The Pros And Cons Of Gas Boosted Solar Hot Water Systems

As solar hot water has been an attractive alternative to traditional gas and electric water heaters for decades, you’d think it couldn’t get any better. Well, it can!

By boosting your solar hot water system with a continuous flow gas hot water system (gas booster), hot water will always be readily available, come rain, shine, or night time, as it acts as a supplemental water heater booster to ensure you get the most out of your solar hot water system.

However, before looking into replacing your existing gas or electric water heater, or upgrading your current solar hot water system, do yourself a favour and get to know the benefits of gas boosters. You won’t regret it!

To help you make your decision, we’ve compiled the most notable pros and cons of gas boosted solar hot water systems.

The Pros of Gas Boosted Solar Hot Water System

Significant savings of solar

As solar hot water systems use the sun’s natural rays as a source of free energy, installing one could significantly slash your monthly energy bills. In fact, modern solar hot water systems can pay for themselves within six to ten years! Even less in some cases.

Better together, whatever the weather

Whether you’ve used up your sun-heated water or there was no sun to begin with, with a gas booster you’ll always have hot water on tap. Once your gas booster detects a drop in water temperature, it’ll automatically ignite to provide instantaneous and continuous flow heating.

Therefore, no more remembering to turn on the electric booster and waiting hours for a “cold” solar water heater to heat up enough water for a hot shower, or number of hot showers. A continuous flow gas booster can be turned on at the “flick of a switch” at any time and hot water is immediately available.

Environmentally friendly

Going solar helps you protect our planet, as it can offer 70-80% of your hot water needs from free renewable, clean energy. On the other hand, conventional hot water systems have to generate all their heat by combusting fossil fuels (gas or electric). This produces harmful greenhouse emissions, pollutes the air, and contributes to climate change!

The best part?

Gas boosters are easily retrofitted to existing solar storage hot water tanks to increase their effectiveness and convenience. And in the long run, your gas boosted solar hot water system will also pay for itself.

The Cons of Gas Boosted Solar Hot Water System

Initial Upfront Installation Costs

The costs involved in adding a gas booster or installing a complete gas boosted solar hot water system can make most homeowners think twice about outlaying the cost of getting the system installed.

Efficiency Rating

Nowadays the STC energy rating of most gas boosted solar water heaters is the same as for electric boosted solars, and even less for some brands. Therefore, they are tested and deemed by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) to be no cheaper to run than an electric boosted solar water heater. Why? Because solar gas boosters have to be set to heat the water coming from a solar HW tank to 70C and use considerably more gas, than when used as a dedicated and separate stand-alone continuous flow gas HWS, which can be set as low as 42C (the temperature at which most adults shower).

Fossil Fuel Combustion

Unfortunately, a gas booster involves fossil fuel combustion and may not be the best choice for die-hard environmentalists. But, all is not lost! Natural gas is one of the cleanest fossil fuels available, producing 50-60% less greenhouse gas emissions than the rest.

Decision Time

Now that you’ve seen the evidence, you can make an informed decision for yourself!

Whether you choose an electric, gas, heat pump, electrically boosted solar, or gas boosted solar hot water system, our team at Kalamunda Plumbing has the expertise you need. We offer all manner of hot water system services, while specialising in the sale, service, and installation of solar hot water systems for over 30 years!

Visit our website for more information or call us on (08) 9291 6000 – we’re happy to help.

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Head Office & Warehouse Address: 13 Godfrey Street, Walliston 6076

Office Hours: 7.30am – 4.30pm Monday – Friday

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Shop 5B Kalamunda Glades, 121-123 Canning Road,
Kalamunda 6076

