Hot Water Systems Victoria Point
Hot water systems for Victoria Point homes with rooftop solar, and for those without. Heat pump and electric units set up to heat while your panels are generating, installed by a local team based in Victoria Point.
Heat your water with your own solar
If you have solar panels, the cheapest time to heat water is the middle of the day, when they’re producing more than the house uses. The Your Home guide says pairing an electric hot water system with rooftop solar is an effective way to cut energy bills and largely eliminate the emissions from heating water.
The simplest way to do it is a timer. Most heat pumps, and some newer electric storage units, have one built in that can be set for the middle of the day. Energex suggests the same for existing electric systems: put the hot water on a timer so the element runs while the panels are generating. If there isn’t enough sun in that window, the system simply draws from the grid.
Heat pumps gain twice. As well as using your own power, Your Home notes they run more efficiently in the warmer afternoon air, so timing them for the afternoon gets more hot water from every kilowatt-hour.
Getting the setup right
A timer has to give the system enough time. Energex warns the timer must run long enough for hot water through the day, and Your Home cautions that an external timer set too short can override the heater’s built-in protection against Legionella. Storage systems must reach at least 60°C at least once every seven days.
Smarter options go further. Some electric storage units have variable elements that match their power draw to the surplus from your panels. A home energy management system can watch your solar output and switch the hot water on at the best moment. Many systems can be controlled from a phone app.
If your hot water is on a controlled load tariff, Your Home notes that those circuits are increasingly being switched on during the day to soak up surplus solar across the grid. A timer or smart control may still suit you better if you have your own panels. Not every heat pump is compatible with every controlled load, so check before you switch.
The switchboard wiring for timers and tariffs is an electrician’s job. Our part is choosing and installing the right heat pump or electric system, so it works with your solar from day one, and lodging the QBCC Form 4. QBCC licence 15504687, gas licence L90908.
Frequently asked questions
Can’t see your question? Call us and we’ll talk it through.
Call 0418 871 269Can my hot water run off my solar panels?
Yes. An electric storage or heat pump system set to heat in the middle of the day will use your solar power first, topping up from the grid if there isn’t enough sun.
Is a heat pump or electric storage better with solar?
A heat pump uses much less electricity for the same hot water, so your panels cover more of it. Electric storage is cheaper to buy and can still run largely on solar with a timer.
Will a timer cause problems with Legionella?
It can if it’s set too short. Storage water must reach at least 60°C at least once every seven days. Use a built-in timer where you can, and if an external timer is fitted, have it set with that in mind.
Do I need an electrician to put my hot water on a timer?
For a switchboard timer or a tariff change, yes. Many heat pumps have timers built in, so the setting can be changed on the unit or in an app.
I don’t have solar. Is a heat pump still worth it in Victoria Point?
Heat pumps work best in warm, humid climates and use much less energy than a standard electric unit, so they can pay off without solar too.
Hot water in nearby areas
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Want your hot water running on your solar in Victoria Point? Call 0418 871 269.
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