Hot Water Systems - which is a good buy?

[David071]

Hi Everybody,
Our old Bosch gas instantaneous HWS is just about dead! We are just wondering if anybody can help with any information on a reliable HWS to purchase - gas, electric or solar? System for two to three persons HWS.
Thanks everybody.

[VroomVroom]

I compared all last month , ended up sticking with the standard off peak 250L electric. we can adjust the themostat down to 55 deg , if we go away we can switch it off . new tank was $705 and i swapped it myself in less than an hour.
Solar was too exe when you looked at the high replacement cost ( $4000 ) , short life ( 10 yrs ) and if you need to boost you can only do it at full rates.

[SpankedHam]

we can adjust the themostat down to 55 deg , if we go away we can switch it off.

I strongly recommend that you do not set your hot water heater to 55c. Legionella can start to grow at that temperature and that is one bug you don't want in your water supply. You need your water temperature to go up to or over 60c at least twice a week.

[Tiny]

I've got a Rinnai Infinity instant gas that has been running faultless for years.

[toyboy11]

Solar, wouldn't have it any other way.

[admin]

I will be going gas boosted solar when I upgrade the current piece of crap. I am doing pretty well as its 6 years old and a builders range cheapy. Having said that, I somehow got 10 years out of the last one which was also cheapy builder supplied.

Due to the current and future power prices, I have decided to take out a personal loan for solar. I just got a letter saying that due to power increases my fortnightly power payment will go from $79 a fortnight to $93 a fortnight....and there is at least one other increase due this year that I know of.

I would only be going gas boosted solar as it seems to be too hard to go to electric boosted solar when you have natural gas already available.

[mutanti]

Solar - Apricus. Works Well. Off in metre box at moment..

[gordon_s1942]

If it was possible and affordable, I would like a solar panel on mains pressure as a pre heater for a 'Tankless' or Instantaneous Gas HWS.
I know after many years just how much our tap water Temp varies winter to summer and all the pipes are buried.
But even without the solar panel, I would prefer to remain with Gas instantaneous system.
Mine is LPG and I use 9kg bottles which suits our particular needs.

Alternatively, what about the Heat Pump systems everyone was raving about recently or have they suddenly lost favour for some reason?

[carjackma]

I use a chinese mains pressure solar hws (300litre evacuated tube cost less than $800 fron china) runs through my bosch hydro I have added a temp sensor to the pipe so if the water is below a set temp from the solar it allows the gas to ignite
and in perth my gas bill went from $300 ish for a family of 7 to $75 a bill since i installed the solar.
the efficiency is great the thing is even working better in winter than the neighbours flat panel solar he paid $4000+ for.
as for the life span if I get ten years for $800 im happy

[fandtm666]

The apricus evacuated tube system is by far superior to the panel setup

[mutanti]

The apricus evacuated tube system is by far superior to the panel setup

Mine works very well, For at around 6 months of the year I have Circuit breaker off in Meter Box
If Anything it gets to hot in summer and I flush some hot water into the Washing machine to relieve some pressure every now and then on the really hot days, Pic above is an everyday event this time of year.

[BCNZ]

For a stand-alone system I'm with Tiny - you can't beat the Rinnai Infinity. These units are just magic.

I have the 26 litre per minute model and it's been running for years with no problems at all.
The best part about these machines is they use NO energy (gas) when you're not drawing off hot water. There is no pilot light (as with conventional califonts or water heaters). This is pretty important for me as I run mine off two 60 kg cylinders outside.
The other benefit with them is as long as you keep supplying water and gas, they'll keep producing hot water - so you can't ever 'run out'.

If you want to get techy you can augment them with a solar collector, which means in the summer months you pretty much don't even need to use gas at all.

[Tiny]

For a stand-alone system I'm with Tiny - you can't beat the Rinnai Infinity. These units are just magic.

I have the 26 litre per minute model and it's been running for years with no problems at all.
The best part about these machines is they use NO energy (gas) when you're not drawing off hot water. There is no pilot light (as with conventional califonts or water heaters). This is pretty important for me as I run mine off two 60 kg cylinders outside.
The other benefit with them is as long as you keep supplying water and gas, they'll keep producing hot water - so you can't ever 'run out'.

If you want to get techy you can augment them with a solar collector, which means in the summer months you pretty much don't even need to use gas at all.

Also I forgot to mention, I'm on bottled gas (2 x 45kg) & my supplier told me when I installed the Rinnai that it was at the time the most efficient gas user of the instant units available.
It also has
" Rinnai Quality

• After sales support
• 12 year warranty on Heat Exchanger"

[bazzle01]

I have a Dux 2x solar panel system, 320l tank.. 3 years old with zero issues to date.
Heats water to over 60c on hot days, ~25 in winter.

Has gas booster if required to get to 60c (kills legionella etc)
There is an adj tempering valve on out put to bathroom set at 40c. Kitchen run bypasses that so is very hot.

Bazzle

[SpankedHam]

I strongly recommend that you do not set your hot water heater to 55c. Legionella can start to grow at that temperature and that is one bug you don't want in your water supply. You need your water temperature to go up to or over 60c at least twice a week.

Boink.




Wow. I can't believe that there was a government program that includes lowering the temperature of HWS to 50c let alone 45c. If anyone reading this has had their house Greened by the QLD governments Climate Smart (HAH!) Program I urge you to check the temperature of your HWS and increase it if need be.

[Ridwan Sameer]

Definitely Solar.
Cost efficient and amazingly Good

[mutanti]

Solar, wouldn't have it any other way.

Same..

[gordon_s1942]

There is always a downside to every damn thing we think we can save a Dollar on and one is my location in the Mountains (950metres) with the prospect of heavy frosts damaging Solar HWS and very cold water temps in the winter.
Currently I use a LPG powered 'Tankless' unit and I really like it but the downside is that they are threatening to increase LPG gas prices and the cost per annum of the bottle rental to be in line with the currently exorbitant charges levied on Electricity and Petrol.
From what I have heard, the 'Evacuated' tube system for Solar panels is the way to go as they use these in countries like Canada and its a damn sight colder there than here.
I hate to say it but I am waiting for some smart arse to come up with a plan to create a levy for the use of Solar panels both electrical and water.

[admin]

Due to the current and future power prices, I have decided to take out a personal loan for solar. I just got a letter saying that due to power increases my fortnightly power payment will go from $79 a fortnight to $93 a fortnight....and there is at least one other increase due this year that I know of.

The irony of reading this...$79....$93.....I am now on $120 a fortnight in power.

Solar here I come. No one is going to be able to afford electricity soon.

[watchdog]

After rises of 10% & 12% over the last two years the NSW Gov't is now congratulating themselves on an expected 2% decrease within the next two years