot water, that’s where the similarities fundamentally stop.
What type of hot water system is best for you?
The wildly varying technological principles mean that all those hot water system types don’t just vary in brand and size, but at the basic technological principle level – leading to considerable variation in functionality, energy efficiency, performance and suitability for your property or circumstances.
Why is this such a difficult topic to navigate? With technological diversity comes a range of advantages and disadvantages depending on factors including energy efficiency, energy availability, upfront vs running costs, environmental principles and more. But as per usual, it’s the stark competitive market that speaks the loudest, so based on general market trends and the observations of Brisbane’s most experienced hot water system specialists, we hereby present the 6 most popular types of hot water systems Brisbane-wide and far beyond – in reverse order of popularity.
6. Solar
Of all the types of water heaters, it’s perhaps no surprise that one of the newest and most advanced – while increasingly popular year-on-year – comes in at #6 rather than #1. While the most environmentally friendly, and the cheapest to run for obvious reasons, solar hot water systems clearly cost the most upfront as well as having greater space requirements, the need for a backup heating source when the sun isn’t shining, and complexity due to the need for energy-generating photovoltaic technology.
5. Heat Pump
Just like solar, there are very similar reasons why heat pump hot water technology – while increasingly good and affordable – is still not quite as popular as the ol’ favourites. The way they work, however, is quite amazing, because it’s like a fridge in reverse as it extracts heat from the surrounding air and transfers that energy to the water that is then stored. The energy efficiency and low operating costs are therefore incredible, but:
- Upfront cost is higher
- Performance is lower in cold climates
- Installation options are more limited
- They make a little bit of noise
- Awareness of the technology is still lacking.
4. Electric instantaneous
Whether powered by gas or electricity, instantaneous hot water systems (or tankless, also known as continuous flow) are surging in popularity – and for more reasons than just because of the convenience of knowing you’ll never run out of hot water on demand. They’re sleek and small, and the advantage of going for electric vs gas is that an electric system obviously doesn’t require a separate gas connection or LPG bottles.
3. Gas instantaneous
However, gas-powered tankless systems are more popular than their electric counterparts because:
- Gas prices are lower than electricity prices, with the energy source readily available throughout Brisbane & beyond.
- Tankless gas hot water systems heat the water up faster with a higher flow rate
- Gas systems reduce your reliance on electricity.
2. Gas tank storage
In Brisbane, as is the case throughout Australia, the second most popular consumer choice is gas-powered tank storage hot water systems. As you probably know, tank storage systems are basically the original hot water choice in Australia, with the lowest cost. They’re easy to install, they suit just about any home, and while gas is generally a little cheaper than electricity, the gas-powered versions are slightly less attractive because:
- They require a gas connection
- The installation requirements are less flexible
- Maintenance & safety are (slightly) less attractive.
1. Electric tank storage
Ah, the original and still the best, eh? A few years ago, electric hot water systems took a bit of a popularity dive as their inferior energy efficiency hit the headlines, but technological improvements have restored their spot at #1. That’s also because:
- They can be installed anywhere
- Product diversity is extreme
- They cost less upfront
- No gas-related safety risks.
Need help navigating your hot water options?
Sure, electric tank-based hot water systems may still be the most popular, but the best choice for your home and circumstances depends on a myriad of regional, energy, lifestyle and budgetary considerations. Luckily, your local hot water plumbers right here in Brisbane can not only guide you to the perfect technology choice, we can narrow that down to exactly the best brand, model and size for your home or premises – with 100% fully-guaranteed installation workmanship for life the added cherry on the top.
Feeling stressed with so many different hot water options out there? Give the friendly team at Hot Water Systems Brisbane a shout today – and we’ll do the rest.
