Hot Water Systems

Electric water systems probably the most common system found in Australian homes. As you can see in the diagram on the left an electric heater uses two heating elements within the tank to heat the water within.

As the water level drop during use more water is poured in and the heating elements turned on to heat the water. If you use the water faster than the heating elements can heat it you will end up with a cold shower.

These systems can be costly to run depending on your usage. They can constantly heat throughout the day if the demand is there and this intern will cause a very high energy bill.

However it is possible to connect an electric water heater to a solar collector which is generally placed on your roof. This approach can dramatically decrease your energy consumption especially if you live in a place that receives a lot of sun throughout the year.

Pros:

- Can heat water at any time of day, therefore you are unlikely to run out of hot water
- Most electricity companies offer a choice of tariffs for water heaters
- Can be used as a back-up source for other types such as solar heaters

Cons:

- If used 24 hours a day can be very expensive

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