Water heating systems

Share with your friends

This tool requires JavaScript to be enabled. Instructions on how to enable JavaScript are listed below.Alternatively, you can access information about choosing a water heating system in our water heating section.How to Enable Java ScriptChromeFollow these instructions to activate and enable JavaScript in Chrome.On a PC:

To the right of the address bar, click the icon with 3 stacked horizontal lines.

From the drop-down menu, select Settings.

At the bottom of the page, click the Show advanced settings… link.

Under the Privacy section, click the Content settings… button.

Under the JavaScript heading, select the Allow all sites to run JavaScript radio button.

Finally, refresh your browser.

On a MAC:

Select Chrome from the Apple/System bar at the top of the screen.

Select Preferences... from the drop-down menu.

In the left-hand column, select Settings from the list.

At the bottom of the page, click the Show advanced settings… link.

Under the Privacy section, click the Content settings… button.

Under the JavaScript heading, select the Allow all sites to run JavaScript radio button.

Finally, refresh your browser.

Internet ExplorerFollow these instructions to activate and enable JavaScript in Internet Explorer.On a PC:

Click the gear icon/Tools menu to the right of the Internet Explorer address bar.

Select Internet Options from the drop-down menu.

Next, select the Security tab at the top of the dialog box.

Then, select the earth (Internet) icon.

Then select the Custom Level button under the Security level for this zone section.

Locate the Scripting section within the list.

Under Active Scripting, select Enable, then hit OK.

Answer yes to the following conformation box.

Hit OK to close the Internet Options window.

Finally, refresh your browser.

FirefoxFollow these instructions to activate and enable JavaScript in Firefox.On a PC & MAC:

Open a new Firefox browser window or tab.

Copy the following then paste it into the Firefox address bar: about:config

Hit the Enter key.

On the following page, click the button: "I'll be careful, I promise!"

Find the javascript.enabled row under the Preference Name heading.

Double-click anywhere within the javascript.enabled row to toggle the value from "False" to "True".

Finally, refresh your browser.

SafariFollow these instructions to activate and enable JavaScript in Safari.On a PC:

In the Edit drop-down menu at the top of the window, select Preferences...

Select the Security icon/tab at the top on the window.

Then, check the Enable JavaScript checkbox.

Close the dialog box to save your changes.

Finally, refresh your browser.

On a MAC:

Select Safari from the Apple/System bar at the top of the screen.

From the drop-down menu, select Preferences.

Select the Security icon/tab at the top of the window.

Check the Enable JavaScript checkbox under the Web content category.

Close the dialog box to save your changes.

Finally, refresh your browser.

OperaFollow these instructions to activate and enable JavaScript in Opera.
On a PC:

In the Tools drop-down menu at the top of the window, select Preferences...

Select the Advanced tab at the top on the Preferences window.

Find the Content item in the list on the left-side of the window and select it.

Then, check the Enable JavaScript checkbox.

Click OK to save your changes and close the Preferences window.

Finally, refresh your browser.

On a MAC:

Select the Safari menu item from the Apple/System bar at the top of the screen.

From the drop-down menu, select Preferences.

Select the Content icon/tab at the top of the Preferences window.

Then, check the Enable JavaScript checkbox.

Click OK to save your changes and close the Preferences window.

Finally, refresh your browser.

iOSFollow these instructions to activate and enable JavaScript in iOS on the iPhone and iPad.

Select the Settings application/icon on the iPhone home screen.

Select Safari on the following screen.

Select Advanced, located near the bottom of the following screen.

Move the JavaScript toggle to the right so that it highlights green.

AndroidFollow these instructions to activate and enable JavaScript on your Android.

Select Browser or Internet to open the web browser.

Select Menu.

Select More then Settings.

Finally select Enable JavaScript.

Tip: hover for guidelines to answer questions

Tip: move slider left and right to select

Which of these best describes your situation?

{{value.label}}

Where do you live?

What's your current water heating system?

{{value.label}}

What's your shower's flow rate To find out your shower's flow rate turn the shower on and fill a 10 litre bucket for 30 seconds at normal showering temperature. At the end of the 30 seconds measure how much water (litres) is in the bucket and multiply by two to get the shower flow rate per minute. If your flow rate is more than 9 L/min, we recommend installing an efficient shower head. If you don't currently have a shower or are not sure, select "Don't know" and we'll use the average flow rate of 11 L/min.

Approximately how many showers does your household have each day? If your household has more than one water heating system, tell us how many showers you have each day just for the system you have selected. If you don’t have a current working system, tell us how many showers you would have for the system you are thinking of installing.

What is the average length of each shower in your household? If your household has more than one water heating system, tell us the average length of each shower for the system you have selected. If you don’t have a current working system, tell us the average length of each shower for the system you are thinking of installing.

