We might not think about it a lot, but hot water is a big part of our lives. From that first shower in the morning to washing the dishes, doing the laundry, running the dishwasher, or having a bath, it’s something we rely on from morning to night.
And we all use it differently. A busy family with three teenagers will chew through the hot water, while a retired couple might use hardly any. Some homes have solar panels, and some have access to gas. And a small apartment has very different space constraints from a large family home.
Which means when it comes to choosing a hot water system, there’s really no one-size-fits-all answer.
That’s where Rinnai’s experience comes in.
For more than 50 years, we’ve been helping New Zealanders get their hot water right. With expertise across continuous flow gas water heaters, hot water heat pumps and electric hot water cylinders, we understand that choosing the right system is about more than simply heating water.
It’s about understanding what your home needs, and knowing which solution will work best for you. Our job isn’t simply to sell you a hot water system. It’s to help you choose the right one.
It starts with how you use hot water
Before you think about technology, think about your home.
How many people live there? How many showers happen in the morning? Do you regularly run the dishwasher and washing machine at the same time? Do you have teenagers who seem to spend half their lives in the shower?
These things matter.
So does the size and layout of your home, the space available for your system, and the energy sources you have access to.
Getting these things right at the start can make a big difference to how your hot water system performs for years to come. So here are three different ways to go with Rinnai.
Gas hot water heating for endless hot water
Gas has been heating New Zealand homes for generations. And while there’s plenty of discussion about the future of energy, modern gas continuous-flow systems continue to offer some amazing advantages. Most notably, instant hot water.
Rinnai INFINITY® continuous flow hot water systems take a simple approach: heat the water when you need it, rather than storing a cylinder full of hot water and keeping it hot.
You just turn on the tap and the system heats the water as it flows through. Turn off the tap and it stops.
Hot water that keeps coming
If your home has high or unpredictable hot water demands, this is a real advantage. There’s no wondering if the last person in the shower will get the cold end. No waiting for a cylinder to heat another batch. Just hot water when you need it.
Only heat what you use
A continuous-flow system doesn’t need to spend its day keeping a large tank of water hot. It heats water when you turn on the tap. That makes gas continuous-flow an attractive option when you’re looking for efficient hot water without the need for a storage cylinder.
Less space. More flexibility.
Because there’s no hot water cylinder, an INFINITY® system can free up valuable space, something that’s increasingly important in modern homes. And because Rinnai offers systems designed for different household demands, we can help you get the size right.
Hot water heat pumps that make energy work harder
If you’re looking for energy efficiency, here’s another smart way to heat water. Developed using the latest in heat pump technology, hot water heat pumps are a highly efficient water heating solution to help Kiwi families save on energy.
They use electricity to extract heat from the surrounding air and transfer it into stored hot water. The result is a highly efficient way of heating water, using significantly less electricity than conventional electric water heating under suitable conditions.
Rinnai can help you choose exactly the right one for your place and recommend a trusted installer.
A natural fit for energy efficiency
If cutting back on electricity is a priority, a hot water heat pump is an excellent choice. Rinnai’s HydraHeat® and Enviroflo™ ranges are designed to deliver high efficiency while still giving you the hot water storage capacity needed by modern households.
Look at the lifetime, not just the price tag
Admittedly, heat pumps typically cost more than a conventional electric cylinder. But you need to look beyond the purchase price. How much power will the system use? How long will you be in your home? What energy sources will you have in the future? The cheapest system to buy isn’t necessarily the cheapest system to own.
NZ Green Energy Loans
These energy-efficient hot water heat pumps are eligible for an NZ Green Energy Loan – read here for more information.
Electric cylinders for a simple but smart solution
There’s a reason electric cylinders remain a popular choice in New Zealand. They’re proven, familiar and straightforward. And for many Kiwi homes, that’s exactly what makes them the right solution.
That’s why Rinnai continues to offer a large range of electric hot water cylinders in different sizes and configurations, including mains pressure and low pressure options.
Get the size right
A cylinder that’s too small can leave a household running short of hot water. One that’s too large can mean you’re heating and storing more water than you need. That’s why cylinder sizing matters. So it’s not simply about choosing the biggest tank that’ll fit. It’s about understanding how your home uses hot water.
Straightforward today. Flexible tomorrow.
Some Rinnai cylinders can also be configured to work with technologies such as solar or heat pumps. Which means you’ve got options if your energy needs change in the future. An electric cylinder doesn’t mean closing the door on other technologies. It can be part of a longer-term hot water strategy.
Our expertise is in knowing what matters
As you can see, there are so many factors to weigh up when it comes to choosing a hot water system:
- Household size and hot water demand
- Running costs and energy efficiency
- Upfront costs vs lifetime costs
- Available energy source
- Sustainability
- Installation space
- Future-proofing
- Reliability & warranties
- Solar PV compatibility
That’s why it’s good to know you’ve got the expertise of Rinnai to help you make the right decision. We can help you understand how all of these things fit together:
Household size and hot water demand
A family of five doesn’t use hot water in the same way as a couple. The number of people living in your home, when they use hot water, and how much they use are all factors that influence the best system and size.
Running costs and energy efficiency
The price you pay for a system is only part of its cost. Energy consumption over the years can make a significant difference to the overall cost of ownership.
Upfront cost versus lifetime cost
A system that costs less today might not necessarily cost less over its lifetime. It’s worth considering the purchase price, installation, energy use, maintenance and expected lifespan together.
The energy available to you
Natural gas, LPG, electricity and solar PV can all influence your options. Understanding what your home already has, and what you might add later, can help determine the right direction.
Sustainability
If cutting your power bills is important, technologies such as hot water heat pumps can offer significant efficiency benefits. But sustainability is also about choosing a system that’s the best size and operates efficiently for your home.
Installation space
Not every home has room for a large cylinder. Not every home has the right outdoor space for a heat pump. And not every home has gas available. The practical realities of your property matter.
Future-proofing
Your home will probably look very different in five or ten years. You might add solar. Your family might grow. It might shrink. Your energy priorities might change. You don’t just need to think about what works today, but what could work for you tomorrow.
Reliability and support
Hot water is something you need every day. That’s why the technology matters, but so do the people behind it. So choosing a manufacturer with experience, local knowledge, appropriate warranties, and ongoing support can give you confidence that your hot water system is in good hands.
That’s what hot water expertise looks like
Hot water expertise isn’t about telling every homeowner they need the same thing. It’s about knowing that every home is different. It’s knowing when a continuous flow gas system makes sense. When a hot water heat pump is the smarter choice. And when an electric cylinder is all you really need.
It’s knowing how to size the system properly, how to work with the energy available to you, how to think about running costs, and how to plan for the future.
And it’s knowing that getting those decisions right can make the difference between simply having hot water and having a hot water system that’s right for the way you live.
That’s Rinnai hot water expertise.
More than 50 years of experience. Three ways to heat your water. And the knowledge to help you choose what’s right for your home.
