3 Advantages Of A Storage Water Heater Over Instant Water Heater

You’ve recently redesigned your home and aren’t afraid to brag about how nice it looks. Indeed, you feel as if you’ve been taken back to the five-star suite where you spent your honeymoon the previous year. But wait, the experience wouldn’t be complete without a relaxing rain shower. You’ll need a storage water heater to do so or the best instant heater in Singapore to do so.

What is the concept of a storage water heater?

A storage water heater maintains a constant supply of hot water that can be dispensed at any time. It does so by pre-heating cold water and storing it in an insulated tank. The storage water heater releases hot water from the top of the tank and allows cold water to enter from the bottom through a dip tube when you turn on the tap. The loop repeats as the cold water combines with the hot water.

Storage Water Heater Benefits

1. Works for approximately all types of shower heads

A storage water heater, unlike an instant water heater, which tapers the water flow to produce a limited surface area that can be heated immediately, simply opens the floodgates to a reservoir of already heated water. As a result, the flow rate is unregulated, making it ideal for high-pressure shower fixtures like rain showers, massage jets, and bathtubs.

2. Warm water that is easily available

A storage water heater draws from a tank of already heated water that is maintained at the same high temperature. Each storage water heater also includes a mixer that you can use to set the desired shower temperature. The mixer regulates how much cold water from a regular pipe is mixed with the hot water from the storage water heater as it flows out.

3. Cost-effective

Set-up costs should be low as long as the installation does not require hacking or special piping. Since a storage water heater is built to be shared by several bathrooms, it could be a more cost-effective option than purchasing two instant water heaters.

In Singapore, there are two types of water heaters: instant and storage

There are two main types of heaters.

Water heaters are divided into two types: storage and instant.

Tankless or demand-type water heaters are other names for instant water heaters. They don’t use a storage tank and just have hot water when it’s needed.

Water heaters with an enclosed tank are known as storage water heaters. Some examples of storage heaters are mentioned below. Although gas storage heaters are widely available in other countries, they are not available in Singapore.

Points summarized:

When it comes to choosing a water heater, most Singaporeans have a few requirements in mind:

• Consistent Water Pressure
• Hot Water That Is Consistent
• Pairing (which heater is best for your shower system?)
• The Level of Maintenance
• The Initial Investment
• Operating Costs
• Aesthetics

1. Consistent Water Pressure

Instant

Pressure-relieving devices are instant heaters. Every tankless system includes flow restrictors, which enable water to be heated instantly as it passes through the heater.

Storage

Storage heaters are either closed or non-pressure reducing devices. Water enters the tank at a high pressure (approximately 10 lit/min) and is pumped out at the same rate. Two bathrooms will share a single storage heater. Water pressure just marginally decreases when two showers are running at the same time.

2. Hot Water That Is Consistent

Consistent hot water temperature and good hot water pressure are related. When the hot water pressure is low, the amount of hot water delivered to users is reduced. With a lower amount, the hot water supply would be inconsistent.

Instant

Different instant heaters have different levels of hot water consistency. Here’s some background:

Our body temperature hovers about 37 degrees Celsius. Warm showers necessitate a water temperature of 38°C. Showers that are steamy need water that is at least 40 degrees Celsius. The minimum water pressure for a shower is 4 liters per minute.

Single point: 4 lit/min, capable of producing hot water at 38°C

4 lit/min multi-point, capable of producing hot water at 38°C

Gas heaters generate 38°C hot water at a rate of 6-8 lit/min.

Single point: Single point instant heaters shine in this situation. At 4 lit/min, they never run out of hot water, so you never have to worry about running out of hot water.

Multi-point: These heaters are designed to meet the requirements of several bathrooms. This indicates that their hot water supply is divided by two users, i.e., 4 lit/min divided by two users equals 2 lit/min. Showering at 2 lit/min is nearly impossible, so with a multipoint heater in Singapore, users cannot shower at the same time. Why do multipoint heaters exist if they can’t support multiple users at the same time? This is a one-of-a-kind condition in Singapore. Most multipoint heaters in other countries are powered by 6–12 kilowatts and can effectively serve entire households at flow rates of 6–12 lit/min. Both heaters in Singapore are restricted to 3 kilowatts.The multipoint heaters available here are simply insufficient for a household.

