[Pearson]

We need a new HWS, we dont have natural gas available, and I am loathe to have gas tanks. (Mainly because where they would have to go is right next to DS bedroom)

So, we are looking at getting a Heat Pump HWS, and thought we would go through Origin and get this one.

Does anyone have this one? Did you find your bills lowered when you got it? (Aside from the cost) Does it work well?

I am in Brisbane too btw.

Solar is not an option unfortunately, or my whole roof would be covered in them.


TIA

[Pearson]

bump... anyone?

[Mamabug]

Just curious as to why having bottled gas next to your child's room is a concern to you? Is it the potential for fire or explosion?

If they are installed properly the bottles will vent away from the house, not towards it. The bottles are designed to vent so they don't cause major damage. And they will only explode if they are impacted by fire/excessive heat directly. If a fire starts while you are at home, you tell the first fire fighters on the scene where the bottles are. If you aren't home, the fireys will find the bottles themselves as a site assessment for hazards is one of the first things they do

But, back to the question! Himself is an electrician, he reckons bottled gas boosted solar hot water is better than heat pump any day - and cheaper to operate in the long run.

Costs a bit to install - especially with changes to rebates/recs etc, but ours worked a treat and there was a noticeable difference in our electricity bills.

So don't rule solar out if you haven't check out all the systems available. There are ones that do not need massive panels, and the tanks are not roof mounted. The evacuated tube systems available these days are quite efficient.

Edited: because I hit post before I had actually finished my reply!!! Sorry!

This post has been edited by Mamabug: 10/05/2012, 12:34 PM

[Amanda_R]

Just curious as to why having bottled gas next to your child's room is a concern to you? Is it the potential for fire or explosion?

If they are installed properly the bottles will vent away from the house, not towards it. The bottles are designed to vent so they don't cause major damage. And they will only explode if they are impacted by fire/excessive heat directly. If a fire starts while you are at home, you tell the first fire fighters on the scene where the bottles are. If you aren't home, the fireys will find the bottles themselves as a site assessment for hazards is one of the first things they do

But, back to the question! Himself is an electrician, he reckons bottled gas boosted solar hot water is better than heat pump any day - and cheaper to operate in the long run.

Costs a bit to install - especially with changes to rebates/recs etc, but ours worked a treat and there was a noticeable difference in our electricity bills.

So don't rule solar out if you haven't check out all the systems available. There are ones that do not need massive panels, and the tanks are not roof mounted. The evacuated tube systems available these days are quite efficient.

Edited: because I hit post before I had actually finished my reply!!! Sorry!

I agree.

Heat Pump systems are really best where you are replacing an electric HWS.

Are you sure the gas bottles can't be relocated if you really aren't comfortable where they would be going?

[Pearson]

sorry, should have been clearer - we have an electric one now. I was just giving info about what I have looked at.

People have said go gas, as it is better and cheaper, which I know is great, but I hate the tanks - they freak me out, I know that they are safe most of the time, but they just freak me out. Not overly fond of bbq gas tanks either.

Solar is not an option due to big massive trees in 4/5 direct neighbours yards shading the northern end of our house - and we dont have a direct north facing part of the roof at all, only directly NE or NW.

[Amanda_R]

Decent solar installers can put brackets on the roof to point the panels the right way if you don't have a direct facing area on your roof.

If you're replacing electric and you honestly can't get over your fear of gas bottles, then a heat pump system is better than a standard electric, but honestly gas is cheap (bottled more than mains but not by much), and you can often position the bottles well away from the house (just costs more).

[Mamabug]

Decent solar installers can put brackets on the roof to point the panels the right way if you don't have a direct facing area on your roof.

Himself made our bracket. The installation guy wanted to know who supplied it so he could send more work their way...!!

[Amanda_R]

Himself made our bracket. The installation guy wanted to know who supplied it so he could send more work their way...!!

Haha, cool. He should manufacture them, there are far too many poorly installed solar panels out there!

[SarahM72]

I have solar HWS (electric boost) with the panels on the west side. I have no problems with them not being on the north.

[Pearson]

Our house is long & narrow, situated on the LHS (as you look at it) of the block. Carport & Driveway is on the right with the front door right near it. Houses on left, diagonal left back neighbour, and the same on the RHS all have large trees in the back corners of their blocks, which blocks a lot of our sun (PITA for lawn growth too!) we get about 2 hours of sun a day in winter.

DS room is front LHS, and the current HWS is LHS, all our utilities come through there. That is why I figured our LPG tanks, if we got them, would be situated next to his room.

I would do a diagram, but I can never get things like that to work on here!