Gas – known as an efficient energy source, so if you have a natural gas connection, that may be a good option for you. Great for large families because of their high recovery rate or rapid heating. The amount of water that they can heat to a certain temperature is higher compared to an electric water heater.

Electric – usually relatively cheap to buy and install, however, can be expensive to run on a continuous rate. Electric 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.

Instant –Often referred to as “instantaneous”, an instant or continuous flow hot water system heats only as much water as you need, when you need it. They aren’t truly instantaneous – it can take a few seconds before hot water starts flowing from the tap, especially when there’s a fair distance of pipe between the hot water system and the tap. Compact in size, there are no heat losses as with water stored in a tank, so they’re often cheaper to run than storage systems and hot water continuously flows, so it won’t ‘run out’ while you are in the middle of a shower.

Do you have a large family that uses a lot of hot water for showers and washing ? Or a smaller household that uses minimal hot water?

Storage hot water heaters are sized according to household size. The more people, the larger the storage tank will need to be. A storage heater that is too small will continually run out of hot water, while one that is too large will be more expensive to run because it will maintain the water temperature even when it’s not being used. Continuous flow or instantaneous systems are sized according to the number of hot water outlets in the home, rather than the number of people. A continuous flow system that’s too small may not be able to keep up with your hot water demands when multiple hot water outlets are being used at the same time.

Would you like to keep your replacement cost low, or would you prefer to spend a bit more on a high-efficiency unit to reduce your ongoing energy bills?

At Tan’s Plumbing & Gas, our experienced team will provide you with expert advice and the best solutions that tailor your needs.