Hey! 

We currently have our geyser at home set on a timer for 2 hours in the evening and sometimes an hour during the day. Usage is at 5 - 8kw/h per day even with the timer on. the max draw ive seen is 3.3 kw/h so i assume is a 3kw element, i wont be suprised if its the oldest most outdated element possible - we baught the house about a year ago and the previous owners were narrowsighted and extreme cheapskates.

I cant find much info on heat pumps and would love any imput and someone that can talk to long term use, maintanace etc etc vs just geyser. It seems these are the best: https://itssolar.co.za/product/4-5kw-super-its-residential-heat-pump/ I want to be convinced to take this option, my understanding is its significantly more efficient than normal geysers and i could leave it on full day for about the same figures as im getting with the timer on currently. 

I dont want to do a solar conversion, seems these are iffy at best or alteast ive not been convinced that the stand alone kits are worth it.

Also not sure a blanket and PTC element will make a worth while difference. 

My goal is long term saving and durability with as little maintenance as required, What can I do/consider to reduce the usage within a R20 000 budget? 

19 minutes ago, Qbom1990 said:

Hey! 

We currently have our geyser at home set on a timer for 2 hours in the evening and sometimes an hour during the day. Usage is at 5 - 8kw/h per day even with the timer on. the max draw ive seen is 3.3 kw/h so i assume is a 3kw element, i wont be suprised if its the oldest most outdated element possible - we baught the house about a year ago and the previous owners were narrowsighted and extreme cheapskates.

I cant find much info on heat pumps and would love any imput and someone that can talk to long term use, maintanace etc etc vs just geyser. It seems these are the best: https://itssolar.co.za/product/4-5kw-super-its-residential-heat-pump/ I want to be convinced to take this option, my understanding is its significantly more efficient than normal geysers and i could leave it on full day for about the same figures as im getting with the timer on currently. 

I dont want to do a solar conversion, seems these are iffy at best or alteast ive not been convinced that the stand alone kits are worth it.

Also not sure a blanket and PTC element will make a worth while difference. 

My goal is long term saving and durability with as little maintenance as required, What can I do/consider to reduce the usage within a R20 000 budget? 

Heat pumps are the most efficient form of energy especially heating water. This is a fact you can literally take to the bank. Heat pumps require very little energy to work, but the amount of power they put out is definitely going to show. Installing a heat pump doesn’t necessarily mean you have to get a new geyser. Just like with some solar kits, you can go with the retrofit option. This is when the resistance-wire element gets disconnected in the current geyser you are using, and the source of heat is switched to something a lot more efficient. Definetly your best option.

Where a geyser uses three units of electrical energy to produce three units of heat energy, a heat pump converts just one unit of electrical energy into four units of heat energy.

Edited June 18, 20241 yr by TaliaB

12 minutes ago, TaliaB said:

Heat pumps are the most efficient form of energy especially heating water. This is a fact you can literally take to the bank. Heat pumps require very little energy to work, but the amount of power they put out is definitely going to show. Installing a heat pump doesn’t necessarily mean you have to get a new geyser. Just like with some solar kits, you can go with the retrofit option. This is when the resistance-wire element gets disconnected in the current geyser you are using, and the source of heat is switched to something a lot more efficient. Definetly your best option.

Where a geyser uses three units of electrical energy to produce three units of heat energy, a heat pump converts just one unit of electrical energy into four units of heat energy.

Thanks, thats what ive read also but that doesn't mean they are good for the long run and thats where my caution comes in. If it only lasts 5 years or requires annual maintenance that costs a lot then the energy savings doesnt make sense at all. 

11 minutes ago, Qbom1990 said:

Thanks, thats what ive read also but that doesn't mean they are good for the long run and thats where my caution comes in. If it only lasts 5 years or requires annual maintenance that costs a lot then the energy savings doesnt make sense at all. 

Maybe forum members running heat pumps for a few years could comment on maintenance cost annually.

1 hour ago, TaliaB said:

Maybe forum members running heat pumps for a few years could comment on maintenance cost annually.