Showroom Hours: 9.00 am – 12 Noon Saturdays

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Testimonials What our
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Excellent4.9★★★★★ Based on 494 reviews from review us onRory Aamodt ★★★★★ Professional, turned up when they said they would. Great couple of tradies.Response from the ownerwe know It will always be refreshing to work with professionals who value punctuality and quality. Sounds like you had a really positive experience with our trades, thank you Rory for your feedback! Susan Williams ★★★★★ Kalamunda Plumbing were, as always, fantastic. They were extremely kind and considerate while also being very knowledgeable and efficient. Thank you!Response from the ownerWere glad to hear of your fantastic experience with our technicians. Kindness and expertise really make a difference, don't they? Thanks for sharing your positive feedback! chris Gillard ★★★★★ Prompt service, and the job completed efficiently and courteously - thanks 🙏Response from the ownerThank you for the excellent review. We appreciate the opportunity to assist you. Barbara Ngarimu ★★★★★ Barry from Kalamunda Plumbing arrived to check for a leaking pipe this morning and went above and beyond to fix the actual problem. Very impressed with his service, kindness, efficiency, all with a smile on his face. Thanks again to a business who never disappoints.Response from the ownerThanks for your review, Barbara! And we are happy to hear that Trent was very helpful. We look forward to helping you in the future. Dorothy Deacon ★★★★★ As always prompt and efficient service by helpful and pleasant tradesman.Response from the ownerThank you for your wonderful review, Dorothy! We're delighted to hear that you consistently receive prompt and efficient service from our team. Your support means a lot to us! lynne Mckim ★★★★★ From my first phone call to the lovely ladies on reception desk, through to the visit to my property by David, Jordon was absolutely seamless! Great job by the guys including finding the location of a smashed stormwater pipe, and fixing it.I’m a pensioner so their efficiency doing their job was highly appreciated. Would not hesitate to call Kalamunda Plumbing if Ineeded them again and I definitely recommend their services! Lynne StrattonResponse from the ownerThank you for your kind review Lynne. I am pleased to hear that you had a positive experience. It is gratifying to know that our team, particularly David and Jordan, provided you with efficient and attentive service. I can imagine that locating and resolving the storm water pipe issue was a significant relief for you. We appreciate you sharing your feedback, as it highlights our commitment to excellent customer service. Mike ★★★★★ Great service, faulty valve replaced, friendly, polite service by Clayton.Recommended!Response from the ownerIt appears that Clayton provided exceptional assistance with the valve replacement. We recognize that friendly and courteous customer service makes a significant impact. Thank you for your recommendation, Mike. Louise Irvine ★★★★★ Great service, prompt, friendly and efficient!Response from the ownerWe are delighted to receive your feedback! It is truly encouraging to learn that you had a positive experience with our service. Thank you for your review Louise. Birgitta Hartung-Kagi ★★★★★ We have been very satisfied customers for over 20 years.Friendly and competent staff, efficient and prompt service, always a pleasure to deal with.Thank youResponse from the ownerIt is truly encouraging to learn about your positive experiences over the past two decades. The presence of friendly and skilled staff significantly contributes to customer satisfaction, and it is heartening to know that their efficient service has had a lasting impact on you. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We look forward to many more years of positive interactions. Michael Gunner ★★★★★ Professional, prompt, friendly and fair. Found the leak. Put in a good fix. Thought about a better solution. Come back and did it. All done with good discussion with us along the way.Response from the ownerThank you, Michael, for all your positive feedback. We are committed to delivering the best possible outcomes and are pleased to have been able to assist you in resolving your leak issue. Robin Preston ★★★★★ Great service. Attention to detail is second to none. I would recommend them to anyone.Response from the ownerThankyou Robin for the positive feedback. We are glad that we could solve the issues for you. sandra Jansen ★★★★★ Kalamunda plumbing are the best in WA, they do not take shortcuts and make a mess they work professionally and take pride in their workmanship. They are polite and totally thorough and good pricing, we recommend the boys from Kalamunda plumbing above any other plumbers in WAResponse from the ownerWe appreciate your acknowledgment of our team's commitment to quality and integrity in our work. Our technicians take great pride in their contributions and in the positive impact they have on challenging situations. Your feedback will certainly be valued by the entire team. Vicky