Are they better than Gas storage hot water systems?
How to choose a hot water heater
When buying a hot water heater your choice will be based on a number of reasons specific to you. These will be energy efficiency, environmental impact, the size of the hot water system and its location, amount of available hot water, installation costs, reliability, serviceability and safety. We will compare these issues one by one
Consider the Energy efficiency
Over a year, for an average household a 5 star Gas Storage hot water heater is likely to use 5%-10% more gas than a Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system. However, a 5 star Gas Storage hot water heater system does not require any electricity to run its computing and standby functions as does a Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system.
Further, according to a paper delivered by Adjunct Professor Alan Pears at the National Plumbing Regulators Conference 2008, gas storage systems may be on par with Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system for gas consumption in houses using 150 to 250 litres of hot water per day.
The best way to determine how efficient the hot water heater will be is to ask the sales person to tell you the average yearly gas consumption of the various units they are selling to you. Don’t forget that a Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system also uses electricity which is not included on the gas consumption data plate.
What is The Environmental impact?
This can be broken into two categories
The Carbon Footprint
Both the 5 star Gas Storage hot water heater system and Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system have lower carbon footprints than an electric boosted solar hot water heater. The Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system will use 5 -10% less gas than a 5 star Gas Storage hot water heater system. However, a Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system requires electricity.
The Water Efficiency
The Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system has minimum flow requirements before it will start heating water. Some units range between 2 and 3L/minute. We have found that some of the more water efficient shower roses have to be changed or their restrictors removed so that the Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system will produce hot water. The minimum flow rates of a Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system means that you cannot be economical with water whilst doing things like shaving and rinsing dishes.
The 5 star Gas Storage hot water heater system will lose up to 2000 litres of water through its relief valve every year. This water is wasted if is not collected for the gardens.
The Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system will lose between 15,000 litres and 20,000 litres of cold water down the drain every year. This does not take into account the longer shower that also might be had.
You can learn more if you visit the websites listed below.
The full article about Continuous Flow Hot Water systems can be read at
If you need further information and /or assistance, 6 Star Hot Water & Plumbing will do its best and give you its best price when it supplies and installs any type of hot water system you want.
If you need more information about your gas hot water or immediate help in Canberra, Queanbeyan or Jerrabomberra just call 6161 9417 for Six Star Hot Water & Plumbing.
I was looking at the comparisons here. It seems that the water effiency issues could be aleviated by utilising a Redwater Diverter.
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