I have a 13 year old Kwikot. I used to have a maintenace contract on it, but
1) The company changed hands and their service levels dropped a lot
2) The "service" basically amounted to a wipe down and checking for leaves caught around the condenser.

So I canned that contract.

In the last 6 years I've had two services. The first guy cleaned the strainer and checked the gas levels (I don't know if he added gas or not, and it's possible he saw the word "sucker" on my forehead). The second guy (last month!) was an official Kwikot service agent who told me everything looks fine, but if it develops problems now with the motor or the compressor than that's that as the gas used in my unit is no longer available and the new compressors are no longer compatible with the old gas. 

I subsequently found out that the gas in my unit (R22) is very easily available. There are guys who will regas it.

Anyway 13 years old and still working with no problems. But NB! We run it just twice a day. An hour in the morning, then the timer is on for 2.5 hours starting mid day, but it never actually runs that long. And we are just two people. So this is probably not the hardest working heat pump on earth.

But I don't see the point of regular maintenance. Depending on location you might want to remove the covers every now and then and clean leaves out (my location is such that leaves never get in there), and the strainer probably needs cleaning out every couple of years. In my experience there's nobody checking for play in bearings or running diagnostics or anything like that. 

Just be careful to not invalidate the warranty.

2 hours ago, Qbom1990 said:

We currently have our geyser at home set on a timer for 2 hours in the evening and sometimes an hour during the day. Usage is at 5 - 8kw/h per day even with the timer on. the max draw ive seen is 3.3 kw/h so i assume is a 3kw element, i wont be suprised if its the oldest most outdated element possible - we baught the house about a year ago and the previous owners were narrowsighted and extreme cheapskates.

A heatpump uses less than that, and will have a lower max draw (unless you buy a really big ass unit). 

Since the previous owners were not given to wasting money on maintenance, get the anode checked.

2 hours ago, Qbom1990 said:

Hey! 

We currently have our geyser at home set on a timer for 2 hours in the evening and sometimes an hour during the day. Usage is at 5 - 8kw/h per day even with the timer on. the max draw ive seen is 3.3 kw/h so i assume is a 3kw element, i wont be suprised if its the oldest most outdated element possible - we baught the house about a year ago and the previous owners were narrowsighted and extreme cheapskates.

I cant find much info on heat pumps and would love any imput and someone that can talk to long term use, maintanace etc etc vs just geyser. It seems these are the best: https://itssolar.co.za/product/4-5kw-super-its-residential-heat-pump/ I want to be convinced to take this option, my understanding is its significantly more efficient than normal geysers and i could leave it on full day for about the same figures as im getting with the timer on currently. 

I dont want to do a solar conversion, seems these are iffy at best or alteast ive not been convinced that the stand alone kits are worth it.

Also not sure a blanket and PTC element will make a worth while difference. 

My goal is long term saving and durability with as little maintenance as required, What can I do/consider to reduce the usage within a R20 000 budget? 

Here's my system on Sunday just gone

The yellow trace is the load. You can see the heatpump kick in for the first time at 6:30 (no solar at this time). Then about 12:00 the pump kicks in again. Now the pool pump is also running, so the yellow trace goes higher, but the increase in draw courtesy of the heat pump is about the same.

The pump is controlled by the built-in timer and thermostat. In the morning it gets just one hour. In the afternoon 2.5, but the thermostat will usually turn the pump off before time is up. 

Note that the draw is such that I can run the heatpump on the backed up side of the inverter. You just won't to turn on the dishwasher, the kettle, and the toaster the same time the heatpump is running.

It does work a bit harder in the winter, but as I said, the morning run is limited to 1 hour, and this morning the water was a very pleasant 55 degrees when I showered.

Edited June 18, 20241 yr by Bobster.

5 hours ago, Qbom1990 said:

Thanks, thats what ive read also but that doesn't mean they are good for the long run and thats where my caution comes in. If it only lasts 5 years or requires annual maintenance that costs a lot then the energy savings doesnt make sense at all.

