What is a continuous flow hot water system? | Can a continuous hot water system save energy? | A disadvantage of continuous flow hot water systems | How do I know if a continuous hot water system is right for me? | What is a solar powered hot water system in Australia? | What are electric continuous hot water systems in Australia? | What is a gas powered continuous hot water system? | Common brands of continuous flow hot water systems in Australia | How long do hot water heaters last? | How long do hot water systems take to heat up? | How do I choose the right type of hot water system for my home? | What is the energy efficiency of a hot water heater in Australia?
A continuous hot water system is a low-cost, efficient, and environmentally friendly heating system that provides hot water conveniently for many home living activities.
The benefits of a continuous hot water system include:
The heat source can be either electric, solar, or gas. Features and options vary widely, but in general, all systems consist of two main components: the tank and the burner/boiler.
What is a Continuous Flow Hot Water System?
The tank is usually located outside your home which allows room for expansion without adding to your storage capacity. It has an opening at the top where pipes from your indoor plumbing lead into it, allowing water to circulate from fresh cold water coming into it to heated hot water leaving it through those same pipes.
Since it can be outdoors a majority of the time, air circulates freely around it helping with thermal exchange (so long as you keep a lid on the top). You don’t have to worry about messy cleaning- just hose off the outside of the tank every couple of months.
A continuous hot water system also has plenty of storage capacity, cutting down on the number of times you have to fill it. It can’t run out due to safety cut off valve that stops heat flow if water reaches the top and doesn’t drain fast enough.
If your home or business needs more hot water than what is currently available, you can add another tank without having to move an existing one (in comparison with other systems). The extra tank will act as an expansion space.
Because no boiler/burner is needed with this system, there are fewer chances for carbon monoxide diffusion into your living space and therefore fewer health hazards involved in installation and upkeep.
Can a Continuous Hot Water System Save Energy?
A continuous flow system uses significantly less energy than tankless systems. This is because the water is always heated, so it doesn’t have to heat up from a cold start every time you need hot water
The continuous flow system produces enough hot water for all activities in your home and even things like laundry.
A continuous flow system can also help save money on your energy bill if:
1. You already own an existing gas or propane-powered furnace that would otherwise be left off during summer months but still needs to run occasionally to keep internal parts lubricated (a condition known as cycling)
2. You have electric service with demand charges which usually increase based on peak load hours during the day when most people use more electricity due to the heat
3. You live in a home with tankless electric water heaters that were originally installed by an incompetent plumber who did not insulate the water pipes properly which means they are operating at the same temperature as outside air (roughly 25 degrees on average, much higher in summer months) and therefore using much more energy than necessary for all day, everyday hot water heating when you could be getting it from an outdoor system where temperatures can be 20 degrees or cooler.
4. In winter, instead of having to fire up your furnace to reheat cold water from your tankless heater and wasting lots of energy doing so, you can set your continuous flow system temperature to 49-50 degrees Fahrenheit (a comfortable level for taking showers) and heat it up from the outside so your furnace doesn’t have to do all of that work (a big portion of your winter energy bill)
Continuous hot water systems are also helpful for those who have limited mobility since they can operate at a lower temperature than scalding hot tankless water heater models.
Because solar panels or an electric heat source must be attached, these units will not save on any electricity costs if you live in an area that has cold winters with little sunlight throughout most days of the year. In areas where freezing temperatures occur frequently, a continuous flow system is preferable to gas-powered tanks as well as above-ground solutions, such as the tankless variety.
These systems are also easier to install because no propane hook-up and gas line install is required.
Solar panels are also not necessary for colder climates since it keeps the water heated even when there is no sunlight. It is cold outside but hot water can still be provided to your home or business from this continuous flow system. This means that in these regions, people who heat most of their hot water with electricity will still benefit from a solar panel attached because they can help keep the unit warm at all times by charging the battery.
A Disadvantage of Continuous Flow Hot Water Systems
The only disadvantage of having a continuous flow system that uses solar energy during winter is whether you can reduce your heating costs due to keeping your tank from freezing and preventing any possibility of being without hot water during such inclement weather conditions
How do I Know if a Continuous Hot Water System is Right for Me?
Think about the following questions to help determine whether a continuous flow system would be effective in your home:
1. Do you live in an area with freezing temperatures or winters that rarely get above 0 degrees (such as the snowy alpine regions in NSW/VIC)?
2. Are tankless electric water heaters installed in your current home or business which do not keep your water warm enough to prevent ‘tank freeze’ during extended periods of cold weather?
3. Does cold air often enter spaces where hot water is typically used (such as bathrooms and kitchens)? If so, this could cost you more per year than it would have a gas-powered unit with heated pipes if there is no insulation around the pipes. 4. Do you have a plumber in your area who usually installs tanked heaters with cold water pipes? If so, you could save more on energy than if you had a gas-powered tankless heater.
