Midea M Series Gas Continuous Flow: M20 vs M26
Midea continuous flow hot water, M20 or M26: two units that look identical on the wall. One of them runs your second shower properly in July.
Midea continuous flow hot water comes in two outdoor sizes: the M Series M20, rated at 20 litres a minute for $749, and the M26, rated at 26 litres a minute for $849. Both are gas, both are made by Midea and distributed in Australia by Chromagen, and both carry the same 10 year heat exchanger warranty. The real difference is how much hot water each one holds up when the incoming water is cold. For most families south of Brisbane, the answer is the M26.
Want your exact size? Our instant hot water sizing calculator works out the kW or litres a minute you need in winter, checks single or 3-phase power, then shows the units that fit.
M20 vs M26 at a glance
The Midea M26 delivers 30% more hot water than the M20 for $100 more, burns 25% more gas at full fire, and is slightly bigger and heavier. Everything else is shared: connections, pressure range, frost protection, controls and warranty.
| Spec | Midea M20 | Midea M26 |
|---|---|---|
| Flow rating | 20 L/min at 25°C rise | 26 L/min at 25°C rise |
| Energy rating | 6.7 stars | 6.5 stars |
| Thermal efficiency | 89.1% | 86.6% |
| Gas consumption (nominal) | 160 MJ/h | 200 MJ/h |
| Size (H x W x D) | 595 x 375 x 165 mm | 628 x 413 x 177 mm |
| Weight | 15.5 kg | 19.5 kg |
| Water / gas connection | 15 mm / 20 mm | 15 mm / 20 mm |
| Water pressure | 150 to 1000 kPa | 150 to 1000 kPa |
| Suits | 1 to 2 bathrooms | 2 to 3 bathrooms |
| Warranty | 10 yr heat exchanger, 3 yr parts and labour | 10 yr heat exchanger, 3 yr parts and labour |
| Price (inc GST) | $749 ($774 QLD, WA) | $849 ($874 QLD, WA) |
Prices current as of October 2026, AUD including GST, unit only. Installation not included.
Real winter flow from the Midea M20 and M26
In a Melbourne winter the Midea M20 gives about 17 litres a minute of 40°C water and the M26 gives about 22. That is the number that matters, and it is not the number on the box.
The 20 and 26 litre ratings are measured at a 25 degree temperature rise. Cold water in Sydney sits around 13°C in winter, so getting a shower to 40°C needs a 27 degree rise. Melbourne needs about 30. The bigger the rise, the less water the burner can heat per minute. Every brand works this way. Midea just happens to print the honest test condition.
| Winter, heating to 40°C | M20 real flow | M26 real flow | Two showers need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane, cold water about 16°C | about 20 L/min | about 27 L/min | about 18 L/min |
| Sydney, cold water about 13°C | about 18.5 L/min | about 24 L/min | about 18 L/min |
| Melbourne, cold water about 10°C | about 16.7 L/min | about 22 L/min | about 18 L/min |
Read the Sydney row again. The M20 technically covers two 9 litre showers. Then someone runs the kitchen tap and both showers wobble. In Melbourne the M20 is a one shower unit in July, full stop.
Who should buy the Midea M20
The Midea M20 is the right unit for a one or two bathroom house in Brisbane or further north, or a smaller household anywhere that rarely runs two showers at once. Couples. Granny flats. A unit where the second bathroom is mostly for guests.
The M20 also has two genuine advantages beyond price. It is the more efficient unit, at 6.7 stars and 89.1% against 6.5 stars and 86.6%. And it burns 160 MJ/h at full fire instead of 200, which matters on a house with a small or long gas line that is already feeding a cooktop and a heater.
Do not buy the M20 for the star rating alone. On a typical family hot water bill the efficiency gap is worth roughly $13 a year. That will not warm a cold shower.
Who should buy the Midea M26
The Midea M26 is the right unit for any family that runs two showers at the same time in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart or anywhere with a proper winter. It is also the pick for a three bathroom house in any climate.
The logic is boring: people regret undersizing, and nobody regrets the extra $100. The M26 still fires down to the same minimum flow as the M20, 2.5 litres a minute to start and 1.8 to keep running, so a single hand basin does not suffer on the bigger unit.
The one thing to check is gas supply. At 200 MJ/h the M26 needs a gas line and meter that can feed it alongside everything else on gas in the house. Your gas fitter checks this. If the line is marginal, it is cheaper to upsize the pipe once than to live with a unit that starves every time the oven is on.
