Best Hot Water Systems
Nothing can sour your day quite like a shower turning cold, which is why you want a reliable hot water system that’s suited to your household. We go through what to consider when looking for a water heater, including your water use, energy efficiency, costs, and more. Continue reading...
- Products (40,475)
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- Hot Water Systems (280)
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With its 270 litre hot water storage capacity, the EVO270 is a prime pick for households with up to six people. It's also listed as an energy efficient water heater by the Clean Energy Regulator, a government body responsible for reducing carbon emissions in Australia.
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- Build Quality4.8 (574)
- Value for Money4.4 (570)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.7 (474)
- Noise Level4.1 (577)
- Temperature Consistency4.8 (503)
- Heating Speed4.8 (513)
- TypeStorage
- Dimensions 1992 x 640 x 640 mm
Aquatech RAPID/X6
Latest review: The heat pump works perfectly for us it is set on a timer to come 3 times a day for 2 hours and todate we have not run out of hot water and with only 2 people and I have never heard the heat pump on
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- Build Quality4.8 (301)
- Value for Money4.7 (312)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.8 (255)
- Noise Level3.8 (310)
- Temperature Consistency4.7 (281)
- Heating Speed4.6 (282)
- TypeStorage
- Dimensions 1582 x 620 x 620 mm
- Award Winner 2023
Hydrotherm
· includes 4 listingsUsing heat pump technology, the Hydrotherm Hot Water System lets a large household have hot water up to 70°C without breaking the bank.
Price (RRP) $3,195
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- Build Quality4.7 (179)
- Value for Money4.7 (182)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.7 (157)
- Noise Level3.9 (176)
- Temperature Consistency4.7 (157)
- Heating Speed4.5 (159)
- Award Winner 2023
Joolca HOTTAP
· includes 5 listingsWith just the flick of a switch, the Joolca HOTTAP gives you hot water at your desired temperature wherever you are.
Price (RRP) $399 to $649
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- Build Quality4.6 (297)
- Value for Money4.4 (299)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.6 (283)
- Noise Level4.3 (223)
- Temperature Consistency4.5 (246)
- Heating Speed4.6 (248)
- Award Winner 2023
iStore Hot Water Heat Pump
· includes 2 listingsAs an alternative to using gas or electricity, the innovative iStore Air to Energy uses compressor technology to extract heat energy from the air and store it for using later.
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- Build Quality4.8 (71)
- Value for Money4.8 (71)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.8 (64)
- Noise Level4.3 (69)
- Temperature Consistency4.8 (65)
- Heating Speed4.7 (64)
Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System
Latest review: Beware if you plan on locating the heated water storage tank LOWER than the heat pump unit( Install Manual x2.0 "heat pump can be under or above the level of tank"). I located the 315 litre storage
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- Build Quality4.9 (69)
- Value for Money4.7 (69)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.9 (61)
- Noise Level4.7 (69)
- Temperature Consistency5.0 (64)
- Heating Speed4.9 (63)
- TypeStorage
- Award Winner 2023
Dux Prodigy 4
· includes 5 listingsWith a 4.2 star energy rating and new burner technology that means faster recovery rates, the Dux Prodigy 4 lets you have reliable hot water when you need it - all without hiking up your power bill.
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- Build Quality4.8 (140)
- Value for Money4.7 (150)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.7 (115)
- Noise Level4.7 (131)
- Temperature Consistency4.9 (134)
- Heating Speed4.8 (133)
EcoAlliance Dynaheat
· includes 6 listingsLatest review: Another shocking install and no service repair after 2 months of calls messages and emails. I thought they cared about their client but they keep saying we have escalated your request for a
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- Build Quality4.3 (475)
- Value for Money4.4 (483)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.3 (419)
- Noise Level3.9 (457)
- Temperature Consistency4.4 (385)
- Heating Speed4.4 (391)
- Award Winner 2023
Dux Proflo
· includes 28 listingsLatest review: It is suppose to be for a family of 3 adults and 3 children "OFF PEAk"-I can tell you that after 2 short showers there is no hot water left-WE USE COLD WATER FOR WASHING MACHINE AND COLD WATER FOR
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- Build Quality4.7 (366)
- Value for Money4.6 (378)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.6 (315)
- Noise Level4.8 (304)
- Temperature Consistency4.8 (343)
- Heating Speed4.7 (332)
Enviroheat Heat Pump Water Heater
Latest review: JR Gas & Water did a wonderful job installing our new system this week (we'd highly recommend them). It's been operating excellently and we're really happy with it. You can hear the noise of it
