Hot water systems are one of the most used appliances in your home. Choosing a system that saves energy money and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
The instant hot water systems Adelaide you choose will depend on your roof space, solar access, and local climate. Options include high-efficiency gas storage systems, solar systems, and heat pumps.
Storage
Choosing a hot water system is one of the few energy-related decisions that most homeowners will make only a few times. It is important to investigate the options and ensure you purchase a system that meets your requirements, saves you money, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and operates efficiently.
Storage systems are a common method of providing domestic hot water in Australia and are regarded as one of the most mature heat storage technologies. However, the performance of a storage system is heavily dependent on thermal stratification in the tank and the associated energy and exergy losses.
Energy and storage system efficiency can be improved by carefully estimating your household hot water needs and by ensuring that the tank is well located within your home, close to all points of use. Carefully selecting showerheads and taps, using energy-saving settings for washing machines and dishwashers, and insulating all hot water pipes are also essential in maximising the energy efficiency of your storage system.
Continuous flow or instantaneous systems do not have a storage tank and, therefore, do not suffer from the same heat and energy losses as storage systems. These systems can operate on natural gas, LPG or electricity and are available in a wide range of capacities and sizes. They are more expensive to purchase than storage systems but may have lower operating costs if they are well-sized for the household and if the tank and pipework are insulated.
Continuous Flow
Most homes are designed with a hot water tank close to the kitchen. That is because there is usually a large demand for hot water in the morning. It is vital that the system can meet these demands, and to reduce energy costs, it is advisable to use energy-efficient taps, shower heads, and a high-efficiency tank.
Some instant hot water systems Adelaide allow for a combination of renewable and conventional heating sources. The renewable heat source (solar) preheats the water, and a conventional heater is used to top up the heat supply as required. It is a very effective way to minimise operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions, especially when the weather is cloudy or winter.
In continuous-flow manufacturing layouts, steps are arranged in a tight sequence, ideally without any work-in-process or finished goods inventory. Each step makes just what the next requires, achieving a continuous and consistent output with takt time as its target. Other terms for this processing include takt, lean manufacturing, one-piece flow, make one, and move one.
Instantaneous
Also known as tankless, continuous flow or on-demand hot water systems, they heat water on a ‘demand’ basis instead of heating it and storing it in a storage tank. These systems are usually small wall-mounted units that only heat the amount of water you need each time it’s used, eliminating unnecessary energy usage and providing significant savings on your energy bills.
These systems come in both natural gas and LPG models, and with electronic fan-forced ignition, there’s no need to relight a pilot flame. They are a great option for households with limited space as they can be installed on a wall or in a closet and don’t require a large tank or gas line.
However, there are some drawbacks to these types of systems. Because they don’t store a full tank of hot water, it is possible that in the event of an unexpected gas or electrical power outage, you may experience a temporary loss of hot water supply until your system can be restored.
Installation
These instant hot water systems Adelaide are one of the most essential household appliances, but many homeowners are reluctant to tackle the installation because it requires plumbing and electrical work. However, it doesn’t have to be difficult. The key is to plan the installation before you begin to minimise fittings and trips to the hardware store.
The hot and cold water supply lines should be insulated to prevent heat loss. Using unions in the pipes rather than flexible connectors and fitting anti-scald devices in the hot and cold lines is also a good idea. The tempering valve used to limit the hot water temperature to 50oC to prevent scalding should be located per your state or territory laws.