See the top ways to get hot water without being connected to the grid including solar thermal systems, wetbacks, LPG and more. Get free quotes.
Adopting off-grid solutions necessitates innovative approaches to ensure uninterrupted access to hot water. Off-grid living, disconnected from standard power and water utilities, demands resourceful systems that utilize renewable energy for hot water.
Solar hot water systems can provide cost-free hot water, albeit with a reliance on sunny conditions. Solar pump options are highly efficient, though they necessitate a minimal amount of electricity. Gas water heaters offer easy installation yet depend on consistent fuel supply.
Our team at Greater Western Sydney Plumbing brings extensive expertise to design and install off-grid hot water systems tailored to your needs.
Whether your solar array necessitates a thorough revamp for hot water or a backup option for your current setup, we can offer advice on the most suitable avenue based on your climate, budget, and what you’ll need in terms of usage.
Solar water heating systems use the sun’s environmentally friendly energy to heat water. They operate by circulating and heating water through, or a heat-transfer fluid, within solar collectors mounted on the roof, containing tubes or panels tailored to absorb heat from sunlight efficiently.
Given its plentiful availability, solar energy in Australia is perfect for year-round water heating, even during cooler, overcast days. Solar collectors are two to three times more efficient at harnessing heat energy from diffuse sunlight compared to collecting ambient heat. This efficiency enables solar systems to cater to 60-90% of a household’s annual hot water needs.
Solar water heating system components, comprising of a storage tank, electric pump, and a load controller, occupy less space compared to other systems. Their ability to heat water without direct use of gas or electricity can result in substantial long-term energy bill savings.
Thanks to material advances and thermosiphon systems that don’t require external power, solar electric water heating is among the most proven renewable technologies today.
Solar water heaters use solar thermal collectors mounted on the roof to absorb heat from sunlight. These collectors contain rows of tubes or panels designed to efficiently provide hot water with the water heated by collecting and retaining heat. The most common types are flat panel collectors and evacuated tube collectors.
Cold water first enters the solar thermal collector becoming pre-warmed, approaching boiling point, before moving to the insulated storage tank. This pre-warmed water progresses into the storage tank, fitted with a hot water element, which can assist in elevating the water to the preferred temperature, often around 65 deg C, for an efficient water service on overcast days.
This system functions independently, with the pump and controller activating when they detect cooler temperatures within your water supply. Once the storage tank reaches capacity, the solar water heater shuts off, ready to provide a hot shower on demand. Hot showers are possible with water being available on demand from the tank any time a hot tap runs, with it flowing into a heat exchanger to heat the fresh water.
This closed-loop system means the potable water entering homes never makes direct contact with the heat-transfer fluid, avoiding any contamination. Well-designed solar water heaters can fulfil over 60% of a household’s yearly hot water requirements in Australia’s sunny climate.
Utilising an off-grid solar hot water system is an incredibly efficient way to heat water in off-grid living. Many systems are equipped with a device known as a PV diverter, enabling the energy your panels generate in surplus to be utilised for water heating rather than sending it to the grid.
PV diverters connect to the home’s hot water system and redirect excess power to an electric heating element. This allows solar energy which would otherwise go to waste to actively provide electric hot water during the day when it’s sunny.
Tiny homes can adopt off-grid DIY solar solutions with scaled-down PV panels and vacuum tube solar water heaters, perfect for compact spaces. These systems feature water circulating through evacuated tubes that capture solar heat efficiently. Reliable in all seasons, they are easy to install solutions ideal for off-grid cabins or tiny homes needing hot water per day.
Heat pumps are an extremely efficient type of water heating system that capture and utilise heat energy from the air. Heat pumps work by absorbing and amplifying heat from the air, providing more usable heat energy than the electricity consumed.
Air source heat pumps use a refrigerant gas that when compressed, absorbs heat from the air which becomes hot. As this hot gas decompresses and cools, it heats up water that circulates through a heating system’s heat exchanger in the unit. This heated water is then stored ready for use.
Achieving a performance coefficient over 3, heat pumps generate more than triple the water heating energy compared to their electrical usage. This makes them over 300% efficient. Their low power demand also makes heat pumps ideal for off-grid situations.
Heat pumps compress gases without containing greenhouse gases or using ozone-depleting refrigerants.
With advancements in variable speed technology making them more energy efficient, heat pumps offer the most cost effective and sustainable way to heat water off the grid.
Gas heater models fuelled by LPG provide a reliable way to heat water off the grid. Liquified petroleum gas (LPG) like propane can be an abundant fuel source in areas where there is no access to natural gas pipelines.
LPG water heaters function by combusting propane or butane to heat water in a storage tank or in on-demand tankless systems. This allows them to deliver water demand from hot water tanks without relying on sunshine or electricity.
Instantaneous gas systems minimise standby heat loss, enhancing the heater’s efficiency by not storing water excessively. But they do require more maintenance than solar alternatives. In general, an LPG gas water heater provides a straightforward, established, and economical method to supply abundant hot water off-grid.