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- Build Quality4.5 (51)
- Value for Money4.4 (52)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.5 (45)
- Noise Level3.7 (54)
- Temperature Consistency4.4 (44)
- Heating Speed4.2 (44)
- TypeStorage
- Dimensions 1987 x 629 x 600 mm
EvoHeat EVO150-1 Series
Latest review: Easy to install and operate. Very happy so far, no shortage of hot water and it operates
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- Build Quality4.8 (27)
- Value for Money4.5 (29)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.5 (20)
- Noise Level4.0 (28)
- Temperature Consistency4.8 (25)
- Heating Speed4.6 (25)
- TypeStorage
- Dimensions 1623.5 x 568 x 568 mm
- Award Winner 2023
Dux Always Hot Continuous Flow
· includes 20 listingsLatest review: Was the first one I could find that fitted where the leaking Kelvinator was (Recessed into double brick wall). Got a 26L and condensor model in place of the old 21L. Needed a drain pipe fitted which
- Build Quality4.5 (49)
- Value for Money4.3 (47)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.5 (39)
- Noise Level4.5 (47)
- Temperature Consistency4.3 (42)
- Heating Speed3.9 (42)
Rheem Ambiheat HDc270 Heat Pump 551270
Latest review: Went from an Electrical System to our first heat pump and can say it has been significantly better. Low electricity use and great value for money. Highly recommend JR Gas and Water to install as they
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- Build Quality4.8 (25)
- Value for Money4.6 (25)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.8 (25)
- Noise Level4.6 (23)
- Temperature Consistency4.8 (20)
- Heating Speed4.9 (19)
- TypeStorage
- Max Water Pressure800 kPa
- Min Water Pressure650 kPa
- Dimensions 1825 x 690 x 720 mm
Envirosun solar hot water systems use durable hot water tanks and high-density thermal insulation, making them built to last and able to deliver hot water to your household faster.
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- Build Quality4.3 (15)
- Value for Money3.8 (16)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.4 (13)
- Noise Level4.3 (10)
- Temperature Consistency4.6 (11)
- Heating Speed4.1 (12)
Sanden Eco Heat Pump
Latest review: For a 250L tank, it takes about 1-1.5 kwh to run, and the daily heating cycle is about 1-2 hours. The heat pump does require defrost in Canberra's freezing winter. So install the heat pump in a
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- Build Quality3.4 (59)
- Value for Money3.1 (60)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 3.8 (56)
- Noise Level4.5 (58)
- Temperature Consistency4.4 (46)
- Heating Speed4.6 (45)
- TypeStorage
Stiebel Eltron WWK 222 / 302
· includes 4 listingsLatest review: perfect and promp response. install within one.week. thanks so
Price (RRP) $4,491 to $4,794
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- Build Quality3.7 (51)
- Value for Money3.2 (51)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.0 (43)
- Noise Level3.9 (49)
- Temperature Consistency4.0 (44)
- Heating Speed3.8 (43)
Neopower Evacuated Tube Solar Hot Water
With 80% collector efficiency and a frost tolerance of up to -15°C, the Neopower Evacuated Tube Solar Hot Water System can reliably provide you with heated water around the home.
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- Build Quality5.0 (12)
- Value for Money4.9 (11)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 5.0 (11)
- Noise Level4.9 (10)
- Temperature Consistency5.0 (11)
- Heating Speed4.8 (11)
Wulfe Hot Water Heater
· includes 2 listingsLatest review: Just installed 2 days ago. Appears to be working
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- Build Quality4.3 (11)
- Value for Money4.3 (10)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 3.9 (9)
- Noise Level3.6 (13)
- Temperature Consistency4.3 (6)
- Heating Speed4.4 (7)
Emerald Energy All-in-One Heat Pump
· includes 4 listingsLatest review: Have just had one installed a few days ago. The system is great so far n is happy about it. Like to know how to activate the apps in particular on automating the hot water with smart actions. Just
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- Build Quality4.7 (15)
- Value for Money4.5 (13)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.6 (13)
- Noise Level3.8 (12)
- Temperature Consistency4.7 (11)
- Heating Speed4.3 (11)
Smarttek Black Smart Hot Water System
Latest review: We have been having the same issues as others. No hot water. Heats up cuts out. turns off. Followed the trouble shoot guide. Took it back to tentworld. I was told that I should call the support
Price (RRP) $349
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- Build Quality4.0 (54)
- Value for Money3.5 (58)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 3.9 (50)
- Noise Level3.9 (44)
- Temperature Consistency3.4 (54)
- Heating Speed3.9 (55)
- TypeContinuous
- Max Water Pressure1,500 kPa
- Min Water Pressure25 kPa
- Dimensions 440 x 300 x 150 mm
Types of hot water systems
Heating water for use in the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry uses over a quarter of the average household’s energy, which is why it’s important to carefully consider what kind of hot water system is right for you.
