IntoEco - Hot Water Systems

Water heating accounts for about 25% of the black balloons (of carbon dioxide) that Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney households pump out into the atmosphere every year. A simple hot water system changeover can not only change the colour of your home from black to green, but vastly reduce your electricity bill, as well as giving you the freedom of instant hot water.

We stock:
•    Continuous (or instant) hot water services
•    Solar power/solar energy hot water services
•    Gas hot water services

All of our hot water systems/tanks are eligible for varying rebates across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Check our rebates page or get in touch with us for more information!

With a little thought a new HWS can not only save a household money but can also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By doing some research prior to purchase a household can ensure that the right HWS is purchased which can reduce costs and energy use while providing sufficient hot water for the household’s needs.

Before considering to purchase or replace a Hot Water Service, it is important to understand the characteristics of the different HWS available to you to ensure it matches you and your families needs.
The first things to consider when choosing a hot water service are as follows:
Household size - How many people reside at your property and what are their water consumption patterns. The size of the HWS directly relates to whether you require multiple outlets providing hot water simultaneously (ie multiple showers, dishwashers and washing machines).
Cost – When considering a HWS it is important to acknowledge the overall cost of the system both in terms of purchase cost and ongoing energy use cost. The additional upfront cost of an energy efficent HWS is usually recovered over the life of the product.
Space available – Depending on your property layout, some HWS systems may not be suitable. For example, units or flats may not be suitable for HWS that are required to pipe hot water significant distances. In respect to Solar Hot water systems that require roof access, body corporate considerations must also be factored in. It is also important to locate your new hot water service as close as practically possible to your main water using devices. This assists in reducing heat transmission loss.
Energy Sources – Some areas within Australia do not have access to town gas and as such Gas Hot Water Services may not be applicable. In regard to Solar Hot Water, access to a north facing roof aspect and sufficient solar radiation is a primary requirement

Types of Hot Water Systems

The following table provides a simple outline of the characteristics of the main hot water services

Electric Storage

Standard electric storage water heaters use a heating element inside the tank to heat the water.
Electric Heat Pump Storage
An electric heat pump extracts heat from the environment (air, water or ground) to heat water. The ambient air is used to heat a refrigerant, which converts to a gas. The gas is then compressed, generating heat, which is transferred to the water. The refrigerant is then expanded back to a liquid and the cycle repeats. As electricity is not being used to directly heat the water but to move the refrigerant around the system, heat pumps consume significantly less electricity.

Solar – Electric or Gas Boosted

Solar hot water systems use solar collectors or panels to absorb energy from the sun. Water is heated by the sun as it passes through the collectors and then flows into an insulated storage tank. The storage tank is usually fitted with an electric or gas booster that heats the water during periods of low sunlight.

Gas Storage

Gas Storage systems utilise natural gas to heat water. Natural Gas water heaters produce far less GHG than conventional Electric storage water heaters due to the fact that natural gas burns cleaner than the fossil fuel that is burnt to generate most electricity in mainland Australia. Gas storage units have a quicker heat recovery time and require a smaller storage tank than electric hot water systems. This improves efficiency and allows for easier installation in space confined environments. It is important to note that Gas systems require flue access to vent exhaust gas.

Gas Instantaneous