Natural gas and LPG options in the Midea range
The Midea M20 is listed in both natural gas and LPG. The standard 50°C M26 listing is natural gas, and the M26 70°C preset is available in natural gas or LPG. The unit is built for one gas type at the factory, so order the right one. Swapping later is a job for a licensed gas fitter with a conversion kit, not a weekend.
If you are on LPG and need an M26 at the standard 50°C setting, ask us before you order and we will confirm what is available. LPG also costs a lot more to run than mains gas, often close to double per shower. Our guide to gas continuous flow prices and running costs has the worked numbers.
The 50°C, 70°C and internal Midea versions
The Midea 70°C preset units are the same heaters as the standard 50°C units, set at the factory to 70°C for tempered or ring main systems, and they cost exactly the same. A 70°C unit must have a tempering valve so bathroom outlets get safe water. If your plumber has not specifically asked for 70°C, you want the 50°C version.
- Midea M20, 50°C: $749, natural gas or LPG.
- Midea M20, 70°C preset: $749, natural gas or LPG.
- Midea M26, 50°C: $849, natural gas.
- Midea M26, 70°C preset: $849, natural gas or LPG.
- Midea M26 Internal: $1,569, natural gas, 50°C or 70°C.
The M26 Internal is for houses with no workable outside wall. It needs a power flue kit, sold separately, run through a wall or roof. Outdoor is always cheaper if you have the choice. There is no internal M20.
What every Midea M Series unit shares
Every Midea M Series outdoor unit has electronic ignition, frost protection, a 50°C factory setting adjustable from 38°C to 48°C with an optional controller, and a 10 year heat exchanger plus 3 year parts and labour warranty. Both sizes are solar compatible and can boost a solar pre-heat system.
Every unit also needs a 240V power point near it for the ignition, fan and controls. No power, no hot water, even though it runs on gas. If there is no outlet on that wall, budget for an electrician. A recess box is available if the unit is being set into a wall cavity. Installation must be done by a licensed gas fitter to AS/NZS 3500.4.
No gas at the house at all? Then neither Midea is for you. Look at the Stiebel Eltron electric instant range if you have 3-phase power, and read our electric vs gas instantaneous hot water comparison first.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Midea M26 continuous flow hot water system any good?
The Midea M26 is a solid mid priced gas continuous flow unit: 26 litres a minute at a 25 degree rise, 6.5 stars, a 10 year heat exchanger warranty and $849 inc GST as of October 2026. It holds about 22 litres a minute of 40°C water in a Melbourne winter, enough for two showers at once.
What is the difference between the Midea M20 and M26?
The Midea M26 heats 26 litres a minute against 20 for the M20, uses 200 MJ/h of gas at full fire against 160, and costs $100 more. The M20 is slightly more efficient at 6.7 stars versus 6.5. Connections, controls, frost protection and warranty are the same on both.
Is a 20 litre continuous flow enough for two showers in Australia?
A 20 litre gas continuous flow unit runs two showers at once in Brisbane and warmer climates, only just manages in a Sydney winter, and is a one shower unit in Melbourne in July. Two showers need about 18 litres a minute, and a 20 litre unit drops to about 17 litres a minute with Melbourne winter water.
Who makes Midea gas hot water systems in Australia?
Midea gas continuous flow hot water systems are made by Midea and distributed in Australia by Chromagen. The M Series range covers the outdoor M20 and M26, 70°C preset versions of both, and the indoor M26 Internal.
What warranty does a Midea continuous flow hot water system have?
Midea M Series gas continuous flow units carry a 10 year heat exchanger warranty and 3 years parts and labour. The warranty is the same on the M20, the M26 and the M26 Internal, so it is not a reason to choose one size over another.
Still not sure which Midea fits?
Send us your suburb, the number of showers that run at once and whether you are on natural gas or LPG. We will tell you which Midea unit fits, or tell you neither does. Browse the full range in instant hot water systems.
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This guide is general information for Australian households and is not a substitute for advice on your specific home and site. Real winter flow rates are estimates based on typical cold water temperatures and will vary with your local supply. Gas continuous flow units must be installed by a licensed gas fitter and plumber, and any new power point by a licensed electrician. 70°C preset units require a tempering valve, fitted by your plumber. Confirm final sizing, gas supply and installation costs with us or your installer before you buy.