FAQ

There are 3 main choices for hot water:

The first choice is choosing between these types of heating sources.
– Gas both natural and LPG.
– Electric hot water.
– Solar hot water.
Each choice has more options.

The second choice is size. A Standard 2 Bathroom 3 Bedroom dwelling should use a 250ltr Electric.  If you need help please call our team on
We also recommend checking your ongoing energy bill to know exactly how much your hot water is consuming over a 12 month period.  Basic average 250ltr cost is between $500 and $700 a year to run.  Even at $700 a year it’s still affordable as it works out around $2 a day for your family’s hot water needs.
Compare this cost to a Stiebel Eltron Heat pump and the running cost is even more affordable for around $1 a day for your family’s hot water needs.

Recently, Gas heating has become expensive, as for natural gas the supply charge each day before your even use gas is over $1 a day plus your gas consumption which averages the daily cost to over $2 a day.  LPG gas also is expensive with bottle hire, expensive bottle exchange, and a pain to keep changing and booking times with suppliers.  Gas can be either a storage tank or instantaneous, which are only a small box mounted on an external wall.   Great to tight access dwellings.
Solar hot water systems are broken down into 2 mains systems.  They generally run a 300ltr tank only as they require the tank to act as a battery to store heat for multiple days of use in case of overcast days conclusively.

Close-coupled units are installed directly on a roof.  These systems are great as long as your house is designed mechanically to allow for short direct water runs and roof structure.  These systems must be installed on a North facing roof to get the most benefit.  You must always be mindful of current weather to manage the booster switch to get the most out of your solar hot water system.  This type of system would be the cheapest to run being under $1 a day
Split system hot water system:  this system can be retro-fitted to an existing system as the hot water tank is on the ground and panels/tubes are roof-mounted.

These systems have a lot of moving parts.  Running costs can be cheap but constant monitoring and repairs can add up over a period of time. This system would be around $1 a day not including future repairs/maintenance.

Solar hot water systems are not the best choice generally for busy working families that just want constant hot water and don’t want to monitor period weather conditions to turn the booster on and off when required.

Electric hot water tanks with premium brands like A Rheem 491 series generally last between 15 and 20 years.  These are steel enameled tanks.

Rheem also makes a stainless steel series Stellar with similarly expected life spans.

There are cheaper commercial tanks on the market and our experiences see them last between 10 and 15 years.
Gas storage and instantaneous generally aim for around 10 to 15 years in all brands.

Solar hot water systems in premium brands generally between 15 to 20 years.  Imported brands lucky to last 10 years.

Electric hot water is generally the cheapest to repair as they all share similar parts.  Element and thermostat.   Standard element and thermostat replacement is around $330.00 inclusive GST.  Generally done every 7 – 10 years.  Geckos, frogs, and ants can cause havoc and burn these parts out over time!

With all hot water tanks in general, Expansion Valves, anodes require attention and tempering valves over time as these are important parts to maintaining your hot water system.

Solar hot water systems close-coupled are the same as electric other than cleaning roof solar panels for maximum solar absorption.  Solar split systems generally have a circulation pump to replace every 5 -7 years, sensors can fail, and controllers.  These are not cheap and prices vary.
Gas storage systems have a thermostat unit complete and are also easy and cheaper to repair with similar costs to electric storage systems.

Gas instantaneous heaters are more expensive as they generally require the manufacturer to repair and source parts.  We do not fix these systems

Heat pump systems require a tradesman with an Arctick License (refrigeration Mechanic) to diagnose and repair.  We can do limited repairs to these systems and repairs can be expensive if required.

There is a massive difference between tanks even though the outers appear to be the same.  Rheem is the best product on the market as they have the longest warranty on their products.  They are the biggest hot water manufacturer in Australia.  A warranty is only as good as the company offering it!
Rheem 491 series and stellar series offer the highest insulation value applied, therefore the hot water storage tank acts like a battery storing the residual heat longer and requiring less constant heating cycles between uses.  This then adds up to less running costs and longer tank longevity as fewer heat cycles.

Sacrificial anode is larger than standard competitors and is captive so if a plumber lays the tank over it’s not going to chip the enamel lining and greatly reduce the life span of any enameled tank.  This is always a common problem out there with other installers. Element and thermostat parts can also differ between brands and quality.

Overall we are very qualified in the hot water industry as we take pride in our profession.  We only use Australian made valves and we only use solar rated thermosun lagging to offer the very best in your hot water supply and installation.  We don’t cut corners, we have both licenced plumbers and electricians to complete the works.  We ask questions to make sure you are installing the right systems to suit your requirements.