Nearly 30% of Australians shower twice daily and 9% take three. In Sweden 50% shower every other day and in China 50% shower once a week. Those countries also have fresh water shortages and supply infrastructure issues. We aren’t letting a pesky thing like water scarcity turn us into unkempt dirty birds. There are some water-saving and eco-friendly options to consider the next time your water heater reaches its end-of-life throws of leaking and failure. Rheem hot water systems cover the spectrum of residential home water heating needs.
- The tried-and-true tanked water heater system is the ubiquitous old standard. They are known to be inefficient and maintenance demanding but have high volume capacity for hot water at any time. Either oil, gas, or electric-fired burners maintain 100-300l of water at a preset temperature range 24 hours a day.
- Heat-pump-assisted tanked water heaters are very efficient because they leach heat energy from the ambient air and deliver it to the water tank, via a heat exchanger similar to your home heating and air conditioning heat pump and not fossil fuel-driven.
- My first experience with a solar water heater impressed me. The hot water on demand was so hot I could make a cup of tea from the faucet. They needed to set the tank thermostat, but the energy capture was ultra-efficient. The external plumbing may not be attractive but the low utility bill is awesome.
- Burst or tankless heaters are small on-demand heaters located in the shower. They use no power until you select warm water and open the shower head for water flow. They are very easy to maintain and replace.
- A condensing water heater will operate similarly to a heat pump but is electrically driven to exchange and maintain preset heat levels.
The Australian regulatory Mark of Conformity is a certification that ensures the product you have purchased will meet all applicable control and safety requirements. You are protected against faulty equipment but when they break and flood your home the result is the same.
Your frequent inspections for leaks, consumption, and performance can help to raise flags of concern before failure. Check the pace of a slowly dripping faucet and replace it after ten drips a minute. If 10% of the loos in Australia were leaking, we would waste 2.6 billion litres of water per month.
Over the last 35 years, we have reduced our daily water consumption from over 570l per day to under 300l, but the number of families has grown. What can you do to reduce your water usage?
Recycling your grey water can reduce your freshwater bill by 40%. A reed filter system near your grey water outlet is hearty enough to withstand soaps and clean the water for irrigation of other plants. Switch away from sulphate liquid soap for best results.
A hot shower can improve cardiovascular health, reduce stress, soreness, fatigue, soothe joints, and improve sleep if taken before bed. I live on cold showers and only take a hot shower for relaxation. Shower yourself with warmth from an efficient water heater.
