There are a range of technologies available to help reduce a household’s electricity costs, including the use of solar thermal systems and heat pumps. However, it is noted that these technologies may also incur hidden costs such as service and maintenance costs, as well as reduced efficiencies because of factors such as ambient temperature, number of daylight hours and geyser size.
Ceramic element supplier, Xtend Elements, declares that the use of a long-lasting ceramic element in a geyser reduces heating costs by 25% over the life of the element, increasing the efficiency of a solar system or heat pump.
These elements are manufactured using a self-limiting ceramic called PTC, which is protected by a marine-grade stainless steel tube, and differs from a standard element that uses coiled resistive wire covered by a soft metal coating.
The ceramic elements are designed to turn a geyser into a type of thermal battery, storing the power generated in the day to use as hot water later. The elements are said to be particularly suited to solar photovoltaic systems as they produce more energy in the middle of the day when energy from the sun is available and demand is usually at its lowest. This results in the solar system throttling down or reducing production to meet the decreased demand. A ceramic element enables a geyser to store this heat from the sun and keep the water hot until it is needed during evening peak times.
The elements are said to be simple to install, with no extra parts. They are SABS tested to SANS-514 and approved for installation by all major geyser manufacturers.
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