If you urgently need to replace your hot water system, contact Energy Freedom Homes today; we'll get you the best system for your circumstances and requirements as quickly as possible.

Unsure about what an Energy Freedom Home is? You can read about it here.

Replacing your gas hot water heater is a great opportunity to lower your energy bills, as water heating accounts for a quarter of typical household energy use – and it can be even more.

1. The decisions that need to be made to get an all-electric hot water heater;
   
2. Which hot water heater to buy based on your requirements.

1. If your current system is beyond its life span;
   
2. If your current system is out of warranty;
   
3. If you bought your system more than three years ago. 

Second decision: storage or instantaneous? 

Estimating your tank size? Typically, one person uses about 50 litres of hot water per day and this is a good general guide⁴. Multiply up by the number of people in the house to get the storage capacity. For example, a 4 person household needs 4 x 50L = 200L tank size.

If you'd like to sell your home at some point in the next 10 years, it's worth considering how many people might live there. Undersized hot water storage will affect resale value, so factor in a contingency for the new occupants potentially sharing bedrooms. For example, a 2 bedroom house could end up accommodating 3 people, requiring a 3 x 50L = 150L tank size.

Don't have space for a storage tank indoors or outdoors? The only alternative is a continuous flow hot water system, also often referred to as "instantaneous". The system heats only as much water as you need, when you need it.

Electric instantaneous systems draw a large amount of current, so unless you've got three-phase power to your property we wouldn't recommend this option. Join an Energy Freedom Homes Masterclass and learn to identify your needs, gain expert installation advice, and  figure out an all-electric hot water solution. Check your Masterclass readiness now!

 Third decision: energy source? 

1. An electrically heated storage tank system is usually relatively cheap to buy and install, but is usually the most expensive to run, especially if it's on the continuous (full day) rate³.
   
2. Instantaneous electric water heaters typically use this type of technology, but they require a large amount of electrical current to heat a constant flow of water. This is because they are increasing the temperature of water by about 25 degrees in less than a second. Realistically, drawing this much power will result in expensive electrical upgrades to your home.

1. North-facing roof; no more than 45 degrees east or west of true north;
   
2. Roof needs to have a sloping angler of between 15 degrees and 50 degrees;
   
3. Unshaded;
   
4. Exposure to sun all year (i.e. Victoria does not receive enough consistent sun)⁴.

If you have no space for a storage tank outdoors, a split configuration allows you to put the storage tank indoors.

There are a few requirements and recommendations for heat pumps:

1. Compressors need to be installed in a well-ventilated area outdoors.
   
2. For cheaper units, the compressor can be noisy, like the outdoor unit of an air conditioner, so factor this into your install location.
   
3. Heat pumps can function effectively in all Australian climate zones.
   
4. Government rebates and other incentives can help offset the purchase cost.
   

Our recommendation

In summary 

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