Best-Rated Hot Water Systems

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Most Satisfied Customers | Solahart

Aussies have rated Solahart as the top pick in Canstar Blue’s latest hot water system ratings, with the brand rated five stars for features & functionality, performance, design and overall satisfaction.

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How we rate hot water systems

Our review compares hot water systems on customer satisfaction, so you can find out what other Aussies think about the compared brands before you go ahead with a purchase. Think of it as like asking hundreds of your closest mates which hot water system they think is best!


Canstar Blue surveyed 763 Australians for their feedback on the hot water system(s) they’ve purchased for their home in the last five years.

  • The outcomes reported in these ratings are measured via accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics.


Respondents rate their satisfaction with their hot water system brand(s) from zero to ten, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and ten is extremely satisfied. Brand satisfaction was rated by respondents on the following criteria:
  • Overall satisfaction: measures consumer satisfaction with a hot water system brand as an individual score NOT a combined total of all criteria.
  • Features & functionality: the hot water system has adequate settings and features for purpose and/or advanced settings and features that enhance performance (i.e. temperature gauge on the outside, anti-rust coating, etc.).
  • Value for money: the cost is reasonable for the quality and performance of the hot water system.
  • Performance: the hot water system consistently provides hot water given frequency of use, and is energy efficient for its size and functionality.
  • Design: the hot water system has a functional design (i.e. controls are easy to reach and use) and is an appropriate size (i.e. doesn’t take up too much room after being installed, etc.).

The winning brand is the one that receives the highest Overall satisfaction rating once all the scores from the Overall satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.

  • Overall satisfaction is asked as a specific question and represents an individual measure, not a combined total of all criteria.
  • When we cannot determine a clear winner from the criteria for the Overall satisfaction rating, we will then look at the other criteria measured in the rating.
    • The brand with the highest number of five-star ratings within the supporting criteria will become the five-star recipient in overall satisfaction, and thus win the award. If a clear leader still cannot be determined from the supporting criteria, joint winners will be declared.

Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The brands rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.

  • Solahart
  • Chromagen
  • Rinnai
  • Aquamax
  • Rheem
  • Dux
  • Vulcan
  • Thermann
  • Bosch

Find more detailed information on our Most Satisfied Customer methodology.


Best hot water system brands in Australia

  1. Solahart
  2. Chromagen
  3. Rinnai
  4. AquaMAX
  5. Rheem
  6. Dux
  7. Vulcan
  8. Thermann
  9. Bosch

Not sure which hot water system to buy? Check out our buying guide below.

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1. Solahart


Solahart Hot Water System

Ratings result

Solahart was rated five stars for features & functionality, performance, design and overall satisfaction, with four stars for value for money.

Editor’s notes

As you would guess from the name, Solahart is a provider of hot water systems that use the heat of the sun as their energy source, which is arguably better for your home, bank balance, and the planet. ‘Going solar’ can also help you save big on energy use, and even increase the value of your home.

Solahart’s main range is its rooftop solar hot water systems, which capture heat from the sun. There’s also a line of split system solar hot water heaters, which require the solar collector panel to be attached to the roof while the tank remains on the ground. If you don’t think solar power is the best option for your home, there are alternatively heat pump water heaters to choose from. For pricing, Solahart invites enquiries via its website and also offers free on-site solar assessments.

2. Chromagen


Chromagen Hot Water System

Ratings result

Chromagen was rated five stars for value for money, with four stars for all other categories, including design, performance, features & functionality and overall satisfaction.

Editor’s notes

Offering a range of gas hot water systems, heat pumps and solar hot water systems, Chromagen offers plenty for households to choose from. Its gas continuous range has capacities ranging from 20L to 26L, with all models over a 6-star energy rating, with the heat pump range ranges from 170L to 280L capacities. Those looking to be a bit more environmentally-conscious may be more interested in the solar range, with both roof and split systems available to purchase, with capacities available in either 200L or 300L units.

3. Rinnai


Ratings result

Rinnai was rated four stars for features & functionality, performance, design and overall satisfaction, with three stars for value for money.

