The Hot Water Choice

Seldom does a customer put thought into what hot water system suits their needs the best. The usual routine is their existing heater bursts and then they need a new one in a hurry and plump for replacing their heater with the same one.

When asked what the best solution is we are biased. Our bias is based on years of experience, we see which styles and brands don’t last long, and we see which styles and brands don’t suit a certain application. So our number one recommendation is always to go gas and to go instantaneous or constant flow. All of the major brands have a version of this style, the Rinnai infinity being the most well known.

The reasons we recommend this style are simple:

• They last longer – Rinnai are putting a 25 year lifespan prediction on their Infinity models, with only minor maintenance required in between. Electric storage tanks average 11 years.
• They are energy efficient. Some instantaneous models now have a 6 star energy rating. Electric mains pressure mains power heaters are among the most costly to operate.
• They use less space. If you would like to free up space on the side of your house or your backyard an instantaneous heater is like having a large brief case stuck on your wall. A large storage tank can be as big as a large man.

So do some research? Rinnai infinity, Rheem Continuous Flow, Bosch 26 Eco all great machines. Remember – and this is important! Your gas meter regulator will usually need to be upgraded for these heaters to work properly and to prevent unnecessary hot water repairs. They only use gas when the tap is turned on, but they need a lot of gas in a hurry. Too often we see cheap installations that messed up this crucial step.

If we were pushed on our second choice of style, we would recommend the gas rapid recovery storage units. The main choices here are the Rheem Stella’s and The Everhot range. These units can still perform with a 5 star energy rating and can deliver huge first hour performance by using the flue to help heat the cylinder.

Your Sydney Plumber is brought to you by Highlander Plumbing, Sydney plumbers with the experience & know-how to handle all your plumbing needs. Whether you need help with clearing a blocked drain, hot water systems & tanks, gasfitting, rainwater tanks or many other plumbing services…Highlander are Sydney plumbers you can trust!