Electric Storage Hot Water System
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Electric Storage Hot Water Systems in Perth
An electric storage hot water system uses an electric element to heat water inside a tank, then keeps that hot water stored and ready for when you need it. They come in a really wide range of sizes, which is one of the reasons electric storage can work in so many different situations.
You might have a small unit supplying a limited area, or a much larger tank supplying a busy household or different areas of a property. The right setup depends not only on how much hot water you need, but also on where the system can go and how and when you want to heat the water.
How does an electric storage hot water system work?
The easiest way to think of it is like a giant electric kettle.
There is an electric heating element inside the tank. When the water needs heating, the element switches on and heats the stored water. Once it reaches the set temperature, the element switches off and comes back on again when more heating is needed.
Once the water is hot, it stays stored in the tank ready to use. If you use the stored hot water faster than the system can heat more, you can eventually run out and need to wait for it to reheat.
Choosing an electric storage system
One of the big advantages of electric storage is the choice of capacities. Current Australian ranges include small units around 25 litres right through to large household systems around 400 litres. That gives us plenty of flexibility, whether the property only needs a small amount of hot water or has much higher demand.
Tank size is only one part of the decision. We look at how much hot water the property actually uses, whether the existing system has been keeping up, and whether there are times when several people or areas are using hot water together.
With electric storage, we also look at how and when the water is being heated. If you have solar panels, a controlled-load supply or a suitable electricity tariff, that can influence what size and setup makes sense. In some homes a larger tank can be useful because it lets you heat more water at a favourable time and store it for later. In another home, there may be no benefit in going larger at all.
Pros of electric storage
- There is a wide range of capacities available. Electric storage can suit anything from a small hot water requirement through to a large household or property with higher demand.
- There is more flexibility with where the system can be installed. Electric storage does not have the same combustion and flue requirements as gas, so depending on the installation it can be located outside, in cupboards, in roof spaces and in other areas where a gas system may not be suitable.
- It can work really well with solar panels. The system can be set up so more of the water heating happens during the day while your solar panels are producing power, then that hot water is stored for later.
- There is flexibility around when the water is heated. Depending on the property and electricity setup, electric storage can make use of suitable controlled-load, off-peak or time-of-use arrangements.
- There is no gas supply required, which can make electric storage a practical option for homes that do not have gas or for people who want to move away from it.
- If you already have a suitable electric storage setup and it has been working well, like-for-like replacement can often be relatively straightforward.
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Cons of electric storage
- You can run out of stored hot water. If the household uses the stored water faster than the system can replace it, you will need to wait for more water to heat.
- Running costs can vary a lot depending on how the system is powered and controlled. A system heating from normal grid electricity whenever it needs to can be a very different proposition to one making good use of daytime solar or a suitable electricity tariff.
- Larger tanks take up a fair amount of space. Electric storage gives you more flexibility with location than gas, but the size and weight of the tank, access, drainage, electrical supply and the installation requirements still need to be considered.
- There is some ongoing maintenance as the system gets older. Electric storage systems have components such as the sacrificial anode where fitted, relief valves and tempering valve that need consideration over the life of the system. The heating element and other components can also need attention, and water quality can affect how the tank and components age. Compared with some other types of hot water systems, this can mean slightly higher ongoing maintenance costs.
- During a power outage the element cannot heat any more water. You can still use the hot water already stored in the tank, but once that is used or cools down the system cannot reheat until power is restored.
Making use of solar panels
If you already have solar panels, electric storage can be a useful way to make use of some of the electricity you are producing during the day. The hot water system can be set up so more of the heating happens while the panels are producing power, then the hot water is stored in the tank for later.
That can also affect the size of tank that makes sense. In some homes there may be a benefit in storing more hot water while solar power is available. We take that into account when looking at the overall hot water setup rather than choosing the tank on household size alone.
Heating at the right time
Solar panels are not the only reason timing can matter. Some properties have controlled-load, off-peak or time-of-use electricity arrangements that can make it useful to heat the water at particular times and store it for later.
Every property and electricity plan is different, so we do not assume one setup suits everyone. We take the electrical setup into account when recommending the hot water system, and if electrical changes are needed we can organise an electrician as part of the job.
Should you repair it or replace it?
Not every electric storage fault means the whole system needs replacing. Heating elements, thermostats, valves and other components can fail while the tank itself is still in reasonable condition.
As the system gets older, though, we look at the whole picture: the condition of the tank, what has failed, the likely repair cost, whether other components are also ageing and whether the existing size and setup still suit the home.
If a repair makes sense, we can talk you through it. If the tank is failing or the money is better put towards a replacement, we will explain why and look at the sensible replacement options.
If you already have electric storage
If your electric storage system has suited the home and you are happy with how it performs, replacing it with another electric storage system can be a very sensible option. The property is already set up for it, and there may be no good reason to change everything just because the old unit needs replacing.
It is still worth looking at what has changed since the old system went in. You may need more or less hot water now, you may have added solar panels, or there may be a better way to control when the new system heats. The replacement does not have to be the same size or model simply because that is what was there before.
When might another option suit you better?
Electric storage is not going to suit every home. You may want to use less electricity, free up the space taken by a large tank, have continuous hot water, move to a different energy source, or simply have different priorities from when the existing system was installed.
If there is a genuine reason to change, we can compare the alternatives. If electric storage already suits the property well, there is nothing wrong with keeping it simple and staying with it.
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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.