Electric hot water heaters use relatively little electricity, but they use a certain amount of power all the time.
The water is heated by electricity in a water storage tank, and then the hot water is distributed from the hot water tank to the taps in your home. There are storage and instantaneous units. Storage systems use a large storage tank to store hot water, while gas instantaneous hot water systems work to heat the water when it is needed. Instantaneous hot water system are less common, but they have some advantages over storage systems. They are smaller and more efficient and they can be used with solar energy.
For small households that only use their hot water every now and then, this isn't too much of a problem. However, large families or households with frequent usage and needs a continuous flow of hot water should consider switching to solar hot water systems if possible because these heat pump water heaters are more efficient and don't use excess electricity.
An electric hot water heater can be significantly smaller than a natural gas water heater, but the hot water heaters take a longer time to heat up the first batch of water and deliver hot water. Hot water systems also take more time to cool down after you turn off your hot tap, so it can take several minutes before the next person in your house gets a continuous flow of hot water.
Hot water systems work anywhere from a few minutes to an hour to heat up, depending on the size of the storage tank and the power of the electric heating elements. For example, a 125 litre unit will take an average of 45-60 minutes to heat up. A smaller 50 litre unit will take 15-30 minutes, and a larger 200 litre unit can take up to an hour. This doesn't include the time it takes for the water heater's internal thermostat to engage once you turn on your hot tap. The heating process includes the heat exchanger, gas burner, storage cylinder, etc which helps to maintain the water pressure inside the system.
An instantaneous hot water system with a 100L capacity is more efficient and uses around half as much power per day, about 2kWh for water temperature control.
You can install an electric hot water system yourself, but it's probably best not to. You will need some basic tools and knowledge about plumbing, and it's always a good idea to have someone help you if you're not sure what you're doing. Make sure that you have a safe and reliable way to dispose of the old water heater when you're finished.
Electric hot water systems are smaller and more efficient than natural gas systems, and they can be used with solar power. Electric water heaters also release less harmful greenhouse gases into the environment. Electric systems typically take longer to heat up than natural gas water heaters, but this isn't a problem for most people because they only use their hot water intermittently throughout the day. Heat pump and solar hot water system is the most energy-efficient and environmentally friendly option, and they can save you money on your energy bill in the long run.