Continuous Flow Gas Hot Water System
Need a continuous flow gas hot water system fixed fast in Perth? Licensed plumbers, upfront quotes, no call-out fees, and workmanship guaranteed. Book today.
- $0 Call Out Fee
- Quick Response
- Free Quote
Gas Continuous Flow Hot Water Systems in Perth
A gas continuous flow hot water system, also commonly known as an instantaneous hot water system, heats water on demand as you need it. Rather than heating and storing a tank of hot water, it heats the water as it passes through the unit.
If you already have continuous flow and it has been keeping up with the house without any problems, replacing it with another continuous flow system can often make a lot of sense. That does not necessarily mean replacing it with exactly the same make, model or size. We look at what you have now, how well it has been performing and whether anything has changed in the household before recommending the replacement.
Why do we call it continuous flow instead of instantaneous?
You might know these as instantaneous hot water systems. The name can be a little misleading because it sounds like hot water should come out of the tap instantly. It does not. You still need to wait for the hot water to travel through the pipework from the unit to the tap.
Continuous flow is a better description of what the system actually does. There is no tank of stored hot water to empty. The unit heats water on demand and can continually produce hot water as you use it.
How does a gas continuous flow hot water system work?
When you turn on a hot tap, the unit senses water flowing through it. On a modern electronic system, the ignition fires up the gas burner and heats the water as it passes through the unit. When you turn the tap off, the burner switches off again.
In simple terms, you are only heating water when you actually need it rather than keeping a tank of water hot all day.
What do the numbers on a continuous flow unit mean?
You will often see continuous flow systems described as a 16, 20 or 26, for example. That number represents approximately how many litres of hot water the unit can produce per minute.
The right size depends on how much hot water your household is likely to use at the same time. One shower running is very different to two showers running while someone is also using hot water somewhere else in the house.
When does size matter?
The larger the continuous flow unit, the more hot water it can produce, but the services supplying it also need to be able to keep up. A larger unit can need more gas and greater water flow than a smaller unit.
If you already have continuous flow and want to increase the size, we check whether the existing gas supply and available water flow are suitable. If they are not, they may be able to be upgraded as part of the job.
The same applies if you are changing from another type of hot water system. Having gas at the property does not automatically mean the existing gas pipe is large enough for the continuous flow unit you want to install.
Pros of gas continuous flow
- Continuous hot water on demand. There is no tank of stored hot water to run out, so the system can continually heat water as you use it.
- Compact. The unit is mounted on the wall and takes up much less room than a storage tank.
- Generally more energy efficient than gas storage. You only heat water when you are actually using it rather than using gas throughout the day to keep a tank of water hot.
- Generally less routine maintenance than a storage hot water system. There is no storage tank, sacrificial anode or the same number of storage-related components to look after as the system ages.
- Like-for-like replacement can be relatively inexpensive. If the property is already correctly set up for continuous flow, replacing the unit with a suitable new one is generally relatively straightforward. Even when the valves and fittings are replaced with new ones as part of the installation, a like-for-like continuous flow replacement is generally less expensive than replacing most other types of hot water systems.
Request a quote today
Cons of gas continuous flow
- Modern electronic units need electricity to operate their controls and ignition. If the power is out, you generally will not have hot water even if the gas supply is still available.
- Hot water can sometimes take a little longer to reach the tap than with a nearby storage system. The unit heats on demand and the hot water still has to travel through the pipework to get to you.
- Installation location still matters. Gas appliances have requirements around where they can be installed and the clearances they need.
Does a continuous flow system use a lot of gas?
A continuous flow system can use a lot of gas while it is actually heating water, which is why the gas supply needs to be sized correctly. But it is only heating water while you are using it.
Unlike gas storage, it is not using gas throughout the day to keep a tank of water hot. When you are not using hot water, the burner is not heating water. This generally makes continuous flow more energy efficient to run than gas storage.
What about maintenance?
Modern electronic continuous flow systems generally have very little routine maintenance compared with a storage hot water system. There is no storage tank or sacrificial anode to maintain, so there is generally less to look after as the system ages.
Older pilot-style systems are a little different and can benefit from more regular servicing. Water quality can also affect hot water systems over time, so the age, type and condition of the unit still matter.
Should you repair it or replace it?
Not every fault means a continuous flow hot water system needs replacing. Depending on the age and condition of the unit and what has actually failed, a repair may make sense.
As the system gets older, there can also be a point where putting more money into repairs does not represent good value. We look at what has failed, the age and condition of the unit, the likely repair cost and whether replacement makes more sense.
We will explain what we have found and talk through the sensible options rather than automatically pushing one way or the other.
When does it make sense to stay with continuous flow?
If you already have a continuous flow system, you are happy with how it performs and it keeps up with the amount of hot water your household uses, replacing it with another continuous flow system can often make a lot of sense.
The property is already set up for this type of system, so a like-for-like replacement is generally relatively straightforward. We can still look at whether a different make, model or size would suit you better rather than automatically replacing exactly what is there now.
When would we look at something other than continuous flow?
Sometimes there is a genuine reason to look beyond simply replacing what is already there. That does not automatically mean changing system type is better. It just means it is worth comparing the options before making the decision.
- Your household or hot water usage has changed and the existing system no longer suits the way you use hot water.
- You want to move away from gas or reduce your reliance on gas.
- You want to improve energy efficiency, reduce the environmental impact of your hot water, or simply use a different energy source.
- The existing gas, electrical, water or property setup makes another type of system worth considering.
- Your needs or priorities have changed, whether that is running costs, energy use, maintenance, space or how long you expect to stay in the property.
Everyone uses hot water differently. We would rather look at what you already have, what is working and what you want from the replacement than assume one type of hot water system is right for every home.
Not sure what hot water system you have?
You are not alone. We get calls all the time from people with no hot water who have no idea what type of system is sitting outside or hidden away in the house.
A couple of simple questions usually narrow it down:
- Is it gas or electric?
- Is it a large tank sitting on the ground, or a smaller box mounted on a wall?
A small wall-mounted box is often a continuous flow or instantaneous system. A large tank is usually some form of storage system. A heat pump normally has a storage tank with a large fan or heat-pump section attached, while solar hot water usually has collectors on the roof.
If you are still not sure, send us a photo. We can normally work out pretty quickly what you have and what we need to ask next.
Meet Tim, our owner and principal plumber
Not sure which hot water system is right for you?
If you are looking at replacing your hot water system and you are not sure which way to go, give Houseworks a call.
We can come out, look at what you currently have and talk you through the options that make sense for your home.