How Hot Water Systems Work
Have you ever wondered how hot water systems work? Well, today is your lucky day! We’ve created a guide to gas and electric hot water heaters so that you can understand exactly what’s going on in your home.
We’re Australia’s largest online plumbing supplies store – you can count on us to know the ins and outs of hot water heaters. If you have any questions about hot water (or any of our products) Contact us today via the online form.
How does a gas hot water heater work?
At Plumbing Sales, we stock a range of gas hot water systems. Our Rheem hot water range is particularly popular if you are searching for an external natural gas hot water system. The following information applies to gas systems with tanks:
How hot water systems work (gas storage) →
As an example, let’s look at the Rheem hot water system. Water is stored in the steel cylinder and heated by a gas burner located at the bottom of the storage cylinder to heat the water. The temperature of the water is determined by the thermostat settings.
As hot water exits the top of the storage tank, fresh cold water enters via the cold water inlet. With a large residential storage tank, the likelihood of running out of hot water is very slim. As cold water enters the unit, the hot water tank will work to supply a fresh batch of hot water.
How hot water systems work (gas instantaneous) →
If you’re looking at a tankless option, you’re in luck. Browse through our range of water heaters now. We have gas and electric instantaneous models.
Gas instantaneous heaters are different to storage as they heat water when it is required, rather than storing hot water. When the hot tap is turned on, a flow sensor initiates the gas burner and it starts to heat the water. The water usually moves through the heater in a spiral pattern to help it absorb as much heat as possible. The temperature is usually controlled by an electronic thermostat.
Tankless water heaters are popular for their continuous supply of hot water. Water is heated when it is needed instead of maintained in a storage tank. For homes with a high consumption of hot water, an instantaneous system might be the best fit.
How does an electric hot water heater work?
Electric storage heaters function quite similarly to gas heaters (except, of course, they use electric heating elements to heat the water). The tank contains an electric element located at the bottom of the unit to control the temperature as water moves through the unit. Twin element models have a 2nd heating element located at the top of the tank that serves as a booster to heat a top portion of water in the event hot water is exhausted from the tank.
Electric instantaneous heaters work in much the same way as gas instantaneous, except the heating is carried out by electric elements rather than a gas burner.
Now that you know how hot water systems work, be sure to take a look at our whole range of water heaters. At Plumbing Sales, we stock all types of water heaters. We know that everyone has different needs and requirements, so we have something for everyone.
If you purchase a product from our online store, we have free shipping on all domestic orders over $300. This does not apply to pick up only items from our Melbourne warehouse. Contact us now if you have any questions about our range, fill in the online form now.