Shepherd ★★★★★ Absolutely amazing .Professional, fast,thorough, polite,informative and service with a smile .My hotwater system blew out in the AM and I had a new one installed in the PM after I was given my options .I highly recommend even the receptionist was a pure joy. They also did a follow up call .Thankyou so very much kalamunda plumming we appreciate you muchlyResponse from the ownerThank you for sharing your experience. We understand that a hot water system breakdown can be quite stressful, and we are pleased to know that you found relief in the timely and efficient replacement of your system. Our team, from the technicians to the exceptional receptionist, is dedicated to providing outstanding customer service. We are a business that prioritizes exceeding our customers' expectations. Tina Delahunt ★★★★★ I have used Kalamunda Plumbing many times for various problems, over many years, changing of taps, blocked drains, a leak from a water pipe., installing appliances. They are prompt, friendly and always have fixed the problem and upfront with what the costs will be. I highly recommend them.Response from the ownerHi Tina, thanks for your feedback! We appreciate your continual support of Kalamunda Plumbing, and look forward to assisting you in the future. amin jamshidi ★★★★★ The services provided are professional and prompt.Response from the ownerThank you, Amin, for your positive feedback. Scott and Vicki Kay ★★★★★ Really happy with the work, prompt and professional. No dramas and happy to recommend to anyone 😊Response from the ownerThank you Scott and Vicki, Your recommendation speaks volumes! Gail Henderson ★★★★★ Extremely happy with the prompt service in rectifying our water leak.Thankyou professional and honest.Response from the ownerThat's what we always like to hear! Thanks for your review, Gail. We'll make sure to pass on your kind words to Anthony. Anne Seager ★★★★★ Very prompt, very efficient and no call-out fee. Cameron was able to diagnose and fix the problem with a failed water pressure reduction valve with no fuss. Very friendly and professional service happy to recommend Cameron and the team at Kalamunda Plumbing.Response from the ownerCertainly! Cameron and the Kalamunda Plumbing team consistently endeavor to exceed expectations in providing exceptional service. We recognize that having a professional who can effectively diagnose and resolve issues in a timely manner, while maintaining a positive attitude, is truly valuable. Your endorsement is greatly appreciated and reflects our commitment to excellence. Jeffrey Kemp ★★★★★ Thanks to Clayton for arriving on the day and time agreed, was upfront about the estimated cost, got the work done quickly and well. He also fixed an issue we've had for many months which another plumber had been unable and unwilling to fix.Response from the ownerThank you for your feedback Jeffrey. we are pleased to learn that the process went smoothly and that we were able to assist in resolving the ongoing issue. Our objective is to deliver efficient and effective service, and it is gratifying to know that you were satisfied with our work. We appreciate your trust in Kalamunda Plumbing for your plumbing needs. Les Lima ★★★★★ The service was efficient and professional. Trent and his partner made sure everything was working well before they left. They were prompt and polite and I feel they did an excellent job thank youResponse from the ownerI am pleased to learn about your positive experience. It is evident that Trent and Jordan went the extra mile to ensure everything was in order before their departure. Their professionalism and attentiveness truly have a significant impact. Thank you for sharing your appreciation; we are delighted to hear that you felt valued as a customer. Christine McCormack ★★★★★ From booking service to finished job is always easy with Kalamunda plumbing. Nice friendly and efficient.Response from the ownerThank you, Christine. At Kalamunda Plumbing, we are committed to ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish. Our dedicated and efficient service truly sets us apart. Joseph Brucciani ★★★★★ We had a leaking pipe in our roof. Kalamunda Plumbing responded quickly and repaired the pipe asap as well as identifying another potential issue and repairing that also. We are very happy with the work, service and friendly advice. Highly recommended.... 👍Response from the ownerThank you for the high recommendation Joseph. It's encouraging to hear that we promptly addressed your leak and could identify an additional issue. Having dependable professionals who provide high-quality work and offer insightful guidance is truly reassuring. Thank you for sharing your positive experience. js_loader

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Kalamunda Plumbing employs a team of professional local plumbers, servicing Perth's Hills and Eastern Suburbs with a proud tradition of delivering Service Excellence since 1954. Get in touch with us today to discuss your water heater, plumbing or drainage needs and speak to one of our friendly team members!

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