(no subject)

[mrsbrown]

Our hot water service has sprung a leak and we need a new one.

I may be over thinking this process, but I guess I'll be happier in the long run if I do it.

Option	Pros	Cons
Internal hot water service in existing location $1800 $229 per year	Minimal plumbing changes Low cost	Fewer models to choose from Solar add on not possible
Install internal instantaneous HWS in existing location (with or without solar) $3030/$6500 $237/$36 per year Plus $4000 for simple hydronic	Minimal water plumbing Don’t run out of hot water Add on solar later is possible Less space is required Minimal plumbing changes Connect hydronic heating as well.	Fewer models to choose from Larger gas pipe required
Install external storage gas HWS – backyard (with or without solar) $1500/$3600 $229/$57 per year	Minimal gas piping costs Add on solar later is possible More space in laundry Minor hot water plumbing	Rejig plumbing – gas and hot water Valuable back yard
Install external gas instantaneous HWS n front yard space (with or without solar) $2200/$6500 $237/$36 per year Plus $4000 for simple hydronic	Install in low value space Close to gas meter- reduced gas piping cost. Close to new/masterplan kitchen sink location More space in laundry Connect hydronic heating as well.	Major hot water piping re-jig Need to remove heater in Rose’s bedroom. Would like to relocate sink at the same time Ugly view from kitchen window.
Install external storage gas HWS – front yard (with or without solar) $2000/$4600 $229/$57per year	Install in low value space Close to gas meter so piping cost is minor. Close to new/masterplan kitchen sink location More space in laundry	Major hot water piping re-jig Need to remove heater in Rose’s bedroom. Would like to relocate sink at the same time Uglier view from kitchen window. Unit footprint makes access difficult
Heat pump storage HWS $2800/$3300 for back/front installation $184 per year	No gas piping required	Uses tank Only install outside

The best cheap option seems to be replacing my existing HWS directly, but then I definitely can't add on solar later. If I install an external HWS then solar is reasonably achievable and has a 10 year payback. Every other solar option has a 16 year payback. Solar panels need replacing after about 25 years.

I called both the Origin Energy shop and Reece for prices and estimated the plumbing costs based on my conversation with the Origin person and my own experience.  The solar costs include a $1500 rebate from SV.

Running costs for the various options are from a report on the resourcesmart website. I assumed we use about 200L /day of hot water. It seems pretty reasonable when I check it against both our water usage (300L/day) and our gas bill over summer (cooking and hot water = $450/yr)

Comments

[etfb]

We got one of those Infiniti instant gas hot water systems. They installed a small rectangular wossname about the size of a flatscreen monitor on the wall outside the laundry, and plumbed it in to the existing pipes. From then on, we had all the hot water we needed, including when, six months later, we set up a wading pool in the living room and thelancrewitch gave birth to a Boy Wonder in it. It doesn't store hot water, so there was no heating being done except when we used the water. I think we halved our gas bills. Apparently it would have been possible to plumb in a solar power system later when we felt like it. It was a couple of thousand dollars tops, and well worth it. So annoyed that they don't do gas in Tassie...

[br3nda]

i do wonder how much those lifespans of solar panels are guesses. Solar has been around a long while, but the modern panels have not.. they don't really have enough history data to say "that'll last 25 years".