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Frequently asked hot water questions.
General Hot water Questions
I have an electric water heater , and I want to change it over to a Heat Pump hot water system, what do I need to do and how much is it going to cost me?
To change an electric hot water system to a heat pump hot water system, just call us for our special web only price. We can work it all out for you over the phone including rebates and RECS. Call one of our local Adelaide plumbers on 1300 700 111 to get a quote and get the future in heat pump hot water started.
I have an electric water heater and I want to change it over to a solar hot water system, what do I need to do and how much is it going to cost me?
We can change an electric hot water system to a solar hot water system, just call us for our special web only price including rebates and RECS. Call one of our local Adelaide plumbers on 1300 700 111 to get a quote and get solar hot water started.
I have water leaking down through my ceiling, what do I do?
The first thing you need to do is turn off the water. Go to the main water meter for your property, and close the tap so no more water flows into your property.
Call our emergency hotline on 1300 700 111.
If we talk rule of thumb..are heat pump units or solar units cheaper to run?
As a generalisation, solar hot water units can be up to 5-15% cheaper to run than heat pump units but are not as reliable and are more expensive to install and maintain.
My hot water is too hot, how do I adjust the temperature?
Call 1300 700 111 and we'll send around a hot water plumber. Hot water systems need to be adjusted by a qualified plumber experienced with hot water, to avoid the possibility of burns occurring.
I've installed a low flow shower head and now my hot water goes hot and cold when showering, how do I fix it?
The type of shower rose installed and the type of hot water system in use may not be compatible. Certain types of hot water systems cannot deliver consistent temperature with water saving shower roses. It is a good idea to call 1300 700 111 and have one of our plumbers visit to check if the shower head is compatible and if not either remove the restrictor or install an appropriate shower rose to suit.
This is an Emergency. I have no hot water. My electric hot water unit has died. How long will it take to install a heat pump or solar hot water unit, if I order it today?
If you call today and want to replace a broken electric hot water service with a new heat pump or solar hot water unit, we can have it installed within 24 hours and we can claim all the rebates for you, simple as that. Just call 1300 700 111
The circuit breaker on my electric hot water system keeps tripping, how do I fix it?
You need to be careful that there is not a short circuit in your hot water service. Especially if the circuit breaker clicks off immediately. The most likely cause is a shorted element . Call 1300 700 111 and we can rectify the problem promptly.
If your hot water unit is over 10 years old at which age you can expect ongoing problems it could be the perfect time to take advantage of the new rebates and get a heat pump or solar hot water system with our web only offer including RECS and rebates.
My hot water unit is leaking water onto the ground?
The hot water cylinder has most likely burst. Isolate the water at the stop valve near the hot water unit or isolate the water at the front of the property at the water meter. If the hot water system is gas , isolate the gas at the isolating valve near the hot water unit or turn off the gas at the gas meter. If the system is an electric unit, isolate the power supply at the main power board at the circuit breaker or fuse switch for the hot water service marked as HWS. Ring 1300 700 111 for an immediate response.
Water is running from the safety valve into the drain and won’t stop..
Either the hot pressure temperature relief valve or cold expansion relief valve has failed. Isolate the water at the stop valve near the hot water unit or isolate the water supply at the water meter. These valves should be replaced at intervals not exceeding 5 years for safety reasons and for the protection of your hot water system. Ring 1300 700 111 for an immediate response.
Water is only running at a trickle from the hot taps.
Either the non return valve on the cold water inlet to the hot water unit has collapsed or in the case of a gravity feed ceiling hot water unit the float valve has seized. In either circumstance the valve responsible requires replacing. Ring 1300 700 111 for an immediate response.
I have an electric or gas hot water unit and only luke warm water comes out of my taps.
The problem may be a faulty tempering anti scald valve. Ring 1300 700 111 for an immediate response.
Water is squirting from the bottom of the isolating valve to my hot water unit.
The strainer valve has burst on the cold inlet to the hot water service and requires renewing. Turn the water off at isolating valve or water meter. Ring 1300 700 111 for an immediate response.
At the present time converting my existing electric hot water system to a heat pump or solar hot water system seems very attractive due to the government rebates and RECS scheme on offer which ammount to between $1500.00 - $2700.00 , but those rebates are only legislated until 2012 . What will my costs be if I convert my electric system to a heat pump or solar system now and that system requires replacing in say 7 to 12 years?
This is a very important question as it will affect the majority of families and home owners down the track in a major financial way. In reality a heat pump or solar hot water system fully supplied and installed when converting from an existing electric unit costs between $4000.00 - $ 6500.00 without any rebates .
