HOT WATER TIPS

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Reducing your use of hot water is a great way to save on your energy bills, regardless of what water heater you have.
Showering uses the most hot water in a household. Installing a water efficient (AAA rated) showerhead can reduce this use by more than half (22L per min down to 9L per min).
Buy washing machines and dishwashers that have a cold or warm water cycle option and use this cycle as much as possible.
Immediately repair dripping hot water taps and leaking appliances, including the relief valve from your water heater.
Ensure that the temperature gauge on storage hot water systems is set at 60°C. A higher temperature than this means that energy is used unnecessarily and a lower temperature than this may allow harmful bacteria to thrive. Instantaneous hot water systems should be set to no more than 50°C. Turn off your water heater when you go on holidays.
Maintain your system and have it serviced according to manufacturer's instructions

Energy Sources For Heating Water

Solar energy

Solar hot water systems depending on your climate can provide up to 90% of your hot water for free using the sun's energy. Solar systems may be less appropriate in smaller households, in cooler parts of the country, or where access to sunlight is restricted.
Rebates may be available to assist with the purchase cost of solar water heaters. Rebates are currently available in Queensland, Victoria, NSW and SA.

Natural gas

Natural gas water heaters generate far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than standard electric storage systems.

Gas storage systems have quicker heat recovery times and generally use a smaller tank than a comparable electric storage system. This improves efficiency and makes indoor installation easier. Systems installed inside the house need a flue that leads outside to vent exhaust gas.

Instantaneous systems usually use natural gas as it is cheaper for this application than LPG and electricity.

To compare energy use of gas storage and instantaneous gas water heaters, check the star rating label.

Electricity can be used for standard storage heaters, for heat pump systems or for boosting solar systems. Expensive three-phase electricity supply is needed for instantaneous systems.

Electric Heat Pumps:

Electric heat pumps are an efficient type of electric storage water heater that extracts heat from the environment to heat water. They pay back the extra initial investment more quickly in larger households.

Heat pumps that draw heat from the air use only about one third of the energy of a standard electric system and can be made even more efficient by using a solar booster. Electricity is not used to directly heat the water but to move heat from one place to another. The heat is carried by a refrigerant.

Ground source (or geothermal) heat pumps use a water body, shallow trench or deep bore instead of the air as a heat source. They usually provide both space heating and water heating.Electricity is used to pump water around a loop buried in the ground or immersed in a water body. The enclosed water absorbs heat from the surroundings. Geothermal heat pumps can produce more than 4 units of heat energy for every unit of electrical energy used.

Heat pumps can be located and designed to utilise waste heat from air conditioners and refrigerators.

Government rebates may be available to assist with the purchase cost of heat pumps. Rebates are currently available in Queensland, Victoria and some parts of NSW and SA.

Here are a few things to consider:

• Setting your thermostat so that your water is too hot to use wastes energy. Then you waste cold water to cool it to a useable temperature. Ask us to adjust it for you
  
  
• Use separate hot and cold taps over sinks and basins. Mixing taps are usually left in the middle position so that every time you fill a glass or pot, you draw off unwanted hot water that just cools in the pipe. You could also add in flow regulators to save water and save.
  
  
• Install the hot water system as close as possible to the kitchen and bathroom to avoid wasting hot water in long sections of pipe. We do bathroom and kitchen renovations, ask us about the most efficient plumbing in your plans.
  
  
• Insulate all hot water pipes to further reduce any heat loss. We can do this for you.