Editor’s notes

Rinnai offers several continuous flow hot water systems and solar hot water systems, plus hot water storage systems. For those looking for an electronic gas flow hot water system, the Infinity range contains several units with an equivalent energy efficiency rating of between six to seven stars, depending on the model. The Instantaneous line also offers the Flowmaster 10, a compact unit that doesn’t require a power point and is typically ideal for people with only a small demand for hot water.

4. AquaMAX


Ratings result

AquaMAX was rated four stars across all categories, including features & functionality, value for money, performance, design and overall satisfaction.

Editor’s notes

AquaMAX produces gas storage and electric storage hot water systems. The company also has a ‘premium’ range of stainless steel water gas storage systems that are supposedly lighter, more energy-efficient and easier to maintain than some other steel systems. This can be useful if you’re looking to save money on maintenance costs since you won’t need to replace the anodes or get them checked out. However, this type of unit isn’t recommended for hard water or bore water.

As an alternative, you can check out AquaMAX’s Electric Vitreous Enamel (VE) water heaters. These units contain vitreous enamel lining for protection, apparently making them compatible with most water quality types, such as hard water found in regional areas.

5. Rheem


Ratings result

Rheem was rated three stars for value for money, with four stars for features & functionality, performance, design and overall satisfaction.

Editor’s notes

Rheem produces all kinds of water heaters, including electric, gas continuous flow, heat pump and solar, as well as gas storage systems. The brand has steel systems for extra durability, compact systems for those tight on space, plus extra-large models, and plenty more. If you live in an area that doesn’t always attract much sun, Rheem has a couple of heat pumps that use heat from surrounding air, rather than direct sunlight, to warm water as well as reduce energy consumption. These include the Rheem MPi-325 Series II Heat Pump and the Rheem Ambiheat HDc270 Heat Pump. They’re said to feature a wrap-around heating technology that makes them suitable for cooler climates. You can grab a quote by visiting the Rheem website.

6. Dux


Ratings result

Dux was rated four stars for performance and overall satisfaction, with three stars for design, value for money and features & functionality.

Editor’s notes

Dux has a huge range of hot water systems, including heat pump, continuous flow, electric solar, gas water heaters, as well as electric and gas storage systems. Dux’s storage systems come in a wide variety of sizes, usually between 25L and 400L. But if a continuous flow system is more your style, you might be interested to know that Dux systems have up to a 6.7-star energy-efficiency rating – higher than most similar models on the market. You can head to the website to book, apply for rebates and register your new water heater.

7. Vulcan


Vulcan Hot Water System

Ratings result

Vulcan was rated four stars for performance, with three stars for design, value for money, features & functionality and overall satisfaction.

Editor’s notes

While it might not have the range of some other brands, Vulcan offers both gas and electric hot water systems for households to choose from, with multiple capacities additionally available to suit household sizes and water usages. Capacities range between 50L up to 400L, with select models also built to be indoor/outdoor models, allowing you to slot in the unit where you can.

8. Thermann


Thermann hot water system

Ratings result

Thermann was rated three stars for value for money and overall satisfaction, with four stars for features & functionality, performance and design.

Editor’s notes

Thermann offers several hot water systems, including continuous flow, heat pump, solar as well as storage hot water systems to give you plenty of options to choose from. Its entire range caters for capacities from 16L through to 400L, with its Performance Pack model even boasting a capacity of 1,150L in the first hour, and as such is suitably labelled as a commercial-grade model. Some residential models feature a 7-star energy rating, with pricing available online.

9. Bosch


Bosch hot water heater systems review

Ratings result

Bosch was rated three stars across all categories, including design, performance, value for money, features & functionality and overall satisfaction.

Editor’s notes

Bosch holds a modest range of hot water systems, all of which have a continuous flow technology structure and don’t require a power point to use. Each type of water system is available in 10L, 13L and 16L capacities, with models additionally coming with a few customisable features, such as user controls to adjust temperature and flow. Uniquely, Bosch alternatively offers the Internal Compact model which is designed to be installed inside the home. Unlike larger capacity hot water systems, this particular unit is said to be suitable for households with limited space.

