Owning a hot water system in your home is more than just a luxury; it’s a necessity for modern life. Whether you need it for dishwashing, doing a load of laundry, or taking a shower, access to hot water makes these tasks more efficient and hygienic. These facts are probably a no-brainer, especially if you’re looking to build a new house or remodelling an old house with no modern hot water system. In this article, we’ll explore the plentiful benefits that come with installing a hot water system in your home.
Learning About Hot Water Systems
But first, let’s make sure that we’re on the same page on what a hot water system is. In simple terms, a hot water system is a machine that heats your household’s supply of water and dispenses hot water throughout your property’s pipes. Hot water systems come in a variety of types, each with their own unique advantages and drawbacks. We’ll go into describing the different types, and later on the benefits of hot water systems.
Types of Hot Water Systems
Electric Hot Water Systems
This is the most common type of hot water system you’re likely to find in most houses. These are easy to maintain and tend to be the cheapest to install. However, they also tend to be expensive to run unless you have a solar panel system.
Gas Hot Water Systems
These hot water systems use gas to heat the water. They can be quite efficient compared to electricity, especially if you have a continuous flow system. That said, these need to be installed outdoors for ventilation purposes, and are dependent on gas prices.
Solar Hot Water Systems
These run on similar technology as an electric hot water system, except instead of being powered by the grid, they’re powered by solar panels collecting light from the sun. This option is very eco-friendly and cheaper in the long run, though have a high installation rate.
Heat Pump Systems
These nifty systems work by extracting heat from the ambient air and using it to heat your household’s water. These systems work especially well in hot and humid climates (which much of Brisbane tends to be). While they have a higher up-front cost, they offer incredibly high energy efficiency.
Hot Water System Benefits
So those are the different kinds of hot water systems. Now, let’s understand why hot water systems are specifically beneficial.
Comfort and Convenience
The most immediately obvious benefit of a hot water system is the comfort. Having hot water during the winter months is especially important, as being overly cold can lead to health problems. A steady supply of hot water encourages you to bathe more often and thoroughly, and makes any tasks you need to do more enjoyable—those are among the main benefits of hot water systems.
Energy Efficiency
Most modern hot water systems are designed to be highly energy efficient. While the up-front cost may be higher, heat pump and solar systems can lead to immense savings in the long term for your energy bills. These systems are engineered and designed to heat water quickly and maintain the temperature of your water, making them a highly eco-friendly choice.
Increased Property Value
Due to modern sensibilities, your house is unlikely to earn a high price unless it has a hot water system. Unless they’re looking to do a teardown project, prospective buyers will often not bother with buying a house if it doesn’t have a working hot water system. Therefore, investing in a hot water system not only improves your current standard of living, but also boosts the likelihood of your home being purchased for a high market price.
Better Hygiene
Hot water is vital for basic hygiene. From washing your hands, doing your laundry, and cleaning your dishes, hot water is a must-have for killing bacteria effectively and ensuring cleanliness. When you use hot water, you’re investing in the hygiene and health of your household, making it one of the main hot water system benefits.
Savings
While the initial costs of purchasing and installing a hot water system may feel substantial, if you invest in an efficient water system, you can still pay for hot water at a reasonable price that won’t break the bank and will be more than worth it for its comfort. Focus on getting energy-efficient systems that don’t use a lot of electricity and are well-made so that they’re unlikely to incur many energy costs.
How to Install and Maintain a Hot Water System
Proper installation and maintenance are key to getting the most from hot water systems. Here are some tips on how to approach. First, make sure you hire a professional installer. In Queensland, installing a hot water system falls under protected work that can only be performed by plumbers. This is to ensure you have a quality installation with a functioning water heater, and also for the safety of your home and neighbourhood, as gas heaters can be especially dangerous if they aren’t installed properly.
You should also conduct regular maintenance checks of your hot water system to make sure everything is functioning properly. Doing this will prevent major issues down the line if you can catch small problems early before they become big problems.
Use OA Plumbing for all of your plumbing and installation needs
Installing a hot water system in your home offers a wide range of benefits. It’s something that all homes should have in order to live a comfortable and hygienic life. By choosing the best hot water system for you, and proper installation experts who can do the work,, you’ll have excellent hot water for years to come.
For all your plumbing needs, look no further than hiring OA Plumbing. We are experienced plumbers with a wide range of knowledge in all things plumbing, from blocked drains, broken pipes, and leaking taps. If you want a friendly staff member to explain our services, or book an appointment for your new hot water installation, feel free to call us now.
