Around a quarter of your household's energy use comes from your hot water system. Hot water is clearly essential to go about our daily lives, and it's likely that you enjoy hot showers much more than cold ones. So when your hot water goes out, panic ensues—now what? Most people want to immediately get a replacement of the same type; however, this may not be the best idea if there is a better product on the market. You may find that a better hot water system can be installed that saves you money as well as energy and is also safer for the environment. 

Here are some common issues with hot water systems you may want to look out for:

• Water flowing from the temperature pressure relief (TPR) valve
• Hot water cylinder leaking
• No hot water from the hot water tap

Off course, not everyone is confident enough to check their hot water system. It's recommended to utilise the services of a professional hot water repair specialist.

Which hot water system is best?

The first step in changing out your hot water system is making the all-important decision of your preferred heating method: electric, gas, solar or heat pump. Here is some basic information on these heating methods:

1. Electric: This is normally quite cheap to buy and install but in the long run will end up costing you more as it hikes up your electricity bills. However, if you decide on a system that runs off-peak, it may be cheaper for you, but bear in mind that this requires a larger tank to store hot water.
2. Gas: Natural gas is usually cheaper than electricity. However, these need to be installed outside because of venting requirements. These are also more expensive to install than electric hot water systems. 
3. Solar: This consists of a solar collector panel and a storage tank. You also need a bigger tank with solar hot water systems to store hot water for days when there is no sunlight. In comparison to other systems, these are more expensive to install, but in the long run, they have lower running costs. In the case of solar hot water systems, government rebates may also be available. 
4. Heat pumps: These are an efficient form of electric storage tank systems that work by extracting heat from the air to heat water in the tank. These also need to be installed outside for venting purposes. These are a little more expensive, though government rebates may be available.

Overall, you must ensure that you are being serviced by experienced hot water specialists that will help guide you to the best decision.