What is the correct size hot water system for my house
When selecting the correct size hot water system for your home, there are many factors to consider.
Some of the factors include the number of bathrooms in the house, the amount of people living in the house, water use habits, the source of powering the hot water system and if there are any energy efficiency concerns just to name a few.
Correct size hot water system
Household Size:
- 1-2 people: 25-50 litres per person per day.
- 3-4 people: 150-250 litres total.
- 4+ people: 250+ litres.
Usage Habits:
Consider how often you use hot water for showers, laundry, and dishes. Higher demand means a larger system.
Brands:
There are many brands on the Market, some are better than others. Here is just a few:
Apricus, Dux, Thermann, Istore, Evo Heat, Chromagen, Rheem, Everhot, Quantum, Aqua Max, Bosch, Rinnai, Solarhart, Sanden, Thermann, Vulcan, Climate:
Brands we recommend
In colder regions, a bigger tank may be needed. Warmer areas might benefit from smaller or solar systems.
Location of the tank:
This is another important factor to consider when selecting the tank. The physical size of the tank needs to be checked to ensure it fits in the location. Even though the exiting tank may have been able to fit it he location beforehand it does not mean the new tank will, due to the Minium Energy Performance Standard commonly known as MEPS which was introduced in 2012. This new standard was introduced to enforce the hot water tank manufactures to meet a higher standard in efficiency. This means many of the tank actual size increased due to the thicker insulation by design.
Warranty:
The warranty does differ throughout the different brands and systems. Some of the inexpensive heat pump brands will come with as little as 12-24 months.
Shipways Effective Plumbing never recommend these brands, due to our experience where customers have purchased these units from door knocking companies the quality is extremely poor, and you are literally throwing your money down the drain.
The more reputable heat pump brands will have a 5 year warranty which should cover the cylinder, air compressor and electrical components.
With the standard electric and gas powered units the warranty is usually 10-12 years on the cylinder.
Types of hot water systems:
- Electric Storage: 125-400 litres, good for small to large homes.
- Gas Storage: Typically are smaller tanks capacity, 135-170 litres for medium homes.
- Continuous Flow: Instant hot water, sized by flow rate (18, 26, 32 L/min).
- Solar: 250-400 litres, with 2-4 panels.
- Heat Pumps: Efficient but need a 270-315 litre tank.
Final Tips:
Contact the team from Shipways Effective plumbing on 0410 638 342 to consult and ensure the correct hot water system is selected for your household needs not just for today but for the next 10-20 years’ worth of hot water.