How to Choose Between Storage and Continuous Flow Water Heating Systems

If you haven't installed a new hot water system before, then you might not know enough about different options and how they work. For example, you might not be sure whether to go for a storage heater system or one that uses continuous flow. To help you decide between the two, think about the following factors.

How Much Space Do You Have?

Storage and continuous flow systems have different space needs. Think about available space in your home as this might affect your ultimate choice.

For example, a storage system uses a hot water tank. This tank heats and stores water for you. While this is an efficient solution, the tank does take up space. This might not be a problem if you have somewhere to locate the tank, say in your attic or in a cupboard.

However, some homeowners struggle to find room for a storage tank. If you live in an apartment or a smaller house, then you might not have much room to spare.

Here, a continuous flow system might be a better option. These systems are tankless. Their main units are small so they don't take up much space at all.

How Do You Use Hot Water?

The way you use water affects the type of system you should choose. So, think about how often you use hot water and how much you need on tap at any given time.

Storage hot water systems store a lot of water at once. However, they take time to heat new water when you use up what's in the tank.

This might not be a problem if you live on your own or in a smaller household with staggered hot water use. If you can give a tank time to heat water, then it will provide a seamless supply.

However, storage tanks might not work so well if you regularly use high volumes of water in short spaces of time. For example, if you have a large family who all takes showers or baths in the morning at around the same time, then there might not be enough hot water in the tank for everyone.

Here, a continuous system might be a better option. These hot water systems heat water as it is used. So, you get a constant supply of hot water and you don't have to wait for a tank to refill.

However, continuous systems do have a downside here. They can't always deliver consistent water pressure rates. If you run multiple taps or appliances simultaneously, then your water flow in some places might reduce. This isn't a problem with tanked systems. They can supply hot water at the same pressure in multiple places simultaneously.

For more advice, contact hot water systems professionals.