Water Heaters: Finding the Right Fit for Your Home

 A more efficient form of renewable energy, heat pumps extract heat from their surroundings (air, water or ground) to heat water, and often use up to two-thirds less electricity than an electric hot water heater. A heat pump water heater uses a 'reverse refrigeration’ process to transfer heat, absorbed from the environment, into the water. These systems can initially be more costly than traditional methods, but save energy and can reduce energy bills in the long term. 

Gas continuous flow (instantaneous) system does not store hot water in a tank, it uses a gas burner which only heats water on demand meaning as long as you have a gas supply your hot water won’t run out! 

 Gas storage heaters keep hot water stored in a tank; but use a gas burner for the process of heating the water. Compared to their electric counterparts, gas storage systems have quicker heat recovery times . 

 Utilising a renewable energy source, solar powered hot water systems are a great way to heat water whilst reducing your environmental impact. These systems use a series of solar panels, commonly positioned on a roof where they gain maximum exposure, to absorb energy from the sun and heat the water as it is circulated through. These systems generally need to be used in conjunction with electricity or gas to maintain supply when there is no sun. 

 Electric storage systems use a heating element located inside a tank to heat water, similar to the way an electric kettle works. Water is heated and stored in the tank, available in various sizes, where it is kept hot and ready to be used. 

Continuous flow electric (Instantaneous) systems are also available, where water is heated instantly on demand; there is no storage tank involved and so this enables ‘endless hot water’ whenever a tap is turned on.