This cost will be slightly lower once the conversion has been made due to less alterations required on the next installation but only slightly lower say $500.00 to $1000.00 less .
So where an electric conversion to a heat pump or solar unit now costs between $1800.00 - $4000.00 at present due to rebates, after 2012 when rebates expire , it could cost anywhere between $3000.00 - $5500.00 which is a large expense for any household .
The best advise I can offer to minimise future replacement costs is to consider converting existing electric units to the best quality longest lived heat pumps or solar units available.
That is why we only recommend heat pumps that have a 10 year warranty on the storage cylinder .
Alternatively, the other option to consider when converting existing electric or gas hot water units is the new range of 5 star efficient gas hot water systems. Units have a 10 year warranty, and if gas is available on the property, a new unit can be installed for between $1500.00 - $2500.00 depending on individual circumstances of the installation.
I am about to replace my existing electric hot water heater with either a heat pump hot water system or a solar hot water unit to take advantage of the hot water rebates which apply to both. Which is my best choice ?
Even though solar hot water systems are slightly more energy efficient than heat pumps they are not as reliable due to they operate at much higher operating temperatures and have more working components which means higher and more regular maintenance costs and a lower life expectancy .
Solar units on very hot days tend to dump large amounts of super heated water down the drain through the safety relief valve as a method to protect the system from damage which can result in significant water wastage, sometimes in access of 200 litres a day which as we know in Adelaide is probably more significant than the energy savings.
Pipe connections to the solar panels on very hot days due to extreme temperature and pressure can and do blow apart .
Solar units can also experience frost and hail damage to the solar panels.
Heat pumps do not require solar panels on the roof as they draw solar heat from the ambient air temperature down to minus 10 degrees and do not have the super heating problems and ongoing maintenance issues associated with solar units .
Heat Pump Hot Water Systems have been the preferred form of hot water heating in Europe for over 30 years which attests to the proven technology.
Heat pumps shape , size and connections are very similar to electric hot water units which make them the most economical , reliable and logical choice when replacing an electric hot water unit.
We recommend and are Authorised Distributors for Siddons Solarstream heat pump hot water systems with a marine grade stainless steel 10 year warranty cylinder and the most highly awarded Dux Aeroheat Sub Zero heat pump hot water system.
What preventative action can I take to stop corrosion to my hot water system?
Sacrificial anode protection is the solution to arrest hot water cylinder corrosion and this applies only to steel vitreous enamel lined or glass coated mains pressure hot water cylinders.
When steel cylinders are internally coated under extreme heat bonding in the manufacturing process, very small patches in the cylinder fail to be coated hence the need for anodes to protect the bare steel from corrosion .
A sacrificial anode is a rod made up of differing compounds to suit specific water conditions and are immersed and screwed in from the top of the cylinder .
Ceiling unit hot water units which have copper cylinders and operate under low pressure, marine grade stainless steel cylinders and continuous flow - instantaneous units which don’t actually have a cylinder but a loop of copper tubes acting as the heat exchange do not require anode protection.
Cylinder corrosion is directly related to the quality of the mains water and this determines the rate an anode sacrifices itself to protect or more specifically the rate the anode corrodes to protect the cylinder.
Mains water supplied in Adelaide is regarded as hard ( higher salt and mineral content ) which means sacrificial anodes corrode at a faster rate than say Melbourne where the water is much softer or more ph neutral .
So anodes in Adelaide require replacing more regularly and it is recommended that they are replaced every 3-4 years.
Regular anode replacement will on average add one third more life expectancy to a hot water cylinder but taking into account the cost of three yearly anode replacements you are in effect paying for that extra longevity.
There is no doubt the most effective measure to prolong the life of a hot water system and to use far less energy consumption is to have an adequately sized system that can be set to operate at a lower core operating temperature.
Higher operating temperatures speed corrosion and stress the whole system.
Call us anytime to discuss hot water maintenance or replacement options on
1300 700 111
I need to replace my leaking hot water unit and have decided to have a 5 star rated gas hot water system installed but I don't know if a 5 star rated gas mains pressure storage hot water system or an instantaneous - continuous gas unit is my best option?
The new range of 5 star gas mains pressure storage units with a 10 year manufacturers warranty are in my opinion the best gas hot water units available and for a number of reasons .
5 star gas mains pressure storage units are much more water efficient than instant gas units due to the fact that when a hot tap is turned on the computer inside instant gas units takes time to detect water running through the system before the gas burner is activated which can result in as much as 20 litres of water wastage before the water is hot at the tap and this is of great concern in Adelaide where water is so precious.
