Hot Water System Shat - Replacement Advice

uniqualz on 27/12/2016 - 16:46

Hi All,

My Dux Forte 250L electric hot water system (model no. 250F1-36) has finally shat its frilly panties after 16 years, and I'm in need of a replacement. Like most things these days though, seems you need a uni degree to understand the plethora of current day options - elec vs gas vs heat pump vs solar vs rebates vs shopadocket specials. Okay, notwithstanding shopadockets, can anyone offer some salient advice on what to do here, all things considered?

I figured I'd just pick up a like for like replacement from Bunnings for $850 and pay a plumber $200 to install it = ~$1100 'cheap' option. But it doesn't sound like these electric ones are in favour much anymore? Is that fair to say?

Is one meant to consider all the vs options these days? I live in North Brisbane, if that makes any difference. Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
UniQualz

Home & Garden

Comments

  • holdenmg on 27/12/2016 - 17:44
    +1

    Hi, I have a Rinnai Gas Instant and couldn't recommend it highly enough.
    But, your usage needs might be different… Do you have Gas connected to your home?

    Look @ http://www.rinnai.com.au/hot-water/hot-water-selector/ to help you make your choice.

    • uniqualz on 28/12/2016 - 09:38

      No mate, I don't have Nat Gas connected, but the line runs out front of our house. We have a few lpg stoves and ovens etc (running off lpg bottles atm), so maybe I should take the opportunity and move to gas, if those stoves etc are compatible. I presume it's expensive to install though?

      • Slippery Fish on 28/12/2016 - 09:42
        +1

        You will have the Nat kits if you bought the stove new, but will need to pay for line reruns. Keep it LPG if your lpg

  • altomic on 27/12/2016 - 18:07
    +1

    I had a dux that burnt out. Bought the identical model from bunnings and swapped it over myself. It's not rocket surgery. Just make sure the wattage of the element is the same rating. Mine was different so it kept drawing more current and would (after 5 minutes) trip the safety. It was a removable element so could unscrew it and swap over with the correct one. All good.

  • Elppa8 on 27/12/2016 - 18:21
    +1

    If there isn't one on your system already it is a requirement now to fit a tempering valve when replacing a hot water system, so you need to factor that cost in as well.

  • YTW on 27/12/2016 - 18:45
    +1

    We were the same recently. Got the impression that electric wasn't the way to go. Did a heap of research into our options and ended up buying a Rheem electric from the local plumbing supplies shop (cheaper than Bunnings) and paying a plumber to put it in. Cost about $1500 all up, but that was including a new concrete slab on a slope.

    Our roof is stuffed so solar was instantly off the table for us, but seemed to be what everyone was pointing us to despite my insistence that it just wasn't going to happen. So may be worth looking into, especially in Brisbane. But you'd want to have the right roof space (and not be needing a new roof) and be planning on being in your home for a while.

    Looked into the heat pumps as they sounded a good option for us, but worked out that it would take about 8+yrs for us to start getting ahead in costs based on our current usage (lower than average, but not that low). Given the pathetic warranties on offer and the problems people have had with them, we gave it a miss. Brisbane quotes were cheaper than us (north of Brisbane) so could be an option depending on your usage and if solar wasn't an option for you.

    Whirlpool had some interesting threads on the heat pumps.

  • onetwothreefour on 27/12/2016 - 18:47
    +1

    Bunnings charged me $250 to change over nine recently which I thought was reasonable.

    Edit that was just the installation cost, also had to pay for the heater.

  • Stewardo on 28/12/2016 - 09:02
    +2

    Depends if you have natural gas connection or not?
    I'd go with a rinnai instantaneous if you do.
    You need a good size gas supply line and it's better to get one with a higher number on the front.
    The electric storage ones are good but expensive to run.

    • uniqualz on 28/12/2016 - 09:12

      Thanks Stewardo.. I don't have Nat Gas connected, but I know it runs down our street. I have two gas stove/ovens in the house which just run off lpg bottles which can be converted to Nat Gas I hope, so I have been thinking about getting it connected, and so maybe get a gas water heater.. Is that about how it works? The installation costs of nat gas might put me off though.. I presume it's substantial?

  • Mad Max on 28/12/2016 - 09:56

    If you tell the gas company that you will install gas hot water, stove and oven they will do the connection from the street to a new meter in your property for free (at least that was true a couple of years ago).
    Then you need to pay a licenced gas installer to run the gas lines from the meter to all gas appliances and change the jets for your lpg appliances back to natural gas.
    Also consider that you will then have a daily supply service fee for the gas on top of your metered usage.

    • uniqualz on 28/12/2016 - 10:25

      Cheers Maxi. Daily supply service fee.. That sounds novel. Approx how much, usually?

      • Mad Max on 28/12/2016 - 14:13
        +1

        Not sure how much it is now but a few years ago was 68c/day. It may be more now.
        Just like the electricity daily service fee it would have gone up.
        And that is a fix cost regardless of how much you use.

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