Most homes in New Zealand use stored hot water. The typical way to store hot water is through the usage of a copper cylinder, with the preferred location being a cupboard which has ventilation. When purchasing a new hot water cylinder it is always a good idea to buy one that is pre-insulated, it will be somewhat more costly but it proves its value in the long run.

These types of cylinders use two different methods for heating the water. The electric hot water cylinder uses an electric immersion heater. The other option is by using a heat exchanger which is supplied through a hot water boiler. The immersion heater option of heating is quick but it is costly as compared to the boiler option. This is also called an electric hot water cylinder system. The cheapest and the best option are to use the heat exchanger that heats the water in the container. Hot water is routed through coils located within this type of cylinder, which does the job of heating the water. This system has a separate tank which is usually placed in the attic.

Nowadays, most of these types of cylinders have both the immersion heater and the heat exchanger option and it is the best option to have both. This ensures that the hot water is provided by the boiler most of the time and the immersion heater work as a backup in case of failure of the boiler. A solar hot water cylinder system can be used to save energy bills.

Low pressure hot water cylinders are offered in a range of sizes, from 15 liters for to 350 liters which is sufficient for a family of six. The advantage of a these types of cylinder is that it is cost-effective and helps reduce energy costs. The main disadvantage is that it does not provide an equal pressure in the shower and other places where it is being used. It also is not at its optimum performance with modern sanitary fittings. These systems are used in most households. They can only withstand a limited amount of pressure.