Compare more products featured in our Most Satisfied Customers Awards

Hot water system buying guide

Most of us probably don’t give the hot water system much thought, that is until you don’t have any hot water! With so many brands and models available, it’s easy to get turned around in an industry that looks to cater to plenty of different households and climates. So what should you consider when buying a hot water system? Find out below!

Types of hot water systems

Hot water systems come in two fundamental designs – ‘storage’ and ‘continuous flow’ (also known as instantaneous):

  • Storage hot water systems heat and maintain warm water in a tank until it is ready to use. This provides instant hot water but is limited by storage capacity.
  • Continuous hot water systems rapidly heat an unlimited amount of water when you need it. While it does take a few moments to heat up, an instantaneous system won’t waste energy by keeping water warm when no one is using it.

You’ll find these two types of systems available in electric, gas, solar and heat pump varieties – each with pros and cons to their energy source – but giving you more options to choose from.

  • Electric storage hot water systems heat water using an electric-powered element that sits at the base of the water tank. Continuous systems work similarly, but the element is instead coiled around the pipes to rapidly heat the water inside.
  • Storage gas water systems use a gas burner to continuously heat and maintain water in a tank at 60°C. Continuous flow systems also use a burner that ignites when water is needed.
  • Solar hot water systems are storage units that generate heat from the sun by using panels installed on the roof of the property. This heat is used to warm and maintain the water in your tank. When the solar method can’t generate enough heat, systems can be boosted to a temperature of 60°C by either electric or natural gas boosters. Solar water systems can be split system or combined.
  • Heat pumps include a fan that draws warm air into the system, which is transferred to the water storage tank. It’s essentially a reverse fridge. Rather than pumping out hot air to keep your fridge cool, it pumps hot air into the unit to heat the water.

What size hot water system do I need?

The size of your hot water system will be entirely dependent on how much hot water you’re likely to need, which is impacted by factors such as how many people you have in your household, their water usage habits, what appliances in your house use hot water and what fuel type your hot water system will use.

As a general rule of thumb, if you have a larger household, you’ll need a larger hot water system, with our guide giving you a better rundown of hot water system sizes and capacities.

How much is a hot water system?

Hot water systems range in cost from $400 to over $5,000 depending on the model, brand, size and fuel type, with larger models and models that use solar power often costing more. It’s also worth mentioning that in addition to the cost of the system itself, you’ll have to pay for the installation of the hot water system itself, as you’ll need a licensed plumber and/or electrician to install the system for you.

If you’re interested in learning about the running costs of hot water systems, check out our guides on solar hot water system usage costs and gas hot water system usage costs to give you an idea of what to expect on your bill.

How long do hot water systems last?

Hot water systems are generally built to last between 10-20 years, depending on the brand, model and usage, along with where it’s placed in your house and the climate you live in. It’s always best to check your hot water system every few months to see if there’s any leaks or noise to avoid any surprises, with most retailers and suppliers offering long warranty periods to cater for the longer lifespans.

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About our consumer experts


Dean Heckscher: Site Editor

This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Site Editor, Dean Heckscher. He’s our resident expert on all things automotive, health & fitness, streaming and more. Dean is also one of Canstar Blue’s customer research report producers, helping to turn complicated subjects into easily-digestible information for our readers. He’s passionate about helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services.

 

Meet the Editorial Team

 

Samantha Howse: Consumer Research Specialist

Sam Howse Research Specialist

Samantha Howse is Canstar Blue’s Consumer Research Specialist, coordinating the consumer research program behind our customer satisfaction awards across Canstar and Canstar Blue in Australia and New Zealand. Sam has earned a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) from Griffith University and, with seven years in market research and 2 years in marketing, she is experienced in survey design, implementation and analysis, coupled with an understanding of marketing principles and best practice.

 

Meet the Research Team

Past ratings

Here are the past winners from Canstar Blue’s hot water system ratings:

  • 2022: Dux
  • 2021: Rheem
  • 2020: Solahart
  • 2019: Solahart
  • 2018: Rheem
  • 2017: Rinnai

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