Upgrade: Convert from Instant to Storage Heaters

By Amanda
January 13, 2026

Want to upgrade your instant heater to a storage heater?

Great choice. Here are the perks!
• Higher water pressure
• Steamy hot water shower effect.
• Can upgrade to rain shower
• Supports 2 showers running at same time
• Hot water, even on rainy days

Here is what you should prepare for the upgrade

Follow this checklist to make sure you don't miss anything. All costs are estimates.

1. Upgrade Stop Valve to an Actual Mixer

Instant heaters use a simple stop valve, or stopcock. This is a single lever that controls the cold water going in. But storage heaters work differently and require a mixer tap.

Why the change? A stopcock only handles cold water. A mixer blends both hot and cold, giving you better control and a more comfortable shower. It’s all part of the upgrade when switching to a smarter, more powerful storage heater.

It’s the same kind of mixer you’ll find in 5-star hotel bathrooms. Paired with a storage heater, it gives you stronger water pressure and that luxurious, hotel-style shower experience at home.

• Stopcock (single-lever tap) $40
• Mixer $250

2. The Fun Part: Choose Your Mixer!

There are two main types: shower mixers and bath mixers. Shower mixers are sleek and minimalist — no spout, just a clean design perfect for master bathrooms.

Bath mixers come with a handy spout, ideal for common bathrooms where you might need to fill a pail or rinse off items.

Think about how you use your bathroom. Want a hotel-style look for your private ensuite? Go with a shower mixer.

Need a little more practicality in the family bathroom? A bath mixer has you covered.

It’s not just an upgrade, it's a chance to personalise your space!

3. Upgrade Your Shower Head, so Every Shower is Luxury

Most people forget about the shower set until the very last minute, but don’t make that mistake! Now that you're upgrading to a storage heater, you're unlocking stronger water pressure than what instant heaters can give. That means it’s time to upgrade your shower set too, so you can feel the difference.

Showers are more than just a rinse.. for us Singaporeans, they are our daily me-time. The right shower head can turn it into a spa-like escape. You want pressure that invigorates, not dribbles that disappoint.

Best part? It doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
You can get an excellent shower head for less than $50. Ping us on WhatsApp to get our personal favourite brand!! The one that 80% of our own AOS team is using.. I like this better than rain showers.

But beware, not all shower heads are created equal. Some imported designs may look beautiful, but they just aren’t built for Singapore’s water pressure.

If you've landed yourself with one of these, you'll get a sad, weak flow that ruins the experience. Stick to options that work with your system, not against it.

Want to learn more? Check out our guide to water pressure here:
Solve Your Low Water Pressure Problem

4. Do you need a wall flange?

Probably not the most exciting part so here’s the quick version: A wall flange is only needed if your water pipes are exposed, like for most HDB units. they go for about $35 a pair.

But don’t worry, we’ll handle all of that for you. When you buy from us, we’ll sort out what fittings you need and give you one simple, all-in price. No surprises, no extra parts to hunt down.

5. Pipes

Note that storage heaters need more piping than instant heaters.

Estimated cost for extra piping in HDB flats:
• 1 bathroom: ~$350
• 2 bathrooms (side by side): ~$900

We usually recommend doing these pipe works during the renovation stage, as they can be messy and dusty. In most cases, your interior designer will handle this part.

If you are already living in the house, then switching from instant to storage might not be ideal, unless...... the water pressure from your instant heater is so weak that you’re ready for a serious upgrade. 😅

Conclusion: Ready to Upgrade?

Upgrading from an instant to a storage water heater is more than just switching appliances. You are levelling up your entire shower experience!!

From better water pressure to hotel-style mixers and luxurious shower sets, every detail adds comfort, convenience, and value to your home.

Yes, there are extra fittings and some piping work involved, but don’t worry... we’ll handle the technical bits. You just need to put up with the dust!!! 😆 Otherwise, sit back, relax, and get ready to enjoy the kind of showers you usually only get on holiday.

Convert Instant to Storage FAQ

What are the benefits to upgrade from instant to storage?

You get more consistent water temperature and higher water pressure, especially if you have multiple users or larger bathrooms.
Unlike instant heaters, storage heaters store hot water in a tank, giving you a constant supply of hot water without waiting.

How will my shower experience improve with storage?

you get stronger water pressure
a refreshing and invigorating shower
get a spa-like experience every day, in the comfort of your own home!

How different is the water pressure from instant to storage?

instant: around 4 lit/min
storage: around 9 lit/min

Note that in Singapore, we will soon have shower limits of about 7 lit/min. It is part of the new PUB stipulations for us to save water.

More on that here, see page 49.

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Avoid These 6 Warranty Pitfalls at All Costs

Beware of a Too-Good-to-be-True, Ultra Long Warranty!

Don’t be me. I learnt this the hard way buying my Samsonite luggage. Buying a "lifetime" warranty seemed like the best deal. Until I brought it in to change a part that fell out.

Then they pulled out this crazy list of terms and conditions that made me give up.

For appliances like water heaters, the concept is the same. Not all warranties are equal. Understand this before you buy. Know what to look out for. This will save you precious time and emotional frustration.

1. Keep Your Eyes Peeled for a 'Full Warranty'. This is the Best Type of Warranty and Very Rare. Go for FULL Coverage Whenever Possible.

Full warranties are scarce and hard to find.