Gas: At 6–8 lit/min, gas heaters can generate more hot water than multipoint heaters. They are, however, often shared between several bathrooms and the kitchen. Concurrent users can experience hot water temperature and pressure fluctuations as a result of this.

Storage

• Storage output averages 10-12 lit/min, with a maximum temperature of 40°C.
• High-capacity storage: 20+ lit/min at 42°C hot water

Since the hot water comes from a preheated tank, the temperature is constant and the water pressure is strong, even when used in several bathrooms. Storage tanks are, unsurprisingly, the preferred choice for high-end facilities.

Storage heaters that are properly sized will still provide you with a reliable supply of hot water. However, for water heaters in Singapore, incorrect sizing is very popular.

3. Complementing

Instant

The types of shower systems that can be combined with tankless heaters are small, as evidenced by the flow rates and maximum hot water temperatures of instant water heaters. Only low-flow hand showers or special types of rain showers adapted for instant heaters can be used with instant heaters.

Storage

Storage heaters have a lot of potential for improving water pressure and temperature, so they can control anything from normal shower heads to rain showers, massage jets, and even bathtubs.

The temperature of the water in a storage tank must be very high in order to achieve the “steam effect.” Storage heaters are ideal for those who have grown accustomed to the 5-star hotel experience, which includes high water pressure and hot, revitalizing water.

4. Maintenance Levels

Instant

• Single point: users report no problems after using the device for 5 to 10 years (depending on quality).
• Multi Point: Wiring has been known to melt frequently, often within the first few months of use. This is most likely due to the fact that these heaters are designed to operate on higher wattage.
• Gas: Users are strongly advised to search for gas leaks twice a year, as they can be fatal.

Storage

• Electric/Digital: users report no problems after using the device for 5–10 years (depending on quality).
• Gas is not sold in Singapore, but it will be tested for gas leakage on a bi-annual basis.
• Heat pump: 5–10 years, with the exception of a small filter that needs to be washed once a year.
• Solar panels have a lifetime of 5 to 10 years. Solar panels must be cleaned every six months or their performance will suffer, and rooftop cleaning is typically expensive.

5. Initial Cost

Instant

Single point: 2 showers supplied by 2 heaters at $200 each = $400

Multi point: 2 showers supplied by 1 heater at $300 each

Gas: 2 showers, 1 kitchen supplied by 1 heater $250 – $300 each

Storage

Storage heaters come in a range of sizes, so if you have a large house, it might be cheaper to get a centralized system.

Electric: 2 showers supplied by 1 heater, from $200

Digital: 3 showers supplied by 1 heater, from $650

Heat pump: 3 showers supplied by 1 heater, from $2600

Solar: 5 showers supplied by 1 heater, from $3500

Do check in with your local water heater retail shops to get the most accurate pricing.

6. Operating Costs

The Energy Factor (EF), an international norm that calculates the energy your water heater absorbs, can be used to estimate the operating cost of a heater. Your machine will save more energy if the EF is higher.

Instant

Instant heaters do not have storage tanks for hot water. As a result, these devices have no standby energy losses.

• Single point: 0.95*
• Multi point: 0.90*
• Gas: 0.82

Storage

Storage heaters have insulated tanks that lose heat while they are not in use. The lower the energy loss, the better the insulation of the tank. Heat from renewable energy sources may be captured and stored in storage tanks.

• Electric: 0.90
• Digital: 0.95
• Gas: 0.65
• Heat pump: 2.20
• Solar: 1.20

*EF for single point and multipoint heaters are estimated based on tested EF for demand gas (instant gas heater)

7. Aesthetics

Instant

Instant heaters do not have a reservoir, because they are much smaller. This is ideal for Singaporean homes, which are usually small.

Storage

Storage heaters are bigger, but 40-liter tanks are the most common size among Singapore apartments. These can comfortably fit into bathrooms and can meet the needs of a typical family of three to four people. These heaters can be moved to the yard or even the aircon ledge if users want something bigger (60 lit or more) to go with their huge rain showers for bathtubs.

Space is typically not a problem for private apartments and landed properties that need larger tanks. Floor standing tanks are weatherproof and provide a lot of flexibility in terms of positioning. They can be used in the garden or on the roof.

Conclusion

To enjoy a hot shower and a good shower, one should get the best instant water heater in Singapore or a storage water heater.