Gas water heaters might explode due to improper installation, gas leak and etc, there is a possibility that it might explode but ofcoz the probability is very low. Similarly, there are ppl who got electrocuted by instant heaters, may b less than 10 cases per year.

Many Singaporean opt to get storage or gas heater as most of them are staying in condos whereby they cant install solar heaters.

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Added on November 18, 2011, 10:29 pmHere is an example of minor explosion due to improper installation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgr-5A2s8mo

This post has been edited by zheilwane: Nov 18 2011, 10:29 PM

Anything with improper installation will be danger same as roof solar can collapse or damage to roof too. That is the reason why we employe professional.

Gas water heater is very very safe. Thanks to more than half of decade of improvement. The technology now is safe enough till you don't need to maintain it for longtime.

Have you guys still remember gas water heater in bathroom before instant electric water heater takeover? And famous too with HK ppl using it to suicide.

Back to 70's-90's, National (panasonic) gas water heater is 1 of the famous here. My uncle still using it till now.

Installation is not difficult. Base on my many yrs own experience.

Yeah, remember that one. Use it during my childhood time.

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Added on November 18, 2011, 10:53 pmNeed to Tak Tak Tak..

This post has been edited by weikee: Nov 18 2011, 10:53 PM

Roof will only collapse if the structure is not strong enough to withstand the weight of the solar, nothing to do with improper installation. Contractors should b able to give end users some advise before the solar is installed but if they are not sure, Solar Power could send their technicians over to have a site visit and give some professional advise (only in KL).

I m not saying that gas heaters will definitely explode, jus wanna elaborate what ozak said, may b there is lesser demand for it in Malaysia as ppl scare it will explode which it does happen before. I got customers who refused to use electric heaters as their friends got electrocuted or they heard news that ppl got electrocuted.

I simply google around and found this happened last month
"Grandpa electrocuted while taking a shower"
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=...422&sec=sarawak

This post has been edited by zheilwane: Nov 18 2011, 10:58 PM

Gas water heater is not easy to explode. Unless the fire have been blew out by wind and forget to turn off. Even if the pipe leak and caught fire, the regulator will shut it off. The fire is just shut out from the leak pipe. But won't explode. My own experience.

damn that sad... wish they put more info.. brand/model/elcb working or not/earthing working or not..

electric heaters have a possibility that it will electrocute the user, that is why they are equipped with many safety feature. Similarly, gas heaters are also equipped with safety devices to prevent it from exploding. It is possible that it will happen but the possibility is very slim may b 0.1% 0r 0.01% but ppl are still worried. Not many cases of gas heaters explode in malaysia as not many ppl are using them but instant heaters electrocute the user happens every year.

Like I say, anything not properly done going to cause danger. Imagine termite attack the roof and solar panel go down? everything is possible is only about safety. If I want to sell Gas water heater, i can have all the reason to put cold water on other product like storage and solar. If its not good, Rinnai long long time stop doing this business already. Have you see any laundry shop go kaboom? most of them run gas dryer.

You sell Rinnai hob right, maybe ask your supplier demo how the water heater work. Is really wonderful. Saw it few time in expo.

u r rite but if termite attack, even u have solar or not, the roof will collapse eventually. FYI, i don sell rinnai.

Like i say, i m not saying that instant heaters or gas heaters are not good. Just saying there is lesser demand for it in Malaysia may b they scare that it will explode like what ozak said. I used gas heaters before, no doubt it could supply constant hot water but the downside is, it has shorter lifespan compared to solar.

This post has been edited by zheilwane: Nov 18 2011, 11:24 PM

seriously - i would rate a gas heater around 100,000+++ times plus saver than an electric water heater inside my shower. the gas heater is outside and got the same (or better) safety cutoff functions than the stove. also there is ventilation. i would personally bet that the in-the-shower electric heaters used in malaysia (and the way they are installed) is way way more dangerous.

real reasons i can think of:

there is little margin in selling them

ppl are lazy to lay a new gas pipe

dont want to get second gas tank

lazy to calculate properly

dont care about the cost-efficiency or never bothered to calculate it

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Added on November 18, 2011, 11:31 pmmy pricing was based on comparable size installations and including all installation costs - sorry if that's too high - its's a reference calculation only anyway.
originally i also wanted to install a (good) solar heater. price for our house which would ensure that all family members have warm water was 5k. that's where the price came from.
you can do the maths with 3k if you like. there is still some run for the break-even point. also smaller unit will probably need more electricity. but assuming the cost is actually just 3k - the cost for using gas heater vs. solar will match once the lifespan of approx. 15 yrs. can be achieved.

in terms of lasting: i have used a rinnai heater in my previous place too. duration: 15 years. maintenance: zero - nothing. still in perfect condition - it just wasnt mine to take along but the landlords. so lifespan of 4 years is definitely not true. i would assume a safe bet is somewhere around 15 yrs.

but even then it's a darn close call and probably still in favour of gas. sorry.

This post has been edited by PJusa: Nov 18 2011, 11:31 PM

Gas still cheaper that is why i have a gas hob too.

Until now, my family using manual way to get 'water heater'.... boil water at kitchen and pour it into the small bath tab. The only danger in this manual way is if you slip when transporting the hot water from kitchen...but the % is also 0.01% ... hehehhe ....

ya.. i am interested in Microsolar too...they seem very high tech... anybody tried it before? what is the price compared to other brands?

microsolar claim to be very efficient, but my last experience few years back was the output pressure will reduce a lot...don't know they have improve on this matter or not

Microsolar is using the Evacuated Tubes system which is similar to Solar Power Heat Pipe Series. However, Microsolar is like Solar wave, the tubes are directly connected to the storage tank while SOLAR POWER tubes are connected to a manifold which makes it leak-proof.

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Added on November 22, 2011, 8:17 amIf you wanna know the difference between Solar Power and other brand, just bring the catalogs along when u drop by my showroom, i will point out the differences.

This post has been edited by zheilwane: Nov 22 2011, 08:17 AM

thanks for your explanation but not everyone in this forum is living in klang valley....

u r rite.. Btw, there will b some extra charges for installation outside K.L

I shall get some photos and post it here later

I am looking at Solarwave tube system. Anybody has any experience using or heard of anything regarding this brand of solar energy?

There is quite an attractive package for 1 unit of Solarwave, 1 unit of Hydo1 membrane filter and 1 unit of Pressure Booster Pump with installation for all.

Here is some info on solar that you might b interested in looking at before choosing solar wave. For more info, pls come to my shop, will give u some good explanation on the differences between SOLAR POWER and other brands