Approximately how many baths does your household run each week? For this tool think of one bath as a near full bath. If you take smaller baths then calculate the number of near full baths e.g. if you have four half full baths a week, enter two baths.

Compare

* Please review the highlighted fields.

What is your electricity tariff (cents/kWh)? Your electricity tariff will be listed on your power bill (cents per kWh). Do not include any daily fixed charges. Include your usage charge (cents per unit/cents per kWh), Electricity Authority Levy, and any network charges.

Prompt payment discount (%)? Check your power bill to see if you receive a prompt payment discount, enter the percentage.

Does this include GST? Check your power bill to see if GST is included. If you don't know, select 'Yes'

Type of gas? If you are not sure which type of gas you have, check to see if it is noted on your power bill, or contact your gas supplier. Some rules of thumb you can follow: if you live in the North Island and have piped gas it will be natural gas, otherwise you will have LPG bottles. If you live in Christchurch and have piped gas it will be reticulated LPG, if you live anywhere else in the South Island you will have LPG bottles.

Do you use gas just for water heating? If you choose 'Yes' all fixed gas charges or bottle rental fees will be included in the calculation of the water heating costs. If 'No' only the variable gas charges will be included in the calculation of the water heating costs.

What is your gas tariff (cents/kWh)? Your gas tariff will be listed on your power bill (cents per kWh). Do not include any daily fixed charges. Include your usage charge (cents per unit/cents per kWh), Gas Industry Company fees, and any network charges.

Cost to refill 45kg LPG bottle ($)? Your gas tariff will be listed on your power bill (cents per kWh). Do not include any daily fixed charges. Include your usage charge (cents per unit/cents per kWh), Gas Industry Company fees, and any network charges.

Daily fixed charge for gas ($/day)? Your gas charges will be listed on your power bill. If you don't know your charge leave in the default value.

Annual LPG bottle rental fee ($)? If you don't know the fee, leave in the default value

Do these charges include GST? Check your power bill to see if GST is included. If you don't know, select 'Yes'

Prompt payment discount (%)? Check your power bill to see if you receive a prompt payment discount. enter the percentage.

Compare

What is the approx volume of your hot water cylinder? The volume will usually be listed on the cylinder.

{{value.label}}

Where is your hot water cylinder located? Location makes a difference to running costs because it takes more energy to heat a cylinder located in cooler locations (e.g. outdoors).

{{value.label}}

When was your cylinder manufactured? The year of manufacture will usually be listed on the cylinder.

Is a cylinder wrap fitted? A cylinder wrap is placed around your cylinder and helps keep the heat in. It will be obvious if you have one or not.

{{value.label}}

Is your solar water heating system ENERGY STAR® qualified? Find out if your cylinder is ENERGY STAR® qualified by checking this page to see if your system is listed.

Compare

Edit your details

Water heating system options

See how different water heating systems compare. Customise the results by selecting 'Edit details' under each system and answering a few questions. Blank fields indicate that more information is required, enter this by selecting 'Edit details' under each system.

Sort your results by selecting the column headings. Use the buttons at the end of the tool to print or email a copy of your results.

Customise your results

	Water Heating System	Upfront Costs Upfront costs = purchase + installation costs. A range is shown as there can be differences in the size and quality of the system and complexity of installation.	Yearly Running Costs Running costs = the likely cost to run the water heating system each year. This is calculated based on how much hot water you use and the system type and efficiency.	Lifetime Costs Lifetime costs = running costs + purchase and installation costs, over ten years (we have assumed a life span of ten years for the calculations in this tool, although many systems may last much longer). We have also allowed for the cost of interest, should you take out a loan to pay for it, or the missed interest earnings if you had left the money in the bank instead. The lower price is based on buying and installing a highly efficient system at a low price. The higher price is based on buying and installing a low efficiency system at a high price.
	YOUR CURRENT SYSTEM {{ result.name }} Edit details	Upfront costs	Yearly running costs {{ result.running_cost_range \| filterDisplayPriceRange }}	Lifetime costs {{ result.lifetime_cost_without_upfront_range \| filterDisplayPriceRange }}
Select / deselect row	{{ result.name }} Edit details	Upfront costs {{ result.upfront_cost_range \| filterDisplayPriceRange }}	Yearly running costs {{ result.running_cost_range \| filterDisplayPriceRange }}	Lifetime costs {{ result.lifetime_cost_range \| filterDisplayPriceRange }}

What to do now, next steps

Print Email

Types of water heating systems

Choosing a water heating system

Ways to save on hot water

DISCLAIMER:

The water heating systems tool is designed to compare water heating systems for your household.

Read full disclaimer

Water heating systems

Step one

Step two

Step three

Step four

Your details

{{ model.questions.getLabel('journeys', model.values.journey) }}

Water heating system options

Your results

Customise your results

What to do now, next steps

Types of water heating systems

Choosing a water heating system

Ways to save on hot water

Access Keys