Before you can choose the best type and size of gas hot water nz system for your home, you need to think about what’s most important to you and your family. These include the size of your home, the climate and energy source for heating water (solar, natural gas, LPG, or electricity) where you live, your budget, and where the system will be placed (inside or outside).
Pumps that heat water with electricity
A water heat pump transfers heat through a heat exchanger inside the tank. This is the same method that a heat pump uses to warm a room. Compared to an electric water heater, the use of energy is very efficient. The expansion and contraction of refrigerant gas takes energy from the air and puts it into the water.
For a heat pump water heater to work right, the heat pump compressor must be put outside. In a lot of modern systems, the cylinder and the compressor are built into one unit. The problem with a heat pump water heater is that it takes longer for the water to heat up when it is cold outside. Most heat pumps are 250L or bigger to make up for this and make sure there is enough water.
How-Tos
1. Try to make more room in your hot water cupboard and choose a hot water cylinder that can go outside.
2. Have your plumber help you pick out the right cylinder.
3. Make sure the copper pipes that carry hot water are insulated. This will help you save money on heating water.
4. Never have enough hot water? Install a modern shower rose that can deliver 6L or 9L per minute.
5. Make sure your hot water tank is well insulated or has a cylinder wrap around it.
6. If you have a continuous flow water heater, ask about having temperature controllers put in your bathroom and kitchen. Then, your unit will only heat water to the temperature you want, not the 50°C that was set as the default.
7. Check the energy star rating of the continuous flow unit and compare it to other ratings. The more stars, the better the use of energy.
8. Set your hot water cylinder’s thermostat to 65°C ahead of time to kill any Legionella bacteria, which can grow in a hot water cylinder if the water temperature is too low. Put in a tempering valve to keep from getting burned by hot water.
9. If you live with children or older relatives, check the temperature of the water in the bathroom. If it is above 55°C, you should have a tempering valve put in. For more safety inside the home, you can buy a 45°C tempering valve that is set to 45°C.
10. Make sure your hot water tank is held in place well. To keep it from falling over, every hot water tank must have at least two seismic straps that are firmly attached to solid wood.
