Thread: Hot Water Systems - Lpg V's Offpeak Electric

The difference would vary from state to state as electricity prices vary accordingly. If it was me I'd be staying with off peak electric.....this gives you the option of using PV solar to power your hot water if you decide to do so in the future.

Hi Chris,
I haven't done this personally yet but have been seriously considering it. I currently have a 5KW solar which gives me 44c per KW return from Ergon but this would reduce to 9c KW if I put batteries in or change anything so Im still on the fence about batteries.

Over a 12 month period my son went to a 5KW solar system with a battery system and then converted his HWS to Instant Gas and put in a Gas stove as well with the larger bottles of gas and even has his gas BBQ plumbed in. These large bottles last him for several months and are relatively cheap to have refilled. He has 2 young children and as a family their energy footprint is very small as a result of these changes. He has no regrets and and is extremely happy with what he has done and would do it again in a heartbeat. Oh and in QLD off peak electric prices have been slowly increased and now are worthless as a tariff and in my opinion are not worth having.

The son had a lot of help and info from a local company called Super Green Solutions (usual disclaimer) and I am sure there is probably someone similar near you who has the info you need. He has also gone 100% LED lighting as well. His power costs are minimal and the Gas part of his system is in his words, Awesome.

Hope this helps.
Cheers, Ian

Chris Parks

Have you considered a third option: hot water produced by a heat pump? I don't know the technical term but, in effect, that's what it is.

The system I have is a "Sanden". The gas in the compressor is CO2, which doesn't need special treatment in the event it is replaced. The capital cost of the system - installed - was approx $3.6k. For a household of 2 people, our three-monthly power bill for our hot water hovers between $30-$40 which includes a "statutory" daily charge. (There is a separate tariff for hot water power consumption in Tas). The friend who mentioned this system to me has a similar unit and his own bill - for 2 people - is in the same ball park. All this with the usual disclaimer re interest etc etc.

Cheers Yvan

We have off peak here and a 5 kw PV system helps out with the electricity bills.

A previous residence had a heat pump system and it was comparable to off peak.

Years ago my brother had gas and found it to be expensive.

I think Ian has the right handle on things.

Don't ignore the solar boosted systems as well. The new technologies apparently are so much more efficient than the old pipes on black that I have. A plumber friend of mine installed one and he said that they work remarkably well, even on overcast days.

When mine packs it in that is where I am going. (I don't have reticulated gas).

John

Originally Posted by yvan

Chris Parks

Have you considered a third option: hot water produced by a heat pump? I don't know the technical term but, in effect, that's what it is.

The system I have is a "Sanden". The gas in the compressor is CO2, which doesn't need special treatment in the event it is replaced. The capital cost of the system - installed - was approx $3.6k. For a household of 2 people, our three-monthly power bill for our hot water hovers between $30-$40 which includes a "statutory" daily charge. (There is a separate tariff for hot water power consumption in Tas). The friend who mentioned this system to me has a similar unit and his own bill - for 2 people - is in the same ball park. All this with the usual disclaimer re interest etc etc.

Cheers Yvan

Been there and done that years ago. We had a Siddons(?) system and it started to become ineffective due to shadowing and finally went when we had a large renovation done. My issue with storage hot water of any kind is why pay to heat water you never use and also lose heat before it gets used. I looked at this when doing the reno but things were on a tight dead line and I had to abandon the idea at that time.

Converting an off peak electric hot water to LPG is not a viable economic proposition. Rather than spending your money on a new system and installation costs, with the low feedin tariffs offered, you are financially much better off if you install solar electricity panels with a diverter that diverts any surplus electricity into your hot water system while still giving you the benefits of solar power.

If you already have solar electricity add some extra panels, install a diverter and reap the benefits.

With my system I only have to turn on the off peak during the middle of winter during heavy overcasts.

The cost of solar panels is reaching a point where a set of dedicated PV panels connected to a heat pump hot water system may end up cheaper than a solar hot water system.

We needed to get rid of an electric storage heater soon after we moved here on the Mornington Peninsula four years ago, and replaced it with Rinnai 26 instant heater inset into the wall with a cover. Neat unit, no problem, it disappears into the wall on the deck.
We have LPG central heat which we very rarely, if ever use, a 6 burner cooktop and the hot water on LPG.
Just 2 in the house, but we often have kids & grandkids here. At this time of the year I love the long hot showers. The water is free, 'cause tanks (75,000 litre) are overflowing
We have a fat boy 210 Kg bottle. It was filled Oct 14 2015, and again April 20th 2016.The April bill was $213.65 for 231 litres for about 6 months, and yearly rental on the bottle is $200.00
Big saving on filling my own BBQ bottles compared the exchange bottle. I just take them back for exchange if they go out of date, or fail the soap water test.

Don't know about other ways to do hot water, so can't compare current pricing.

Cheers,
Peter

Thanks Peter, that is something to work on.

I'm looking at replacing our hot water system too in the next few months (when we've got some money!). We've got a large solar system at home and I want to use that as the energy source. In the future I will implement a battery solution to store power for overnight use, so that we can reduce our grid power usage even further. I'm currently looking at a solution that is branded Sanden. They seem to use a heat pump technology similar to a reverse cycle air conditioning system, and claim that it is very power efficient. Looks like a decent solution. I'm going to look at these heat pump type systems.

Another alternative to consider - we've had one of these heat pump hot water systems since the house was built 12 years ago:

Quantum Energy Reliable Hot Water Systems | Heat Pump vs Other Water Heating Methods

We've found it really does use as little power as they say. Looks like a standard electric storage water heater, but with an extra bit on top. No roof panels or extra plumbing required. When we bought Quantum were one of very few in this market, but since then several other companies have come out with similar units. Google "heat pump hot water service".

Originally Posted by Poppa

I'm looking at replacing our hot water system too in the next few months (when we've got some money!). We've got a large solar system at home and I want to use that as the energy source. In the future I will implement a battery solution to store power for overnight use, so that we can reduce our grid power usage even further. I'm currently looking at a solution that is branded Sanden. They seem to use a heat pump technology similar to a reverse cycle air conditioning system, and claim that it is very power efficient. Looks like a decent solution. I'm going to look at these heat pump type systems.

In South Australia since 2012 high efficiency (=heat pump) electric hot water systems have been mandatory in new residential dwellings and when replacing an existing hot water unit. They're definitely more energy efficient than a resistive element system......think comparing a two bar electric heater versus a reverse cycle air conditioner.

Energy prices here aren't really directly comparable (I think, not 100%) but basically hot water in Japan is almost always the instant gas variety. Have never seen an electric hot water tank. Not having nanny-state laws, limiting output to 40 deg C delivering tepid at best water where you need it, they are great. We have a rental unit in Aus that has one of those heat pump systems. How do you quantify the energy savings vs the high cost of repairs when something goes wrong? We were told we needed a new fan last year. After costing it, I told the agent it would have to fail completely and deliver no hotvwater before being replaced. Nice idea, but too expensive to buy and maintain.