Salmon Plumbing Guarantee to ARRIVE ON TIME to your scheduled appointment.
In the rare instance that your plumber has been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, we promise to give you a MINIMUM 30-minutes notice of ANY change in arrival time and will offer to reschedule, if that’s more convenient for you
If we don’t give you at least 30 minutes notice in advance, we will happily give you a FREE Hour of Service on your plumbing job.
This offer is not to be used with any other offer.
Does not apply to quoted jobs.
Discounts will not be applied to overdue amounts.
Deposits
Deposits are not refundable however partial or total refunds of deposits may be made at the sole discretion of Salmon Plumbing.
Cancellations
Salmon Plumbing reserve the right to charge for lost time as a result of cancellations and or postponement made less than 2 business days from the scheduled appointment time.
Warranties
Salmon Plumbing offers a 6 and half year warranty as per the Queensland Building & Construction Commission (QBCC).
Hot water systems are one of those things in our homes that we take for granted until hot water stops coming out of the taps…… and that’s fair enough. For the most part, hot water systems are hard-wearing, long-lasting and (mostly) hidden from view. But not from your budget. For Brisbane residents, the best hot water system isn’t just about your family’s needs, it’s about our climate – don’t worry we’re the experts hot water plumbers in Brisbane. We’ve got you.
Your hot water costs are astronomical!
Hot water systems account for between 20% – 30% of all household energy use, depending on the size of your household. That means that when it’s time to choose a new hot water system as part of a regular upgrade/maintenance plan, or having to replace one because something has gone wrong, you need to have the best information to make the right choice.
Compare two Brisbane hot water systems
Here are two examples that illustrate how making
considered decisions has made a real difference to households:
Scenario 1
Previous situation: This is a four-person household with a 250-litre hot water unit. They have PV solar panels with a 50 cent feed-in tariff. They use 75 litres of hot water per person per day, and they are charged on Tariff 33 @ 25 cents/KW hour. Their hot water cost was 37.5 cents/KW Hour = $1780 per year
Our suggestion: Install a 400-litre Rheem 12 year warranty hot water system, and switch to tariff 31 @ 15 cents/KW hour. Their annual hot water cost is reduced to just $712.50. If the hot water system last 20 years that’s a power saving of over $21000:00
Scenario 2
Previous situation: A family of four had a Solar PV 10 cent feed on Tariff 33. Their hot
water cost was 17.5 cents/KW hour, resulting in an annual bill of $831.00.
Our suggestion: Install a larger system with a timer, so it runs during the day off the PV panels. The new cost of power is 10 cents/KW hour, and the new annual cost is just $475.00. Over the possible 15-year life span of the unit, the family will save around $5342.
So, it’s clear there are many variables to consider when you choose a new hot water system. Learn more about hot water savings here. Whether it’s a leaking pipe, a blockage or choosing your next hot water system, an experienced Brisbane plumber will make all the difference. And, that’s exactly what we’re famous for.
Hot Water System Makes and Models
When we’re buying a new car, the make and model
are the two big choices we make. It’s like that with hot water systems. The
major choices are between the types of heating method: gas, solar, electric or
a heat pump. The major pros and cons are listed below.
The major benefit of an electric system is that
it is generally quite cheap to purchase, and is common throughout Australia,
which brings down installation costs. However, on the flipside, electric hot
water systems are the most expensive to run if not sized correctly and connected to the best tariff
option
In urban areas, off-peak electricity supply, which is cheaper, coupled with a larger hot water tank to keep larger volumes of water warm for longer periods, can help lower the cost. These systems can be installed either indoors or outdoors. With new Commonwealth and Queensland Government incentives to move to more eco-friendly hot water systems, electric hot water systems are less popular these days.
Because of a variety of rebates, feed-in tariffs, government incentives, and the plunging cost of the cells, solar hot water systems are now a common sight throughout the country. The benefits of choosing a solar hot water system are obviously the lessened environmental impact, as well as the cost savings that come from not having to continuously draw on the power grid to heat water.
The drawbacks are also well-known. In sunny
Queensland or northern New South Wales, solar is a great option because the sun
shines all year round. However, in cloudy Victoria or Hobart in winter, solar
alone may not be a great option. That’s why most solar systems are supplemented
by gas or electric “boosters” to cover for stretches when the sun isn’t out.
Compared to the other options, the upfront cost
of solar is higher, but the long-term running cost is much lower, particularly
here in sunny Queensland.
Gas is a close cousin of electric when it comes to hot water systems. Water quicker or continuously isn’t subject to the same peak/off-peak price variations as electric. Unlike solar, some gas units can also heat water “as needed” and don’t rely on other factors.
However, gas systems are not available to all households because the connections required are not installed in every home. Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) sourced from large portable bottles are an alternative, but the costs of these can be very high for running a hot water system.
Heat pump hot water systems are at the cutting edge of water heating and ideally suited to Brisbane’s hot, sunny environment. Heat pumps use atmospheric heat to efficiently warm water in a tank. They can be used in conjunction with your Solar PV cells to increase their efficiency and drive down your bill even further. Heat pump hot water systems are also eligible for the Commonwealth Government SSTC system, an incentive that reduces your cost of installation. The downside of heat pump hot water systems is that installation really matters. How and where you install your system will impact its efficiency. So, you’ll need a professional plumber experienced in heat pump hot water installation to get the most from your new system.
Choosing the right hot water system isn’t about your past needs, it’s about your current and future needs. Our expert plumbers will talk you through your options depending on:
The age of the current system,
how many people live in the home,
your location in Brisbane
what the government incentives are (for solar and heat pumps)
how long you intend to stay in the home.
For example, a household with three young children and homeowners who intend to stay there for at least 7-10 years should choose a heat pump or solar hot water system, as they could recoup the upfront costs over the long term.
On the other hand, a household of two with no kids at home, no pool, and where the owners intend to downsize soon, electric or gas may be a better option.
Keep in mind too that Brisbane enjoys, some may argue, too many days of bright, hot sunshine. If you’re in the Brisbane suburbs, your potential to save money with a solar or heat pump hot water system could be huge. If you’re in “leafier” areas, including suburbs along the Western range, a heat pump or solar hot water system may underperform.
Next, we’ll help you choose the right size, and keep it at peak efficiency
The size of the tank you need, the approximate hot water consumption per person and the local requirements are all something an experienced plumber can help you with so that when you invest in a new hot water system, you are making the best choice for your individual situation.
Once you have your new system in place, you can do a lot to extend the life of your hot water tank. This will prevent the added expense of an unplanned hot water failure in the future.
Call the team at Salmon Plumbing and we’ll help you choose the most efficient hot water system for your Brisbane home.
