How a hot water system works is not only for technical information for experts to know as homeowners should understand it. Learning how these machines work gives you a much greater understanding of what a hot water heater is best, including reducing energy bills. There are different hot water systems that produce different quantities of hot water at different efficiency levels. Understanding how an instant electric water heater works allows you to ensure a hot water system provides enough hot water to meet the family’s needs.
Types of hot water system
A hot water system is differentiated into two main factors:
Power source. The primary power sources of the hot water system are electricity and gas. Solar hot water systems become more popular for being energy-efficient while a heat pump system is the modern efficient and renewable hot water production.
Whether instantaneous systems or tank-based systems. The tank system maintains a large amount of water in the tank refilled, as hot water is used. The instantaneous hot water system heats hot water without keeping any stored supply.
Tank systems
A hot water system uses a tank, which is a more traditional and most common type of hot water system. In the tank system, cold water is passed into the tank, where heated before being sent to hot water outlets in a home. Once the hot water is used, when someone takes a shower, the new water will pass through the tank to get heated. When there is no hot water being used, the tank will maintain the heat of the water where it holds.
Hot water becomes lighter than cold water and rises to the surface of the hot water tank containing cold water. The water-out pipe in the hot water tank will be located close to the top, while the cold water enters the bottom of the tank. The burner or heating element is located at the tank’s bottom so that new cold water is heated quickly upon entering the tank.
As long as the tank is heated, the new cold water is faster than the hot water that leaves the top of the tank, continuous hot water supply can flow. The thermostat for the hot water system will be attached to test the water temperature. In turn, the thermostat regulates the element.
The tank systems come in various sizes that range from 25L portable tanks to around 400L for the large family tanks. There are different tanks that use different materials and insulation systems to enhance the energy efficiency of the system.