Did you know that by taking 7-minute-long showers and other minor chores included in a day, your hot water electricity bill can account for roughly 30% of the whole quarterly energy bill? That is how expensive having a hot water system is, electric to be exact. However, it doesn’t necessarily have to cost that much because there are now many energy-efficient ways to have hot water 24/7. For instance, a hot water heat pump has the potential to save you a lot in the process.
While on the topic of efficient hot water systems, I have to address both gas hot water systems and heat pumps for the job. Heat pumps VS gas hot water system, which one of these systems can save you the most money and get the job done without any hassle?
Keep reading for the comparison.
Gas Hot Water System
A gas hot water system is quite commonly used all over Australia. As the name denotes, you need to have either a natural gas connection in your house or use LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) bottles to power up the heater.
How It Works
Essentially, an insulated tank gets heated up using gas combustion and the heat produced by such action. When the water tank fills up with regular-temperature water or cold water, it triggers the thermostat to open up the main gas valve. Allowing air to flow in as the main burner ignites. This repeated cycle creates fumes that rise up through the flue vent in the middle, which distributes heat into the water. As we already know, it’s natural for heat to travel from a hotter side to a relatively colder side to even out the temperature; this principle is used in this technology.
Water gets heated till the point it reaches a certain preset temperature. And then it’s distributed throughout the house like usual.
At a glance gas hot water system-
- Uses natural gas or LPG as the primary source of heat. If you choose to go for natural gas, consider the extra cost and higher burn-through rate compared to LPG.
- Recommended to be installed outdoors, as it requires proper ventilation.
- Very easy to install and requires no more than 2 to 3 hours to be up and running, including installation.
- Considered an economical choice, however, in 2022, we see a significant surge in gas prices due to recent events happening around the globe. An approximate 40% surge in gas prices has been reported in Australia.
- A very upfront approach to heating. Plain and simple to understand and operate.
- Uses gas, a fossil fuel AKA a non-renewable source of energy. This increases your carbon footprint significantly.
- In the case of a family of 4, in the span of 10 years, you will emit 7.3- 12.6 tonnes of GHG when you use either natural or LPG gas. (Source)
- Able to provide hot water instantly with an instant tank system.
- It must be handled with a lot of care and caution as it can ignite with pressure; unlikely but can happen. So, it requires a designated spot with proper ventilation and precaution.
Hot Water Heat Pump
This is one of the most efficient technologies used for water heating purposes. Rather than using direct electricity, a heat pump uses only a fraction of power to heat up the water. It significantly reduces your electricity usage in comparison to an electric hot water system, and it’s safe to say if you have solar panels installed on the rooftop, you can enjoy technically free hot water for a long time.
How It Works
They work similarly to a refrigerator but in reverse. An energy-efficient heat pump raises the temperature of the water using power and refrigerant instead of freezing it like a regular fridge. Heat pump water heaters use energy to move heat from one place to another, in this case, from the environment around to the refrigerant. They achieve this by heating the refrigerant that is being used and releasing that heat into the water. Again, it uses the basic principle of heat but in a smarter manner.
By transferring heat from the environment to the water rather than utilizing electricity directly, this indirect heating method conserves a significant amount of energy while accomplishing the same objective. You save a lot of money on your power bills thanks to this water heating technique; it uses minimal electricity. Learn more about it here.
At a glance heat pump
- 400% more efficient than a regular electric hot water system producing 4kWs of output with 1kW of input in energy.
- It does not use direct electricity but rather uses a fraction of it to draw existing heat from the environment into the tanks.
- -20 degrees to 45-degree Celsius operating range with a significantly noiseless experience.
- Not at all dangerous in comparison to a gas hot water system as it doesn’t require the combustion of gas.
- When you already have solar panels, the electricity required to operate the heat pump comes from there. Seemingly free hot water while emitting zero GHG gasses.
- Certain states can enjoy government-provided rebate to swap their electric hot water system with a heat pump.
- Installation can take a bit more time in comparison to the gas hot water system.
- Extremely efficient and environmentally friendly. Renewable source of energy makes it an even better experience.
- Usually installed outdoors for ease of access to natural heat.
So, those are the facts that sums up gas vs heat pump hot water heating technologies. It seems that the heat pump has the upper hand with its updated technological implementation and environmentally friendly attributes when it comes to heat pump hot water vs gas.
Wondering if there is any present heat pump rebate Victoria or NSW? There are available rebates in both the states. Feel free to contact us for further information on the topic; we would be happy to help.
