Tips for Selecting the Right Size Hot Water System
By Fluid Plumbing|March 09, 2017
Deciding on a hot water system for your home can be difficult as there are so many different products on the market. Here we take a look at the different types of heating systems available, and how to work out which is the most suitable for your home.
How much hot water do you need?
This is the first thing you need to work out when choosing a hot water system. Before you start, you should ask yourself the following questions:
This will allow you to work out your peak hot water demand, which will determine the size and type of hot water system you need.
Continuous flow systems
These give you an endless supply of hot water on demand, so you don’t need to switch anything on or wait for the hot water system to heat up. There are both gas and electric systems available – gas will heat the water quicker and also tends to be more energy-efficient.
Continuous flow systems are small and unobtrusive, so they are suitable for all types of homes, including apartments.
The capacity of continuous flow systems is judged by the flow rate, which is measured in litres per minute, so you will need to work out the flow rate you need to cope with your peak demand by measuring how many litres per minute each of your hot water sources, such as showers and appliances, uses.
Storage tank systems
These are the most popular hot water systems in Australia. As the name suggests, a storage tank system is an insulated tank installed in your home, which filled from your cold water supply and heated by an element inside the tank. They are larger than continuous flow systems so you will need a home with adequate storage space for the size of tank you need.
These systems can be misleading as their capacities can look too small, but you have to work out which times of day you need hot water. For example, you may use 75 litres of hot water a day, but it may be split into three lots of 25 litres at different times of day. This would mean you would only need a 25-litre tank.
Solar-powered systems
These use solar panels on your roof to heat the water, which is usually collected in an external tank. The greater your need for hot water, the more or larger solar collector panels you will need installed on your roof to increase your solar power. The size of your roof and the amount of space you have for an external tank will determine whether or not a solar-powered system is a viable option for you.
Call the Professionals
It is always worthwhile getting advice from a professional when choosing a hot water system for your home. Fluid Plumbing are your hot water experts on the Central Coast. With over 20 years’ experience of installing each type of hot water system, their team of heating experts will be able to advise you on which system and product is the most suitable for your needs.
Call Fluid Plumbing to arrange a visit from a hot water expert, and have all your hot water requirements taken care of by a professional you can trust.
How much hot water do you need?
This is the first thing you need to work out when choosing a hot water system. Before you start, you should ask yourself the following questions:
- How many people live in your home?
- How many bathrooms does it have?
- Does everyone in the house tend to use hot water at the same times of day, such as in the mornings?
- Do they take showers or baths at the same time in different bathrooms?
- Do your household appliances require hot water at the same time as the bathrooms?
This will allow you to work out your peak hot water demand, which will determine the size and type of hot water system you need.
Continuous flow systems
These give you an endless supply of hot water on demand, so you don’t need to switch anything on or wait for the hot water system to heat up. There are both gas and electric systems available – gas will heat the water quicker and also tends to be more energy-efficient.
Continuous flow systems are small and unobtrusive, so they are suitable for all types of homes, including apartments.
The capacity of continuous flow systems is judged by the flow rate, which is measured in litres per minute, so you will need to work out the flow rate you need to cope with your peak demand by measuring how many litres per minute each of your hot water sources, such as showers and appliances, uses.
Storage tank systems
These are the most popular hot water systems in Australia. As the name suggests, a storage tank system is an insulated tank installed in your home, which filled from your cold water supply and heated by an element inside the tank. They are larger than continuous flow systems so you will need a home with adequate storage space for the size of tank you need.
These systems can be misleading as their capacities can look too small, but you have to work out which times of day you need hot water. For example, you may use 75 litres of hot water a day, but it may be split into three lots of 25 litres at different times of day. This would mean you would only need a 25-litre tank.
Solar-powered systems
These use solar panels on your roof to heat the water, which is usually collected in an external tank. The greater your need for hot water, the more or larger solar collector panels you will need installed on your roof to increase your solar power. The size of your roof and the amount of space you have for an external tank will determine whether or not a solar-powered system is a viable option for you.
Call the Professionals
It is always worthwhile getting advice from a professional when choosing a hot water system for your home. Fluid Plumbing are your hot water experts on the Central Coast. With over 20 years’ experience of installing each type of hot water system, their team of heating experts will be able to advise you on which system and product is the most suitable for your needs.
Call Fluid Plumbing to arrange a visit from a hot water expert, and have all your hot water requirements taken care of by a professional you can trust.