5 star gas mains pressure storage units deliver hot water at full mains pressure as opposed to the restricted flow of the instant gas units which can cause problems with fluctuating temperatures when showering especially in multi bathroom homes.
5 star gas mains pressure storage units have gas efficiency equal to instant gas units as both are required to be 5 star gas rated.
5 star gas mains pressure storage units do not require a power supply as continuous - instant gas units do and will still work in power outages where continuous gas units will not.
5 star gas mains pressure storage units have been engineered and stylishly designed to specifically suit Australian homes and conditions and are generally more reliable and easier and cheaper to repair or maintain.
Due to the latest technology 5 star gas storage systems now have the capability to deliver up to 390 litres of hot water in the first hour and 200 litres every hour after at full mains pressure which is more than ample for most Adelaide homes.
On the other hand, if you currently have an instantaneous gas hot water unit, or if you are in a unit or smaller house, or if space is an issue, then an instantaneous gas unit is most probably going to be a better solution.
What if the sun doesn't shine, will my shower and hot water still be hot?
Yes, the solar hot water systems we install have either 5 star gas boosting or 5 star electric boosting for when the sun isn't shining.
How does a boosted solar system save me money?
Solar hot water systems use up to 90% less energy than older storage type electric water heaters. If you use less energy, you spend less on your hot water energy costs. Simple as that.
Which RECS zone is Adelaide in?
Adelaide is in Zone 3 .
The solar hot water panelling is leaking water onto my roof.
Either the solar panel is burst or the pipe connection to the panel has burst. Isolate water at isolating valve or at water meter. Ring 1300 700 111 for immediate response.
I am about to replace my existing electric hot water heater with either a heat pump hot water system or a solar hot water unit to take advantage of the hot water rebates which apply to both. Which is my best choice ?
See answer in General Hot water Questions.
Is a gas hot water system a viable alternative to solar or heat pump hot water system?
Yes. Gas systems are a viable alternative from a couple of perspectives. The first is reliabilty, and the second are the low maintenance costs.
I have a gas hot water service and I have tried to light the pilot flame but when I let my finger off the button the pilot flame goes out.
More than likely the thermocouple has failed and needs replacing. Ring 1300 700 111 for immediate response.
I have a gas hot water service and have tried to light the pilot flame but it will not light at all.
Either the pilot jet is blocked or the main gas thermostat has failed or the gas line to the pilot is full of air and requires purging. Ring 1300 700 111 for an immediate response.
I have a gas instantaneous – continuous flow hot water service and only luke warm water is coming out of my taps.
The diaphragm has more than likely failed and requires renewing. Ring 1300 700 111 for an immediate response.
Water is squirting from the bottom of the isolating valve to my hot water unit.
See answer in General Hot water Questions.
I have an electronic ignition continuous flow gas hot water system and the flow has diminished and water is cold .
Problem may be a blocked strainer valve on the cold water inlet to the hot water unit. Ring 1300 700 111 for an immediate response.
I need to replace my leaking hot water unit and have decided to have a 5 star rated gas hot water system installed but I don't know if a 5 star rated gas mains pressure storage hot water system or an instantaneous - continuous gas unit is my best option?
See answer in General Hot water Questions.
My electric hot water heater has not reheated and the water is cold.
Either the thermostat or element has most likely failed in the hot water heater and requires replacing. Isolate the power to the hot water service. Ring 1300 700 111 for an immediate response.
My electric hot water tank is smoking and smells of burning rubber by the electrical connection to the tank.
There is electrical short. Isolate power supply at circuit breaker or fuse switch at main board for HWS. Ring 1300 700 111 for immediate response.
My ceiling unit hot water tank is leaking water from the overflow pipe from the eaves.
Either the hot water tank is leaking or the float valve is jammed open. Ring 1300 700 111 for an immediate response.
In the case of replacing an electric hot water system with a heat pump hot water system, where would the heat pump unit go?
Normally the heat pump units are installed on the outside of your house where your existing electric unit is located or if your existing unit is inside the house or in the ceiling we can install the heat pump in a suitable external location as they cannot be installed inside or in the ceiling space.
What if the sun doesn't shine, will my shower and hot water still be hot?
Yes, the heat pump hot water systems we install will heat the water always in any weather conditions, whether rain , hail or the sun isn't shining because heat pumps work by drawing heat from the ambient air temperature and do not require direct sunshine as opposed to solar units which rely on electric or gas back up heating sources when the sun doesn’t shine.
I am about to replace my existing electric hot water heater with either a heat pump hot water system or a solar hot water unit to take advantage of the hot water rebates which apply to both. Which is my best choice ?
See answer in General Hot water Questions.
We're ready to quote on your new hot water system. Call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1300 700 111
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