Hot Water Units

Hot Water Units

Here at Upkeep Plumbing we know all too well how important hot water is, especially in the middle of a cold Melbourne winter.

Whether you are looking to update your hot water unit or are needing to replace your existing hot water unit, Upkeep Plumbing can help you with the decision.  There are many different types of hot water units and different homes and usage requirements will influence the most appropriate unit for your home.  Below are just a few considerations to keep in mind when selecting a new unit:

Gas storage unit

The pros of a gas storage unit:

  • upfront costs are typically lower than other types of hot water units
  • installation costs can be lower because they usually do not require an upgrade to the gas line
  • gas delivers hot water faster, as the water is stored ready for immediate use
  • 5-star efficient models are available

These pros need to be weighed up against a few cons:

  • the hot water tank size is generally larger and takes up more space
  • heat loss can occur from the water tank, whether the water is being used or not
  • gas storage units are typically not as energy efficient as continuous flow units

Continuous flow hot water unit

­Some of the pros associated with a Continuous flow hot water unit are:

  • the units are generally nice and small and can be mounted to the side of house
  • continuous flow units heat up water as you need it and they will never run out of water
  • they can deliver the required water temperature through controllers which can be installed

The consideration of continuous flow are:

  • you may need to upgrade the gas line which adds additional costs
  • a small amount of water is lost in delivery from unit
  • delivery of hot water can sometimes take a bit longer than for a storage hot water unit.

If your house does not have a gas connection to the property, you may need to consider different options for an electric hot water unit.

Electric hot water units

The benefits of a electric hot water unit are:

  • if you are replacing a ‘like for like’ unit it will save on cost because it will generally only require a disconnection and reconnection
  • the most affordable unit to purchase
  • lower tariffs are often available when heating of the water occurs during off peak times (night)

The main drawback of an electric hot water unit is that they generally have the highest rates of CO2 emissions.  Furthermore, if installed on an off-peak tariff, you may also have the chance of running out of hot water depending on the size of hot water unit you have installed and the water will need to reheat overnight.

In summary, gas hot water units are generally cheaper to run than electric hot water units.  If you are in an area that doesn’t have natural gas, you could consider using LPG cylinders.  Depending on how many bathrooms are in your house or how many people reside in your house, the size of hot water unit will differ.  No-one wants to be left without hot water!

So please feel free to give us a call to discuss your hot water unit needs and help to decide what might be the right unit for you.

Further Reading

Great article about hot water use in Australia Your Home (Government Website)

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