Tips for Choosing the Correct Hot Water System for Your Home
Hot water is an important element of comfort that we use without even thinking about it. Although several houses have a hot water system, not all homes have the right hot water unit. There are different things you should consider when planning to install a hot water system. However, when you have the right information, you can choose the best hot water system for your needs.
In a standard household, heating water accounts for about one-third of the total energy consumed in a home. So, when doing your research, ensure you consider hot water systems Brisbane that are energy efficient hence saving you money. Now, let’s take a look at some of the important things to consider when shopping for a hot water system for your home.
Types of Hot Water System
The main types of hot water system include:
Storage tank: This is the most commonly used hot water system in homes. Water is constantly kept in the storage tank by propane, oil, electricity, or natural gas. When hot water is needed, it is drawn from out of the tank, and in the same process, cold water flows into the tank to replace it.
Solar: Water is heated by the sun and then moved to the tank via a solar collector. In the case the water is not hot enough, this type of hot water system boost of an orthodox water heater that brings up the water to the desired temperature.
Tankless: This is also known as on-demand water heaters, and it offers hot water as needed. The system simply uses heating coils to heat the water.
Heat Pump: This water heater uses electricity to heat water and move it from one point to another. The heat pumps can be used to heat water alone or combined with your air conditioning system and heating.
Capacity
Tank water heaters usually hold 40 gallons or more. If you wash clothes with warm/hot water, have long hot showers, and have a large family, consider choosing a hot water system with increased delivery capacity or large storage tank. For instance, a family of four might take lots of showers, wash a load or two laundries in a day, run dishwasher, totaling about a hundred gallons of hot water or more.
Although that doesn’t mean that you need a hundred-gallon storage tank. For the storage tank hot water system, it is crucial to think about the first-hour efficiency recovery; this is the number of gallons a hot water system can produce hourly.
In addition, since the tankless hot water system can’t store water, it is important to look at the gallons-per-minute rating (GPM). With the GPM, you can tell the amount of hot water your system can produce over a certain period. Higher GPM means your hot water system can produce more volume of water. If you have multiple bathrooms and a huge family, you will need to purchase a tankless hot water system with higher GPM.
Efficiency
Before buying a hot water system, there are two ratings to check: the energy factor (EF) – this informs you about the efficiency of the system. And the first hour recovery (if you opt for a storage tank hot water system) or flow rate for those that choose a tankless hot water system.
It is easy to understand the energy factor – the higher the number of energy factor, the more efficient the system will be. The same thing can also be said of the recovery rate – the higher the number, the higher the volume of hot water you will get in the first hour after opening the faucet. However, when it comes to rating tankless hot water system, remember that sometimes the lower groundwater temperatures can reduce the system flow rate by half.
Installation location
You need to find a great spot where your hot water system will be placed. Each house has its own interior and décor, so it is important you choose a place your system will look aesthetically pleasing. The heating system size will also determine the place you can install it.
If you don’t have enough space in your home, you may need to move things around to create a suitable space. We recommend you don’t compromise on the hot water system’s size just because you don’t want to create a suitable spot for it in your house.
Cost
A hot water system is a device you don’t buy regularly. So, it is important to spend a good amount of money to purchase a high-quality system, especially if you want it to last for a very long time. If you save money for a poor-quality hot water system, it will cost you more in the long run. So, don’t just focus on the prices, ensure you consider the quality of the units first.
