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Be prepared for your hot water system to go out with a bang

In your accommodation complex small maintenance mishaps are usually tolerated by guests but if it comes to having no hot water then be prepared because your guests will get angry!

Your hot water system can go out with a bang, a flood or it can sporadically falter and splutter to a halt.

Whatever causes your water system to fail, you do not have the luxury or time to carefully review the available options and assess the best solution for your accommodation in that moment unless your guests love cold showers.

Check out the latest issue of Accom Management Guide to read the full article.

In this scenario your first reaction might be to replace the system – like for like – as quickly as possible. But if you do this you might miss out on a rare opportunity to upgrade to a much better system. As water heating accounts for approximately a quarter of your accommodation’s energy usage and as the typical person uses about 50L of hot water a day, it might be worth reviewing your system as soon as possible.

Be proactive about this and check out the alternatives because you may find a hot water system that saves money and is kinder to the environment. The first decision you will need to make when choosing a hot water system is the heating method: electricity, gas or solar.

If you have the ability to fit solar panels in a good sunny location, solar is a viable option to heat your water. It is comparatively expensive and time-consuming to install but a well-chosen system will pay for itself over time due to low running costs and it is greener, so will improve your property’s environmental footprint.

Installing an electrically-heated storage tank system is usually relatively cheap but be aware as it can be the most expensive to run, especially in accommodation properties where a continuous all day rate is a necessity.

Natural gas is another option if you have the ability to easily connect with your rooms/apartments but you need to take into account the recent rise in gas prices. Liquid petroleum gas bottles are an alternative to natural gas.

The biggest single use of fuel throughout Australia is for heating water and LPG is the most versatile and cost-efficient energy source to do the job. Unlike natural gas and electricity, LPG can be stored and transported in containers, so can be delivered to wherever your accommodation complex is in Australia.

Elgas that specialises in providing LPG gas to businesses claim that LPG has “lower emissions, no waste and reduced maintenance costs, LPG is also a healthier alternative to traditional fuels”.

Then there is the question of choosing a water tank or to go with a tank-less continuous flow unit. The latter generally tends to be the ideal solution for most accommodation providers as it delivers hot water on-demand with no required recovery time. Tank-less water heaters provide a continuous flow of hot water, so there’s no need for guests to suffer through a cold shower if they are the last one out of bed. Unlike with a conventional tank-type water heater, the hot water is always there when your guests need it.

There are other benefits, too. A tank-less model saves you an extra closet’s worth of space compared to a tank-type water heater. Gas tank-less water heaters are small and wall-mounted, unlike bulky tank-type water heaters.

Models designed for outdoor installation free up even more space and add versatility to your basement, garage, or utility room. Tank-less water heaters have a life expectancy of 20 years, much longer than any conventional tank-type water heater. And with a tank-less model, the risk of tank leaks and water damage is a thing of the past.

There is a huge range of continuous flow hot water heaters that can deliver a constant supply of on-demand hot water without the need for storage tanks and can be mounted internally or outdoors. These units are ideally suited for heavy-use areas such as shower blocks and accommodation units where large quantities of hot water supply over a short period of time is critical.

Heating water only when it’s needed, cuts water heating expenses by 30 per cent, while also providing continuous hot water. Gas tank-less models are a great choice for new construction and major remodelling, but are also a popular replacement for gas storage water heaters.

Before your hot water system shuts down get a good supplier to analyse your property’s hot water usage and recommend some options. They will determine the right system size and type and once you have been given the most viable options to choose from, remember to get quotes from at least two suppliers.

 

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