Compare Hot Water Systems

We’ve put together a guide to help you compare hot water systems and decide which water heater will suit your requirements, home and budget the best. All the information that we provide on this page is based on our decades of experience installing, repairing and retrofitting hot water systems. We are an independent business and are not affiliated with any particular brand or system so all of the information is unbiased and based on our own opinions.

If you have any questions or would like more information about any of the different systems then give us a call – we are always happy to provide our professional opinion or to give you an over-the-phone quote. Call [contact type=”phone”]. 

Electric Hot Water Systems:

In our opinion, electric hot water systems are the most efficient and economical option currently available on the market. Electric systems have a false reputation for being inefficient or expensive, which is why a lot of people invest in solar or gas hot water, but we have found that to be untrue. When paired with an off-peak tariff, an electric water heater is the cheapest option to run. It is also usually the most economical system to purchase and have installed. You can learn more about the benefits of electric hot water systems here.

Gas Hot Water Systems:

Many people consider gas hot water systems to be the most economical option in terms of running costs, but that is often untrue. If you are using town gas then your system will be economical to run, but if you are using gas bottles or cylinders then the costs of renting and refilling your gas will quickly outrun an electric hot water system on a tariff.

If you are using an instantaneous gas hot water heater then it actually consumes a lot more gas than a standard storage gas water heater – more than twice as much. Instantaneous does have the added advantage of not having a pilot light and also being smaller and easier to place – it can be attached to just about any external wall.

Solar Hot Water Systems:

A solar hot water system is one of the most expensive options to have installed, and because they often fail within 10 years, the savings from your power bills won’t always offset the costs of installation. A better option is to have your solar panels set up to feed the power back into the grid so that it offsets your power bill. We can then install an electric hot water system for you which costs about a third of the price, and you get that set up to run on an off-peak tariff, saving yourself even more money on your power bills.

Heat Pumps:

Heat pumps have been over-sold as being efficient, but they actually have a lot of problems in certain climates. If the humidity is bad your heat pump is likely to underperform and have a shortened lifespan. They are expensive to install – 2 or 3 times more than a standard electrical water heater – and they are expensive to repair. The costs involved in replacing the tank or if the compressor dies, it will cost you more to fix than just having a brand new electric system installed, and you’ll be left with a 7-year-old system with a brand-new tank.

Comparing Hot Water Heaters: The Verdict

We believe that an electric hot water system is the most efficient and economical option for majority of homes in the Hervey Bay, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Bay and Bundaberg region. The most economical solution is to have solar panels that feed power back into the grid to offset your power bills, while using an electric heater set on an off-peak tariff.

This may vary slightly in some instances, such as if you have access to town gas, or if you live on a rural property where there is not enough electricity to power your hot water heater.

If you are uncertain about the different hot water options and how they differ, or if you’d like more information about any of the different systems, we are always happy to have a chat. We ca also provide you with quotes or pricing options on the different types to help you make your decision – just give us a call on