You’ll have to first decide what kind of heating method you want to use for your hot water system: gas, electric, solar, or heat pump.
Gas hot water systems · See All
Gas is quite an efficient energy source, so it can be a good option if you have a natural gas connection. Natural gas is significantly cheaper than LPG.
These systems are usually installed outdoors because they need adequate ventilation, but they can be installed indoors with a flue.
Electric hot water systems · See All
Electric water heating is relatively cheap to buy and install, but ongoing costs can be expensive. However, if your meter includes off-peak rates, then this should be cheaper.
Solar hot water systems · See All
A solar hot water system needs to be installed in a sunny spot for it to be efficient. This means that they do tend to work better in certain parts of Australia, particularly Queensland and the Northern Territory. You might even want to buy a larger tank for days with less sun or when you want to use more hot water.
Most of these systems will still have either a gas or electric booster to ensure that hot water is always available, regardless of the climate.
Heat pump hot water systems
Heat pump systems use electricity to transfer heat from one place to another rather than directly generating heat. These units need to be installed in a place with good ventilation, generally outdoors. Heat pump models can save you up to 80% on the cost of hot water compared to an electric storage system.
Storage vs instantaneous hot water systems
A hot water system can be either an instant system or a storage tank system.
Instant systems
Also called continuous hot water systems, these only heat water when they're needed. They aren’t actually instant, but they usually just take a few seconds before you get hot water. Most models use gas, but you can still find electric models, which are typically only designed to heat water for a single water outlet.
A continuous flow system can be more suited to smaller households, as they’re cheaper to run and more practical than having a storage tank.
f you’re considering an instant hot water system, then you should consider its flow rate. You should opt for a higher flow rate if you have many water outlets in your home. A general rule of thumb is to get a flow rate of around 22 to 24L per minute for a house with two bathrooms.
Storage tank systems
These store a certain amount of heated water that can then be used throughout the day. Most gas, electric, solar, and heat pump systems use a tank.
They’re generally more cost-effective and so can be suited to households that use a lot of hot water; you just need to ensure you get a large enough tank to ensure the last in line for a shower isn’t left in the lurch mid-rinse.
If you have off-peak electricity available to your home, then these systems can take advantage of these cheaper tariffs.
These tanks are insulated, but it’s still a good idea to install them in an insulated or sunny place to minimise heat loss.
What to consider when choosing a hot water system
There are a few other things you should consider when shopping around.
Your household size and energy use
Understanding the hot water needs of your household is key to getting the right hot water system. An undersized system means that someone will probably miss out on a hot shower, while a system that’s too large will mean you’re paying for something that you’re not fully using.
The average Australian uses around 40 to 50L of hot water per day - more if you take long hot showers or often use hot water to wash clothes.
Here’s a rough size guide for water heaters, but you should also consult the manufacturer of a hot water system you’re considering buying as well as seek advice from an installer.
For storage tank systems, consider the number of people in your household:
- A 1-2 person household could be fine with a small storage tank of around 90L.
- A 4-person household will need around 135-170L.
- Households of 5 people or more may find it more economical to find a large tank of between 200-300L than install multiple continuous systems.
For continuous hot water systems, consider the number of hot water outlets in your home and peak usage:
- A 2-bathroom household will need 22-24L/min flow rate.
- If you expect 2 people to be showering at the same time, you need at least a flow rate of 14L/min.
- There’s also the option to install multiple systems and have them in different parts of your home.
Energy efficiency
The most efficient type of hot water systems are heat pump and solar water heating systems.
If you’re shopping for an electric storage system, a gas storage system, or an instant gas hot water system, look for Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). You may see energy efficiency ratings on gas systems, but these aren’t government regulated.
Price
Excluding installation, prepare to pay the following upfront:
- Gas hot water systems often cost between $900 and $2000.
- Electric hot water systems usually cost somewhere between $500 and $2000.
- Solar hot water system prices can vary a lot, but usually cost between $4000 and $8000.
- Heat pump models range from $2000 to $4000.
Hot water system installation costs vary a lot depending on the job and system you opt for. If you’re switching out your current hot water system with one of the same capacity and in the same location, installation typically ranges from $300 to $700. If you’re moving the system to another location, then you may have to pay between $1100 and $2500 depending on what kind of plumbing and electrical work is required.
You should also check for warranties. While these vary, most hot water systems should come with a warranty of at least 7 years - the longer the warranty, the more the manufacturer backs the quality.
Look for government rebates and incentives
There are a range of incentives offered by the federal and state governments - such as the federal government’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme - for households to switch to energy-efficient hot water systems, particularly solar and heat pump systems.
A hot water system installer may also be able to tell you of rebates that are available to those living in your area.