Good news is... 'hard to find' does not mean it is impossible to find.

You want this Full Warranty because it protects you more than it protects the company. That is the idea right?

You want to be fully covered to be exempt from paying for hidden costs. This needs to cover everything from labour, parts cost and transport. A full onsite warranty.

The only thing that is not covered are installation faults. But it is fair to exclude this from coverage. If your installer damaged the product because of his lack of skill.. then you go after the installer.

2. Don't Just Get Full Coverage... Get the LONGEST Possible Full Coverage.

When buying stuff at Harvey Norman, they always ask if you want to upgrade your warranty and add 2 to 5 years to it.

While it's always tempting to think, Nahhhh. I've already spent $5k on this fridge!! Why would I want to top up YET another $800 bucks for incidents I cannot forsee??

WELL. Life is about planning for incidents you cannot forsee. And from personal experience, Extended warranties have saved my wallet more than half the time. So grateful for buying the extension for the last few big-cap electronic purchases. I put my faith there!

In Singapore, the average lifespan of a heater is 5 years. This means many heater companies will give you a 1 Year Full warranty.

Better brands last longer, so they go up to 3 Years Full warranty.

If your home situation is long-term, aim for 3 years. You save more in the long run going for quality and the longest possible warranty coverage.

If I don't Have a 'Full Warranty'... What am I Getting?

If what you have on your hands isn't a full warranty... You may have a partial warranty.

In that case, you have to be extra careful.

Partial warranties cover only certain parts

3. Now Hang On Tight, Don’t Fall off Your Chair... We’re Coming to the Most Well Kept Secret About Partial Warranties..

Of course a partial warranty sounds appealing!! Who doesn't like the sound of a 10-year warranty? But they are misleading and even a tad dishonest.

Let me let you in on a secret. A 10-year warranty on a heating element might seem like a great deal.. but the industry secret is that the heating element rarely fails. It’s the other parts like wires and thermostats that will need repair sooner. If these aren’t covered, you could end up paying out of pocket for repairs.

Usually, companies who play this game are not interested in servicing you. They are excited to find out if you’ve exceeded your 1-year warranty. Then they can slap on some charges for back end sales. It's a horrible way to do business.

Be wary of those partial warranties!!

Heating elements are hardly ever replaced.. in all my years of being in the heater industry, I’ve only seen elements break down less than 5 times!!

4. Trust me on This, for Heaters.. Always Buy Local. Forget That Awesome Deal You Saw on Taobao.

Absolutely NO taobao for water heaters!! It will be the worst decision ever.

You need a local warranty. If there's a problem.. there is no way you can fix it yourself. You are not superman!!! Even if you ARE Superman, you have no Time!!

When you buy local, you're actually buying access to a valuable local support network.

I've heard horror stories of unapproved heaters bought online that fail at the worst times. Imagine: Chinese New Year no hot water?!! Your wife and kids are giving you pressure? Now good luck getting support over taobao chat.

Actually, at that point you’ll need more than luck to survive.

Don't ruin things for yourself. Always buy local when it comes heaters. Thank me later.

Heaters are one of the hardest appliances to troubleshoot.

5. Hidden Costs Here, Hidden Costs There, Hidden Costs EVERYWHERE!

If normal transport charges are $100+... Why are you getting charged $250????

I've heard this happen to people who are still locked in under their 'warranty period'. They can't go to a 3rd party to repair or their warranty may be void. It's a minor wire repair but they have to cough up hundreds $$$$$.

They are stuck in what we call a ‘bo-pian’ or no-choice situation.

It is downright dreadful, but sad to say.. This kind of back-end sales tactic has happened before and will happen again.

Out of frustration, some even decide to change their whole heater to another brand. It’s a good move because you avoid dealing with dishonesty.

On the other hand, it’s very expensive…

You can avoid this heartache by doing some homework. Buy from a reputable company.

6. Whenever Possible, Buy Direct from the Main Distributor

When I bought my first Dyson.. I went to a Reputable department store along Orchard Road. They were running a promo I couldn't resist.

Things went fine as long until my Dyson stopped working.. then the nightmares began. I got thrown around department after department of red tape.

Need to check invoice.
Need to look up sales person.
Oh.. Must send to HQ for inspection.
Now we need to order special parts.

It was a simple problem but so many layers of people and paperwork. Drove me nuts.

From that I learnt my lesson, always buy direct.

Now I get my Dyson from the main distributor. Their turnover is fast. I have absolute confidence I'm getting the latest version free from bugs and defects.

If they have issues with a model, they are upfront and transparent with me. Because I am their direct customer, they will take care of me first.

Response is also much faster!!

Sometimes, they also waive charges. Now, I'm not saying to go in with the expectation of free service. Everyone has to earn a fair wage. But I can feel the difference in the quality of customer service.

Same idea with water heaters. Want faster service? Buy direct.

7. Are You Serviced By a Bot or a Human Being?

Of course you can tell. Everything is different when it's a real person on the other end of the line.

Service is faster.

Arrangements are flexible.

You get accurate answers.

Because a real person understands your needs. A bot doesn't.

Conclusion

Singaporeans and hot water have a special relationship. We take it for granted when it is there, but we go crazy when deprived of it!!

Understanding your water heater warranty can make or break your hot water experience.

Hope the tips I’ve shared here on warranties will help you in some way!

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