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GOLD COAST: West Burleigh Road Burleigh Heads, 4220 BRISBANE: Oxford Street Bulimba, 4171 
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Have you ever wondered why your electricity bill is so high?
Water heating is a significant source of energy consumption in Australian homes, equating to approximately 30% of your electricity bill. That’s why it’s important to understand which hot water system is best for you to make sure you aren’t paying too much.
The easiest way to ensure you are selecting from the most efficient models, is to pay attention to the energy rating label. This will give you an idea of each model’s Kwh usage per year and, therefore, an idea of how much it could cost you in the long run.
However, if you’re unsure what’s best for you, National Plumbing is willing to help. Voted as the #1 hot water experts, our experienced plumbers are qualified to handle all of your hot water needs. For any enquiries, give us a call at 1300 246 627 or book online.
Electric hot water systems are reliable and have relatively low upfront costs, making them one of the top picks for water heaters. But is an electric water heater right for you?
An electric storage water heater is an insulated tank that heats and stores hot water at a pre-set temperature, usually about 60°C. As hot water is used the tank is refilled with cold water, beginning the heating cycle again.
A water heater generally uses about 4000 watts, typically running for 3-5 hours a day. Based on the electricity cost of $0.10 per Kwh, you’d be looking at spending approximately $440 per year on water heating alone.
However, you can connect your system to off-peak periods in order to lower costs. Heating will be restricted to select periods, often 11pm to 7am, which lowers overall running costs. This also allows for a controlled load tariff, which results in a lower energy bill.
Instantaneous, or tankless, water heaters provide hot water on demand, as opposed to storing a water supply that is kept warm at all times. They generally use less energy than a traditional electric water heater, however this does depend on your hot water usage.
In households using up to 150 litres of hot water, instantaneous heaters are approximately 24-34% more efficient. Though for households using more than 350 litres, this drops to 8-14%. This is important to note as these models cost more upfront and might offset your energy savings.
Heat pumps work much like a fridge, but instead of pumping out hot air to cool, they absorb and transfer warm air to heat water. They still operate on electricity, though they are about three times more energy efficient than standard electrical water heaters.
The downfall to this form of heating is the weather variable. The lower the air temperature the less heat there is to transfer.
Like electrical heaters, gas water heaters offer gas water heaters offer both instantaneous and stored heating. Though, the running costs of a gas heater are generally lower as natural gas prices are less than electricity prices.
While it could save you money on your next bill, there are a few drawbacks to gas heating. Gas water heaters have a higher upfront cost than electrical heaters, and they can be more difficult to install, often requiring a gas fitter.
In South East Queensland, solar is a very attractive and cost effective form of energy. On average, solar heating can provide up to 90% of your hot water just by using the sun’s energy. But how does it work?
Well, solar heating systems absorb energy from the sun through solar collectors, which is then transferred in order to heat water. Much like electric storage water heaters, this hot water is then stored, ready for use.
The major drawback here is often the initial expense and how long it could take to offset that cost. But solar energy is free meaning the ongoing costs are far less than any other water heating option.
It can be difficult to decide what is best for you when it comes to water heating as no household is the same. Which is why, here at National Plumbing, we have a team of hot water plumbing specialists ready to assist you.
Our plumbers are highly experienced in assessing which system will be best for you and your needs, so call us on 1300 246 627 or book online today.
PLUMBERS . BRISBANE . GOLD COAST
