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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...
Rheem Solar Loline (gas boost)
· includes 5 listingsLatest review: Why Rheem Solar Loline still selling. Its so bad. Don't buy. My RHEEM 220L solar loline gas boosted system is just over 6 years old. It has leaking water from solar panels and cost to replace panels,
- Build Quality1.8 (5)
- Value for Money1.8 (5)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 1.8 (5)
- Noise Level2.7 (3)
- Temperature Consistency2.8 (4)
- Heating Speed2.8 (4)
Stiebel Eltron DHE 18 AU / DHE 27 AU
· includes 2 listingsLatest review: When we had the bathroom renewed 2 years ago we had had enough of always waiting a long time for hot water with the gas cylinder on the other side of the house. In the dressing room next to the
- Build Quality5.0 (1)
- Value for Money4.0 (1)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 5.0 (1)
- Noise Level4.0 (1)
- Temperature Consistency5.0 (1)
- Heating Speed5.0 (1)
Rinnai Solar Gas Boosters
· includes 2 listingsLatest review: This came came installed on new two storey townhouse in Melbourne. It’s worked well for 7 years but it froze then exploded last week with subzero temps overnight, leaking water everywhere! I’ve had to
- Build Quality2.8 (4)
- Value for Money2.0 (4)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 2.0 (3)
- Noise Level2.7 (3)
- Temperature Consistency4.3 (3)
- Heating Speed3.3 (3)
EcoSmart Solar Heat Pump
Latest review: We purchased this ecosmart ( Dux ) when there was a rebate being offered in 2012. I paid extra for the three panels and it basically provided hot water for a family of five without need for the
- Build Quality1.0 (2)
- Value for Money1.5 (2)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 2.0 (2)
- Noise Level5.0 (1)
- Temperature Consistency5.0 (1)
- Heating Speed3.0 (1)
Smarttek Lite
Latest review: Brought this to do some free camping also got a bag and tripod stand, super easy to use, just completed a family 10 day trip, highly reccomended, must have in your camping
Price (RRP) $299.00
- Build Quality5.0 (1)
- Value for Money3.0 (2)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 3.0 (1)
- Noise Level4.0 (1)
- Temperature Consistency5.0 (1)
- Heating Speed4.0 (1)
- TypeContinuous
- Max Water Pressure750 kPa
- Min Water Pressure25 kPa
- Dimensions 370 x 150 x 300 mm
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Rheem Rheemglas 300135
Latest review: I had a Rheem 135 litre internal HWS installed just 3 days ago . The Internal tank was already cracked when installed and it has been leaking water all over my laundry floor . Despite numerous
MicroHeat Three Phase Series 2 Water Heater
Latest review: I ordered an 11 KW 3 Phase Microheat Hot Water unit direct from Microheat. Even with the higher price compared to other units the benefits outweigh the costs. No heating elements means one thing
- TypeContinuous
- Max Water Pressure1,000 kPa
- Min Water Pressure150 kPa
- Dimensions 315 x 210 x 170 mm
Thermomate Gas Hot Water Heater Portable Shower Camping LPG Instant 4WD Outdoor
Latest review: We moved in to temporary accommodation until our new house is built only to realize there was no hot water! What I mean is the electric hot water heater had been removed leaving only the water
Thermann 4 Star Gas Hot Water System
· includes 2 listingsLatest review: Having a brand new tank installed 3 months ago we’ve had continuous leaking water from the valve even when temperature is set low. We had a so called experienced guy come out and said this is normal t
Price (RRP) $1,091.48 to $1,300.94
- Build Quality1.0 (1)
- Value for Money2.0 (1)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 3.0 (1)
Ecosmart Roof Mounted
Latest review: This system was a total disaster from the beginning. Costing over $4,500. with a government rebate of about $1,500 it has cost us more money than any non solar system would even come close to
- Build Quality1.0 (1)
- Value for Money1.0 (1)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 1.0 (1)
- Noise Level1.0 (1)
- Temperature Consistency1.0 (1)
- Heating Speed1.0 (1)
Rinnai Prestige Evacuated Tube 315/30T System WM
Latest review: I just tell what I experienced with Rinnai 315 litre WM (315 litre 30 Tube Stainless Steel electric boost) solar hot water system. It is up to you to decide whether it good for you or not. I got
- Build Quality3.0 (1)
- Value for Money2.0 (1)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 3.0 (1)
- Noise Level4.0 (1)
- TypeStorage
Thermann Small Electric Storage
· includes 4 listingsLatest review: New Thermann installed by a Thermann authorised tradie in Melbourne inner suburb in September 2019. Stuffed already! Today I found out that the warranty covers a water leak only. Cost of replacing
Price (RRP) $477.37 to $518.19
- Build Quality1.0 (1)
- Value for Money1.0 (2)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 1.0 (1)
- Noise Level5.0 (1)
Dux Ecosmart Electric Boosted Solar
· includes 5 listingsLatest review: Had this 250DPM36 unit for just over 2 years. Was good until the pump which circulates the water from the hot water tank to the solar panel failed. The pump only has a 1 year warranty, so it cost me
- Build Quality1.0 (1)
- Value for Money1.0 (1)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 1.0 (1)
- Noise Level5.0 (1)
- Temperature Consistency5.0 (1)
- Heating Speed5.0 (1)
Dux Ecosmart Gas Boosted Solar
· includes 5 listingsLatest review: My Dux Sunpro 305 Solar Water Heater leaked (frost valve) on it's second, forth, sixth, eight & tenth year. Each time this happened it cost me $400 to fix, plus a large water bill. Dux was not
- Build Quality1.0 (1)
- Value for Money1.0 (2)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 1.0 (1)
- Noise Level2.5 (2)
- Temperature Consistency1.0 (1)
- Heating Speed1.0 (1)
Thermann Electric-Boosted Solar
· includes 3 listingsPrice (RRP) $5,009.11 to $7,466.21
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Thermann Gas-Boosted Solar
· includes 3 listingsPrice (RRP) $6,077.19 to $8,604.74
Midea 170L HP170
Chromagen SmartLine
EvoHeat EVO150-1
Latest review: Fast hot water. Perfect size for 2 people who use most of their hot water during the day. Excellent same day service from Speedy Hot Water
- Build Quality4.9 (10)
- Value for Money4.6 (10)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.7 (7)
- Noise Level4.1 (8)
- Temperature Consistency4.9 (7)
- Heating Speed4.7 (7)
Aquatech RAPID/X6
Latest review: All hot water demands excellent and no temperature fluctations even during heavy
- Build Quality4.7 (10)
- Value for Money4.8 (10)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.7 (7)
- Noise Level3.7 (9)
- Temperature Consistency4.9 (8)
- Heating Speed4.9 (8)
- TypeStorage
- Dimensions 1582 x 620 x 620 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.
Pros
Cons
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.
Pros
Cons
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.
Pros
Cons
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.
Pros
Cons
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.