5. Are solar panels or a generator already installed on the property that can be integrated and used to charge the battery attached to the continuous flow unit, keeping it warm even when temperatures are below freezing outside?
6. Is there enough extra space outside where direct sunlight can reach during most of the day (typically 8 hours or more)? Solar collectors need this exposure to provide adequate energy for making up for any electricity consumed while continuously heating water inside your home or business.
Continuous Hot Water Systems are a very popular product in Australia and New Zealand. They are an ideal solution for anyone who wants to use tankless electric water heaters but whose home has constant freezing temperatures or little sunlight throughout the year. It is simple, efficient and can be cost-effective if installed at one time and used for a long time period of 10+ years.
They can save on energy costs while keeping your pipes safe from freezing even when it becomes cold outside
It is advisable to read more details about them below:
If you are also interested in learning how much you could save by choosing this type of system over traditional tanked models, visit our other article here:
What is a Solar Powered Hot Water System in Australia?
A Solar Powered Hot Water System is a hot water system which has solar panels and a battery attached to the unit. The solar panels convert sunlight into electricity to power the continuous flow hot water supply. This also helps keep the unit warm during times of freezing temperatures and extended periods where no photosynthesis occurs.
The only disadvantage of this type of system is that it does not provide enough heat or electricity when temperatures are below freezing, unless there are solar panels on your property that can be integrated to help charge the battery attached with a continuous flow unit in the household. These hot water systems are often used during warmer weather in Australia because they do not consume any gas or electricty for heating up hot water.
What are Electric Continuous Hot Water Systems in Australia?
Continuous hot water systems are a very popular product in Australia and New Zealand. They are an ideal solution for anyone who wants to use tankless electric water heaters but whose home has constant freezing temperatures or little sunlight throughout the year. It is simple, efficient and can be cost-effective if installed at one time and used for a long time period of 10+ years.
What is a Gas Powered Continuous Hot Water System?
Gas Powered Continuous Hot Water Systems, on the other hand, are designed to keep your pipes from freezing even when it is cold outside. They are a cost-effective solution if installed at one time and used for a long time period of 10+ years. However, they are often more expensive overall than choosing an electric continuous hot water system
Apart from the expense of gas tanks or liquid propane tanks, there is also the expense of making installation changes to your plumbing and reworking your building’s insulation in order to accommodate a gas line going outside. To keep heating costs down over the lifetime of the system, it is important not to heat up water too much when it isn’t needed because this will cause excessive wear on parts.
Gravity and pressure tanks are often used when installing a continuous hot water system in Australia. They help to provide steady temperatures and maintain your temperature levels even after the sun goes down. Continuous Hot Water Systems with this type of tank will start automatically when your home’s natural hot water is turned on, keeping all of your fixtures heated up until you use them.
Liquid Propane Gas (LPG) tanks are sometimes used instead of gas line systems because they don’t require as much plumbing work or insulation changes to be installed properly.
What are Some Common Brands of Continuous Flow Hot Water Systems in Australia?
Common Brands for Continuous Hot Water Systems Include:
- Stiebel Eltron
- Midea
- Rinnai
- Gleamous
- Smarttek
How Long do Hot Water Heaters Last?
Hot water heaters are typically guaranteed to last 10+ years. This is because they are designed to be able to handle the demands of hot water for that long and provide you with a comfortable temperature.
How Long do Hot Water Systems Take to Heat up?
The length of time that it takes for hot water storage systems to heat up depends on the size of the tank and how many other appliances are running at the same time. These two factors can really influence the overall resistance to flow in your house’s plumbing system.
For example, if you turn on a dishwasher, toilet and shower within a quick period of time, then you might not be able to get hot water from any of those fixtures until they have completed their cycle. If you are having continuous issues where the water is not heating up then a maintenance checker from a plumber may be worthwhile.
However, if you only use one fixture or appliance at a time, then this will reduce the resistance that is being created in your plumbing and hot water will come more quickly. The average length of time for hot water to heat up is 30 seconds-1 minute depending on these two factors.
How do I Choose the Right Type of Hot Water System for My Home?
The right type of hot water system is one that you are comfortable with and will work well in your home’s particular environment. It is important to consider certain things when choosing a hot water tank storage system, including how long you plan on keeping it for if it meets building code regulations and what temperature level will be most comfortable for your family.
What is the Energy Efficiency of a Hot Water Heater in Australia?
Australia has a national energy rating label that rates energy efficiency based on factors such as the area of the home, insulation, airtightness, the quality of windows used and their orientation. The energy rating for hot water heaters is also considered in these ratings.
Hot Water Systems are an important part of your home’s design and should be considered when purchasing one. They provide you with hot water for showers, laundry and dishes but there are many different types to choose from. Hot water systems work by heating up a type of liquid, usually gas or electricity, to provide you with hot water at your desired temperature setting.
