Plumber - Understanding Hot Water Systems

If there is a trade which is very wide and encompasses a large range of skills and tasks, it has to be the plumbing trade. Everyone will at one time or another require the services of a plumber.

No matter how professionally the plumbing job of a building has been done, there will be times when a repair or a replacement will need to be done. This is because plumbing systems are used a great deal and will wear out or malfunction at some point. Plumbers enable us to enjoy our homes and business premises by fixing our plumbing problems effectively in the shortest possible time.

Hot Water Systems

There are different options available for you to choose from when you need to have a hot water system installed in your home. You need to consider the number of people that are in your home and the way in which hot water in the home is used.

The hot water systems use different sources of energy and are available in different sizes. The storage system is where the water is heated and stored in a tank. The continuous flow system is where the water is heated only when it is required and in the amount required at that particular time.

Your hot water can be heated using solar, natural or LPG gas, electricity or a heat pump.

Gas Systems

If you have a natural gas connection, then this is a good method of heating your water since it is cheaper than electricity. Natural gas does not have peak and off-peak rates so you can comfortably heat your water any time of day or night.

You can also use the liquid petroleum gas (LPG) to heat your water though it is more expensive than the natural gas. You can decide to use either the storage system or the continuous flow system to heat the water. If you decide to use the continuous flow system, the amount of gas that will be required when the water is heated is quite high. You will therefore require to have large pipes to supply enough gas to heat the water instantaneously.

Electric Systems

Electricity has different rates for peak and off-peak hours which means you will be better off heating your water during off peak times. You will however need to heat enough water to pull you through the peak hours which means you may require a large tank. If you do not have access to off peak electricity, then you may decide to use the continuous flow system. Heating water using electricity is normally the most expensive method as compared to the other methods.

Solar Systems

A solar water heating system is made of panels which trap energy from the sun. Water then flows through the panels and gets heated. The heated water is stored in tanks and it is best to have very large tanks which can store lots of hot water in case the sunlight reduces.

Most storage tanks have an electric or gas booster which is used to heat the water on cold days when the sunlight is too little or not there at all. The solar system is known to be expensive to purchase and install. These costs are recovered with time due to low running costs.


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James Hasapis is a member of a great team of professional and passionate plumbers at Pipe Masters. They offer all kinds of plumbing services in Sydney St George Region including the installation of hot water systems. Please visit the website http://www.pipemasters.com.au/sydney-st-george-region/ for more information.