| Solar Geyser | Instantaneous Gas Water Heater | Geyser (Conventional) | Heat Pump | |
| Main Feature | Water Boiler connected to Sun heating panels | Instantaneous Water Heater, heating water instantly as it flows through | Water Boiler | Heat collector system pump system with a geyser drum as reservior |
| Heat Source | Sun and Electricity depending on size and make | Liquefied petrolium gas | Electricity | Ambient Air |
| Backup Power | Generator | Batteries (2 x size D) or UPS depending on make and model | Generator | Generator |
| System Components | Solar Collectors | Heat Exchanger (Aluminium heat collector with copper piping) | Electric Element | Tank |
| Tank with Electric Element | Burners | PRV & TP Valve | Compressor | |
| Direct Circulation Pump | Gas and water connections | Vacuum Breakers | 4 Way Valve | |
| Indirect Glycol Circulation | PC Board (depending on model) | Tray – In roof | ||
| Brackets for Mounting | Fan (depending on model) | |||
| Remote (depending on model) | ||||
| Safety | TP Valve on Drum | Anti frost protection unit, High water pressure relieve, flame failure device, oxigin depletion sensor, overheating sensor (depending on model) | TP Valve on Drum | TP Valve on Drum |
| Maintenance | Solar collector panels Glycol replacement according to supplier specs. | Replace 2 x size D batteries depending on model | Anode replacements to expand lifetime on drum | Anode replacements to expand lifetime on drum |
| Anode replacements to expand lifetime on drum | ||||
| Disadvantages | Hot water limited to size of drum. Can cause water damage to ceilings if not properly installed | Some models require replacement batteries to be replaced after a period ( 2 x size D), other require a UPS | Hot water limited to size of drum. Can cause water damage to ceilings if not properly installed | Hot water limited to size of drum. Can cause water damage to ceilings if not properly installed |
| Unit more costly compared to a Gas Water Heater, as it is limited to its drum capasity | Unit more costly compared to a Gas Water Heater, as it is limited to its drum capasity | Unit more costly compared to a Gas Water Heater, as it is limited to its drum capasity | ||
| Generating electricity with a genetator, in case of a power failure from Escom, to power the unit is expensive | Generating electricity with a genetator, in case of a power failure from Escom, to power the unit is expensive | Generating electricity with a genetator, in case of a power failure from Escom, to power the unit is expensive | ||
| Sunlight limited to time and weather | Has to work continuesly, therefore high wear on unit | |||
| Still requires a high amount of electricity for heating element (depending on make and model) | Still requires a high ammount of electricity for heating element | Still requires a high amount of electricity compared to a Gas Water Heater | ||
| Still high on electricity demand | ||||
| Advantages | The sun will reduce energy consumption by reducing the temperature rise of ambient water | You only pay for what you consume | High pressure demand on tap at 600Kpa | Consumes lower levels of electricity |
| Hot water supply only limited to ammount of gas availible | ||||
| Higher Flow Rates per minute | ||||
| Easy to maintain | ||||
| Requires no water storage | ||||
| Can easily be operated by a UPS or batteries depending on the model | ||||
| Desired Water Temperature can be set, therefore saving energy | ||||
| Saving water by more easily placing appliance closer to supply | ||||
| Better control over energy consumption | ||||
| No water damage on carpets or ceilings | ||||
| Influences | Is impacted by weather conditions | Not affected by weather | Not dependent on weather | Not dependent on weather |
| Eskom Power grid dependant | Site specific energy delivery | Eskom Power grid dependant | Eskom Power grid dependant | |
| Not dependent on Eskom | ||||
| Fan Forced Gas Water Heater (uses 40 Watts of elec.). Conventional type (uses 2 x size D batteries) | ||||
