Electric Continuous Flow Hot Water System
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Electric Continuous Flow Hot Water Systems in Perth
An electric continuous flow hot water system, also commonly called an electric instantaneous hot water system, heats water as you use it rather than storing hot water in a tank.
When you turn on a hot tap, water passes through the unit and is heated by electric heating elements. When you turn the tap off, it stops heating. There is no tank sitting there keeping water hot between uses.
Small unit, plenty of installation options
Electric continuous flow systems are the most compact type of hot water system. Because there is no storage tank, they take up very little room and there is generally much more flexibility around where they can be installed.
Depending on the particular unit and its installation requirements, they can be installed in places such as cupboards, roof spaces and other areas where fitting a conventional hot water system would be difficult.
That can be particularly useful where space is limited or where there is a reason to locate the hot water system closer to the area it is supplying.
How does an electric continuous flow system work?
The basic idea is simple. Water flows through the unit when you open a hot tap, powerful electric elements heat the water as it passes through, and the unit stops heating when the water flow stops.
Because the water is heated as it is used, there is no stored tank of hot water to run out. The unit just needs to be correctly sized for the amount of hot water you expect it to produce at one time.
What does the size of the unit actually mean?
With electric continuous flow, sizing is about how much hot water the unit needs to produce and where that hot water is being used. A unit supplying a single basin or a small part of a property is a very different job from a unit expected to supply showers and other hot water outlets throughout a home.
Bigger is not automatically better. As the hot water output increases, the electrical demand can increase as well. The right unit needs to suit both the hot water demand and the electrical supply available at the property.
The electrical load needs to be considered
Electric continuous flow systems can draw a significant amount of power while they are heating water. The larger the unit, the greater the electrical demand can be.
That means you cannot simply choose the biggest unit available without considering the electrical supply to the property and what else may be operating at the same time, such as air conditioning, ovens and other high-demand appliances.
Depending on the home and the size of the hot water system, electrical upgrades may be required. This is something an electrician can assess and advise on as part of choosing the right unit.
Pros of electric continuous flow
- Extremely compact. These are the smallest hot water systems and can work well where there is very little room available.
- Flexible installation locations. Depending on the model and installation requirements, they can often be installed in cupboards, roof spaces and other locations that would not suit a storage tank.
- Continuous hot water. There is no stored tank of hot water to empty, so a correctly sized unit can continue heating water as it is used.
- No standing tank heat loss. Water is heated when you use it rather than being stored and kept hot throughout the day.
- No storage tank or sacrificial anode. That removes some of the storage-related maintenance and components found in conventional storage systems.
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Cons of electric continuous flow
- Electrical demand can be high. The property needs enough electrical capacity for the unit as well as the other appliances that may be operating at the same time.
- A larger whole-home unit may require electrical upgrades. The existing electrical supply needs to be assessed rather than assuming any size unit can simply be connected.
- No power means no hot water. Unlike a storage system that may still have some already-heated water available, an electric continuous flow unit cannot heat water during a power outage.
- The unit still needs to be sized correctly. A unit that is too small for the demand may not provide the hot water performance you expect when multiple outlets are being used.
What about running costs?
Electric continuous flow only uses electricity to heat water while hot water is actually being used, so there is no energy being used to keep a storage tank hot between uses.
That does not automatically mean it will be the cheapest hot water system to run. The actual cost depends on the unit, how much hot water you use, your electricity setup and tariffs, and how the system is used.
Unlike electric storage, there is also no tank of hot water that can be heated earlier in the day and stored for later use. If running costs are a major priority, we look at the whole setup rather than choosing a system based on one feature.
Where can electric continuous flow work particularly well?
These systems can make a lot of sense where space is tight, where a compact hot water system is important, or where hot water is needed in a particular part of a property and there is a suitable electrical supply.
They can be used in apartments, smaller homes, granny flats and other applications, but the right setup depends on what the unit actually needs to supply. There are also larger systems capable of supplying more of a home where the electrical infrastructure is suitable.
Replacing an existing electric continuous flow unit
If you already have an electric continuous flow system and it has been working well for the property, replacing it with another suitable unit can often be the logical starting point.
We still look at what the existing unit supplies and whether your hot water needs have changed. If you want to increase the size or output, the electrical side needs to be checked before assuming a larger replacement will suit the property.
When might another option suit you better?
Electric continuous flow is not automatically the right answer just because it is compact. If the electrical upgrades required are significant, the property has high simultaneous hot water demand, or your priorities are more about storing energy from solar panels for later use, another type of hot water system may make more sense.
The aim is to choose a system that suits the property and the way you actually use hot water, rather than trying to make one particular type work everywhere.
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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.