Electric Hot Water System Townsville
Optimise Your Electric Hot Water System
At Top to Bottom Plumbing in Townsville, we offer reliable electric hot water systems, including standard and stainless options. Standard systems are affordable and efficient, while stainless systems provide durability and corrosion resistance.
Call (07) 4779 7722 to find out more.
Standard Electric Systems
Standard electric hot water systems are a practical and efficient way of providing hot water for your home. They are the most popular method of heating hot water in Australia because they are affordable, cost-effective to run and easy to maintain.
A typical electric hot water system consists of a heating element, thermostat, water tank, pressure relief valve, expansion control valve (ECV), discharge point and an anode.
The heating element heats the water on demand when required, with the temperature controlled by the thermostat. The expansion control valve is a safety system used to ensure the pressure in the tank does not get too high.
The water tank consists of a copper tank surrounded by insulation. Copper has good heat transfer so hot water can be delivered quickly when you need it, while the insulation is used to keep the water at the required temperature.
The anode is one of the most important parts of the system. This prevents corrosion from forming inside the tank. The anode will need replacing every 3-5 years and is usually carried out as part of your annual hot water system maintenance.
Stainless Electric Systems
Stainless steel hot water systems work in the same way as standard electric hot water systems. The difference is the hot water tank is made from stainless steel, which is much more resistant to corrosion, so there is no need for an anode.
Stainless steel systems are typically more expensive to install than standard hot water systems, but they are much more durable and resistant to corrosion. This type of system is therefore recommended for larger homes and commercial systems.
While stainless steel is not as good a heat conductor as copper, modern insulation materials can limit heat loss to such an extent that the two systems are comparable. This means stainless steel water heaters are no more expensive to run than copper.
But the biggest advantage of stainless steel hot water systems is their increased durability. A typical stainless steel system has a lifespan of 25+ years, while standard electric heaters typically only last around 10-15 years.
Stainless steel systems also don’t require an anode, which reduces annual maintenance costs. The installation of stainless steel heaters is more expensive, however, so they only make financial sense for large detached homes and commercial systems.