Wood fire water heaters, also known as wetbacks or wood stoves, offer a low-cost, renewable method to heat water off the grid. Wetback systems involve installing a water heating tank or coil inside or on the back of a wood burning stove.
As fire warms the stove, hot gases or heated metal surfaces transmit this warmth through the wetback heat exchanger to heat up water as it flows through it. This warmed water is then stored in an insulated cylinder, readily available for home use.
Wetback systems are economical, capitalising on wood fuel that’s readily accessible outside your home, bypassing gas or electricity use. They also provide ambient heat which is beneficial in colder climates. However they do require manual loading of firewood which may not suit all lifestyles.
With a properly insulated hot water tank, Wood-fired wetback systems can supply a generous amount of hot water for off-grid residences. They make an excellent supplement to solar or heat pump systems, helping ensure a reliable supply of hot water year-round.
When selecting a hot water system for off-grid living, the most important factors to consider are:
Understanding how to establish your off-grid hot water heating resources and options can guide you towards choosing the right system or amalgamating multiple technologies for optimum reliability and efficiency.
Contact Greater Western Sydney Plumbing to have one of our off-grid specialists assess your situation and recommend the most suitable and cost-effective hot water supply solutions.
Installing an off grid hot water system requires thoughtful planning and should be managed by licenced pros, like our team out there at Greater Western Sydney Plumbing. We take care of the whole process from system design to installation and maintenance.
We begin by assessing your household’s hot water requirements, climate, budget, and energy sources to determine the best solution. We then craft a bespoke design that integrates appropriate technologies such as solar thermal collectors, heat pumps, wetbacks, and propane water heaters.
During installation, we properly mount solar system collectors to maximise sun exposure, integrate heat pump compressors and route gas lines or plumb wetback attachments on wood stoves. Electrical connections are made to pumps, sensors and controllers. Insulated hot water storage tanks are connected in the system.
Once operational, we conduct comprehensive testing of the new off-grid hot water service and guide you on essential maintenance. Ongoing upkeep on solar collectors, clearing fuel loads on wetbacks or tankless heaters helps optimise performance and reliability.
Boasting over 15 years of experience, our specialist team is well-versed in recommending and installing the perfect off-grid hot water system for your home.
To keep an off-grid hot water system running at optimal efficiency it needs some basic maintenance. Solar panels and tubes require occasional cleaning, checking refrigerant levels and airflow on heat pumps, clearing out ash buildup on wetbacks, and monitoring gas connections and water heat lines.
We recommend inspecting solar collectors every 6 months, ensuring clear surfaces for maximising your off grid hot water efficiency by avoiding blockage from dust, leaves and debris. Check that pumps are circulating water properly through the system. Make sure heat transfer fluids are at proper levels and not leaking.
For heat pumps, it’s vital to clean outdoor coils regularly and ensure more than adequate airflow over critical condenser fins. Check refrigerant levels and top up if needed. Wood stove wetbacks should have ash pans cleared before each fire and may need chimney sweeping annually.
For gas systems, annual inspections of lines and fittings for leaks using commercial leak detector fluid or soapy water are essential.
Confirm gas valves turn smoothly and pilot lights ignite properly. Replace worn regulator hoses. Keep water tanks fully insulated.
Should you require assistance or have any concerns maintaining your off-grid hot water system, our Greater Western Sydney Plumbing team is here to help.
Off-grid hot water systems are adaptable, allowing for expansion or upgrades as your needs evolve. Solar thermal systems are highly scalable - adding additional solar collectors can increase hot water production to meet growing hot water demand of a larger household.
Expanded heat pump system capabilities also allow for easy increases in capacity over time. Their modular nature means new units can be paired to existing ones and work together in sequence to supply greater hot water volumes. This avoids needing to replace the whole system.
Even gas or wood-fired systems can be upgraded. Storage tanks can be added in parallel to increase capacity. And newer, larger-capacity instant gas heaters can be swapped in while reusing existing plumbing connections.
At Greater Western Sydney Plumbing, We provide complimentary consultations to evaluate your ideal system fitting with your water heating requirements. For expanding families or increased hot water needs, upgrading your home solar provides cost-effective improvements that maximise existing infrastructure.
If you need help designing, installing or maintaining an off-grid hot water system, the team at Greater Western Sydney Plumbing can assist. With over 15 years of experience working with off-grid hot water solutions, we are familiar with all the latest technologies and best practises.
Contact us for a free consultation where we assess your household’s unique needs and make informed recommendations on the optimal system for your climate and budget. We collaborate with top-tier manufacturers to ensure systems are installed to rigorous industry standards.
Whether you’re planning to install new solar thermal collectors, insert a heat pump or deftly combine a wood-fired wetback, we possess the expertise they took years to hone, enabling us to handle the complete process for you. And we stand behind our workmanship with long warranties and lifetime support.
For reliable, efficient off-grid hot water solutions tailored to your needs, contact Greater Western Sydney Plumbing at 1300 349 338 or email us at jobs@greaterwesternsydneyplumbingservices.com.au.
See the top ways to get hot water without being connected to the grid including solar thermal systems, wetbacks, LPG and more. Get free quotes.
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