@Bobster.

I agree with you and @TaliaB the most efficient device is a heat pump. I have 4 heat pumps(3.5kw Alliance) installed for 4 x 150l geysers for the last 6 years with little to no post installation cost. Blow them out occassionally with compressed air and no refrigerant refill.

5 hours ago, TaliaB said:

Maybe forum members running heat pumps for a few years could comment on maintenance cost annually.

After seeing what was done during my 1st service I opted to blow it out myself as this is what was done. They might have checked gas pressure but my ITS is fine after 13yrs.

Only cost was a 2nd service plus replacing the pump. About R2400. 

Pump was damaged due to no strainer fitted when installed. This was about 7 yrs ago. 

I have never had any leaves or insects in mine to clean out. Mostly just dust. 

7 hours ago, Qbom1990 said:

Hey! 

We currently have our geyser at home set on a timer for 2 hours in the evening and sometimes an hour during the day. Usage is at 5 - 8kw/h per day even with the timer on. the max draw ive seen is 3.3 kw/h so i assume is a 3kw element, i wont be suprised if its the oldest most outdated element possible - we baught the house about a year ago and the previous owners were narrowsighted and extreme cheapskates.

I cant find much info on heat pumps and would love any imput and someone that can talk to long term use, maintanace etc etc vs just geyser. It seems these are the best: https://itssolar.co.za/product/4-5kw-super-its-residential-heat-pump/ I want to be convinced to take this option, my understanding is its significantly more efficient than normal geysers and i could leave it on full day for about the same figures as im getting with the timer on currently. 

I dont want to do a solar conversion, seems these are iffy at best or alteast ive not been convinced that the stand alone kits are worth it.

Also not sure a blanket and PTC element will make a worth while difference. 

My goal is long term saving and durability with as little maintenance as required, What can I do/consider to reduce the usage within a R20 000 budget? 

You haven't stated if you have a Solar PV system.
If you have a Solar PV system or intend getting a Solar PV (use the R20,000 budget as part of a normal Solar PV system), then set your geyser timer to come on during the day when the sun is shining and you have excess electricity (10am-4pm).

Edited June 18, 20241 yr by system32

13 hours ago, Scorp007 said:

After seeing what was done during my 1st service I opted to blow it out myself as this is what was done. They might have checked gas pressure but my ITS is fine after 13yrs.

Only cost was a 2nd service plus replacing the pump. About R2400. 

Pump was damaged due to no strainer fitted when installed. This was about 7 yrs ago. 

I have never had any leaves or insects in mine to clean out. Mostly just dust. 

thanks! I saw a number of your posts on forums but didn't want to comment on something thats 2 years old haha! 

what did you see on power usage & what model did you go for?

 

17 hours ago, system32 said:

You haven't stated if you have a Solar PV system.
If you have a Solar PV system or intend getting a Solar PV (use the R20,000 budget as part of a normal Solar PV system), then set your geyser timer to come on during the day when the sun is shining and you have excess electricity (10am-4pm).

I do this for the guest geyser. The 3k element was swapped out for a 1k and it's on a timer. I can easily run it to max temperature (55) in the afternoon on a sunny day. By then the heat pump (main geyser) has done it's job, so there's solar to spare.

Edited June 19, 20241 yr by Bobster.

6 hours ago, Qbom1990 said:

thanks! I saw a number of your posts on forums but didn't want to comment on something thats 2 years old haha! 

what did you see on power usage & what model did you go for?

 

I went for the old 4.7kW heating power unit. I have never connect the grid and use only the heat pump. Mine is with a inverter type motor. 

The power use has increased over time to 1.5kW from 1.2.

It still heat in the same time as before. I have 2 x 1h20 heating cycles per day. When we do run a bath the temp does drop to 26° and I heat up during the bath period. We are only 2 in the house but my wife cooks a lot and does dishes as and when items are used. 

Edited June 19, 20241 yr by Scorp007