Why Install an Instantaneous Hot Water System?
Instantaneous Hot Water Systems
Instantaneous Hot Water systems can be installed in most Geelong & Melbourne homes with only minor upgrades.
They are also known as Instant, Tankless or Continuous Flow Hot Water systems and available in Gas and Electric.
Instantaneous Hot Water systems are also known by a few names: Instant Hot Water, Tankless Hot Water systems and Continuous Flow Hot Water systems.
They provide hot water on demand, with the biggest benefit being you will never run out of hot water again!
As there is no water storage tank, they don’t take up much room, which is great if you have limited space.
Because they only heat water when you turn on your hot water tap, you can set the controller to your ideal temperature. You no longer have to keep your hot water at a high enough temperature to kill bacteria as it is not stored in a tank.
It also means they are not using energy keeping water at the right temperature day and night like a traditional tank system, which saves you on running costs.
GAS INSTANT HOT WATER SYSTEMS
We only recommend installing Natural Gas Instant hot water systems due to the high running cost of LPG. If your house in not connected to Natural Gas, we recommend looking at Solar or Heat Pump Hot Water systems.
Gas Instantaneous Hot Water system are slimline units attach to the wall, usually an external wall, however there are some models which can be located on internal walls.
INSTANT ELECTRIC HOT WATER SYSTEMS
As electric instantaneous hot water systems use a higher amount of energy in short bursts, until recently electric models were generally only available in small systems suited to limited uses, for example an office kitchenette.
Recently, electric instant hot water systems designed for domestic use have become available, which are large enough to be connected to a shower as well as a kitchen. However, they do have drawbacks and we would only recommend them for use in limited applications.
Firstly, all domestic electric hot water systems require 3 phase power due to the amount of electricity they draw at once (which most residential houses don’t have). Currently, only internal models are available, which means it has to be installed inside your house. If you have solar panels, it will not contribute to the running of this system. And if you have more than 1 shower, you will need more than 1 instant electric hot water system installed to handle this.
Where they may be suitable is if you have a 1 bathroom/shower apartment with no outside area or access to natural gas.
Instantaneous Gas Hot Water systems are a great option for those who want both low installation and running costs.
Other benefits include:
- Never run out of hot water again
- Available in 6 & 7 Star energy ratings
- You can set your ideal water temperature, with no need to heat water to 60 degrees C
- Slimline design doesn’t take up much space
- Not as expensive as Solar or Heat Pump hot water to repair and replace
- Many manufactures have a 10-15 year warranty on the heat exchanger, with 3-5 years on other parts and accessories. Rinnai extend their heat exchanger to 25 years with regular servicing.
If you currently have a gas storage tank system, upgrading to an instantaneous hot water system is usually straight forward.
However, in some cases, you may need to upgrade your existing gas supply pipe. Our technicians will advise if this is required.
As they require a small amount of electricity for the ignition and temperature control, if you don’t already have a weatherproof outdoor power point near your existing hot water system, one will need to be installed, which we will organise as part of the install.
Instant Hot Water installation costs:
Instant hot water systems have both low installation and running costs.
See our comparison chart below to compare installation costs with other types of hot water systems.
Please note: if your house doesn’t have a nearby outdoor power point, one will need to be installed. We can organise an electrician to do this as part of our quote. You also need a strong enough gas supply. We will test your gas line and let you know if it needs to be upgraded.
Instant Hot Water running costs:
While not as energy efficient as Solar or Heat Pump Hot Water, natural gas instant hot water systems are cheaper to run than both Electric & Gas Storage Tank Hot Water systems.
Since water is heated as needed, not stored in a tank, you can lower your hot water temperature for even further running cost savings.
Ensure you install a 6 or 7 star energy rated model for maximum efficiency.
See below for our average annual running costs guide for gas instantaneous hot water systems, based on a 4 person household.
We work with most hot water brands including:
- Rinnai – including Hotflo, B2B & Infinity 26 Continuous Flow and Sunmaster Solar ranges
- Rheem Hot Water Systems
- Dux Hot Water Systems
- Aquamax Hot Water Systems
- Bosch Hot Water Systems
- Vulcan Hot Water Systems
- Thermann Hot Water Systems
TIP! When deciding if a hot water system is right for you, its important to consider:
- Your hot water needs – how many people live at your house and how many bathrooms do you have? Do you keep running out of hot water or is your current system size sufficient?
- Installation costs vs running costs – see our comparison chart.
- Energy source – do you have a preference for electricity, gas or solar?
- Manufacturer warranty – how long is the manufacturer warranty on parts and labour?
- Government Rebates – Various State and Federal Government Rebates are available from time to time for upgrading to a more energy efficient hot water system.
Not sure what type of Hot Water System is best for your home? Give us a call or request a quote online.
All of our quotes include our recommendation based on your needs and are fully inclusive of all labour and parts required.
Other Hot Water Options...
Get in touch with Martin Heating & Cooling today!
Call us today on 1300 146 525 or 03 7044 3333.
Or fill out our convenient online quote request form & receive a personalised quote.
Servicing Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula & Melbourne’s Western region.
Brands we service, repair, replace & install include:
