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Hot Water Plumbing Service – Your Reliable Plumbing and Electrical Experts

Understanding your current hot water heating system is one of the most important things to do. Most of the homes use the central heating system or the electric storage heaters. A number of homes have also been using the individual heaters. Individual heaters are normally not part of the central heating system. Consider understanding the following:

What is electric heating?

In most homes, we do not have heaters. Instead, the radiators possess the electric heaters. These heaters heat up during the night taking advantage of the cheap off-peak electricity charges. The absorbed heat is then given out during the day.

In case you own storage heaters, then you will have the hot water cylinder heated by either of two immersion heaters. This electric storage heating system is made common in flats, areas with no gas connections, and with the rented properties.

The system is considered to be the most expensive compared to other options. It is also known to emit more carbon dioxide. Controlling electric storage heaters is considered to be harder than radiator control. This is especially the case with older systems.

In case you have installed such a hot water plumbing service in your home, you may consider employing the following power saving tips.

• Replace the old storage heater with more controllable new storage heaters.

• Consider fitting thermostats and better control methods to ensure that your system runs more efficiently.

• It is good to make improvements to the insulation and draught-proofing system.

• You can also replace your current system with a more efficient hot water system

What is the secondary heating?

Secondary heating refers to individual heaters such as portable fixed gas fires and electric heaters. They are used in addition to the central heating system. The modern central heating is considered to be more efficient in comparison to individual heaters.

However, using individual heaters to heat specific spaces for a limited time can be helpful. It aids to avoid overheating some spaces that may not need to be heated, or those that are not infrequent use. Secondary heating is usually produced by:

• The portable electric heaters examples oil filled, pane, fan, and convection heaters.

• The portable halogen heaters

• Open fires

• It can as well be produced by burning wood or solid fuel stoves.

• The gas heaters usually run on bottled gas or paraffin.

• The traditional gas fire has been used for secondary heating.

• Well-mounted gas heaters.

• Range cookers

Fan and halogen heaters are smaller secondary heaters and can only be used in rooms that need heating for a very short time. In case there is no central heating in a room, electric convention panel heaters or the oil based heaters can be used. Electric heating is the considered to be the efficient heating system, but most costly, producing a lot of carbon dioxide as well.

In case you use electric storage heaters, ensure that they are always turned off when not in use. Wood and other solid fuel burning are considered to be more efficient than open fires and are fewer carbon emitters. They can be used to provide enough heat for one room.

Consider understanding your hot water plumbing services today. Understanding different categories give you a chance to choose one that is cost effective and efficient for your home.

Your Reliable Plumbing and Electrical Experts

Inline Plumbing & Electrical has the knowledge and experience to provide a comprenhensive plumbing service, always maintaining a high standard of customer satisfaction, giving you complete peace of mind at all times.

Whatever your requirements may be, we are more than happy to discuss your needs and offer a solution.

When your hot water tank fails with a bang, a whimper, or even a flooded floor – it tends to go all of a sudden.

At that point of time you generally do not have the luxury of carefully considering the available hot water system options to you, unless of course you enjoy cold showers for an extended period of time.

But what if you were missing out on a better hot water system?

Inline Plumbing & Electrical qualified and professional team at Inline Plumbing & Electrical will be able to effectively guide you about the different types of hot water plumbing service and their pros and cons. They will help you choose a brand and the right size of hot water system for your household.

Contact Inline Plumbing & Electrical today for all your repairs and maintenance. Pay upfront and all your problems will be solved. Call us today 1300 465 463 and book!

By carrying out regular maintenance, you get to prolong the life of your hot water unit. Some kinds of repairs like the replacement of the pressure-relief valve or the heating elements are way too simple.

If in the event though that your water tank has a leak and is coincidentally older than 8 to 12 years, you would better off acquire a new heater. Do follow these troubleshooting tips to solve the electric or gas heater issues to know how long a water heater ideally ought to last.

Generally speaking, most manufacturers estimate the lifespan of their water heaters to be between 8 to 12 years. This timing, however, differs with regards to the location of use and the design of the specific unit, the quality of the installation, quality of water, and the maintenance schedule.

In case the water heater you have is older than 10 years, sustains some leaks around the base of the tank, or works erratically or sometimes not at all, you should look for a substantive replacement. Before you embark on the process though, be sure that any electrical issue such as a blown fuse or the tripped breaker is not the root cause of the problem of the failure of the unit.

TROUBLESHOOTING COMMON PROBLEMS

Start off by tightening the various connections on the water heater. By far the most common sign of a faulty water heater is the fact that the water dispensed may not be as hot as should be. This may often arise as a result of a defective thermostat or heating element.

If this is the case, check out the following issues:

Electric water heater
• Be sure that there is a water connection
• Reset the thermostat
• Flush the water to get rid of any sediments from the tank
• Enclose the hot water pipes
• Replace the thermostat or the heating elements
• Raise the temperature settings of the thermostat

Gas water heater
• Ensure that the gas is connected
• Switch on the pilot light
• Flush out the water to rid the tank of any sediments
• Wrap the hot water pipes
• Clean the gas burner thoroughly
• Replace the thermocouple which shuts off the gas supply automatically in case the gas flame goes out
• Increase the temperature settings on the thermostat

Other common problems and issues
• Hiss or sizzles – This may be brought about by the accumulation of the sediments in the tank. To combat the problem, drain the tank until you are left with clear water. Get rid of the elements and soak them in a pan that is full of water. Pour some vinegar into the water and leave for around one hour. Finish off by scraping the scales that are left behind.
• The pressure-relief valve that leaks – Simply replace the valve
• Water supply pipes that leak – Tighten the fittings. If this does not yield the required outcomes, shut off the water inflow and replace the various fittings.

The Maintenance of the Water Heater

Most modern water heaters are designed and constructed in such a manner as to demand little to no maintenance at all.

This notwithstanding, the following maintenance tips may prolong the lives of the water heaters nonetheless:
• Clear out the water heater at least twice each year. This eliminates all the sediments that may have accumulated and which are responsible for corrosion. This initiative also enhances the efficacy of the water heater as a whole.
• Gauge the pressure-relief valve. Do this by lifting its handle and letting the same to snap back in place. A burst of water of water should ideally ensue into the overflow drain pipe. If this does not happen, fix in place a new valve.
• Reduce the temperature setting of the thermostat to around 120°F. This diminishes the possible damages to the tank which chiefly arises as the result of overheating.

Maintain a Water Heater when Replacement is Inevitable

In case you are replacing a water heater, kindly use the same kind of unit. You should, however, consider fixing upgrades rather than the same kind of unit. For instance, you may contemplate increasing or reducing the holding capacity of the unit for the sake of accommodating a changing family. You may even choose to go tankless altogether.

Before embarking on the process of repairing or purchasing a new heater, be sure to skim the nameplate that is embedded on the side of the present unit. You will obtain some insightful pieces of information such as the capacity of the tank, the guidelines of installation, the insulation R-value, working pressure, serial number, and the model information. In case you possess an electric heater, its nameplate will also indicate the wattage and the voltage rating of the heating elements.

If you are not getting hot water, it could be a damaged heating element, but water on the floor means you’ll need a new tank.

The data Label on your current tank has size and energy specifications which are helpful to know when buying a new water heater
First, check your home’s water pressure with the pressure gauge on your outdoor {inaudible word at 0:00:25 } 50-60 psi is ideal. If psi is higher than 80, you can lower it with a pressure reducing valve installed after the main water shut off.

An inline pressure gauge and a thermal expansion tank are good to have too. The expansion tank helps alleviate excess pressure in the lines. You can install an expansion tank easily with push fit fittings. They simply slide under the pipe no sautéring needed and to remove use the simple removal tool.

If you decide to solder, de-bar and clean in the pipes and fittings, apply soldering paste and assemble. Then heat the fitting and solder. The expansion tank pressure must be the same as the main water pressure.

Use a hand air pump to increase the pressure or depress the valve to lower it. To remove the old water heater, turn off the electricity at the circuit breaker check that the power is off with a voltage detector.

Use tape to mark out how the wires are connected and disconnect. Open a tap on hot and let it run until the water is cool.

Now shut off the cold water supply and connect a garden horse to the drain valve. Open the valve and empty the tank into buckets or a drain. Opening a hot water tap can help the tank drain faster.When the tank is empty, remove the discharge pipe from the temperature and pressure relief valve ( T & P relief valve)

Disconnect the water supply pipes, if you have to cut them, leave them as long as possible, then remove the old tank. To install the new tank, Set it in a drain pan. Avoid possible flooding by {Inaudible word at 00:02:22} to a drain. The T&P relief valve opens when temperature and pressure are too high. Install the discharge pipe on the valve to direct the water toward the drain.

If you do not have a drain, place a bucket under the pipe and cut the pipe to no more than 6 inches above the bucket. Hooking up the water is easy with a flexible horse kit, and its recommended for earthquake safety.

Apply plumbers tape on the threads of the heat trap and attach the horses. Some areas require dialectric fittings to reduce corrosion between two different metals. Add plumbers tape to the connector body threads. Secure it to the horse, then hold the horse up to the pipe, it should have a little slack. Mark and cut the pipe.

Remove the bars and slide the compression nut onto the pipe. Push the pipe into the fitting and tighten the nut. If required by code, install seismic straps to help prevent earthquake damage.

They brace the water tank against the wall, to avoid toppling over. Next, remove the aerator from the nearest tap, and open the hot side. Turn on the cold water supply and check your connections for leaks. If everything is good, continue filling the tank. When water runs from the tap , the tank is full. Let it run for about 3 minutes to empty air out of the tank.

The tank must be completely full before connecting the wiring to avoid dry firing, which ruins the heating elements. To connect the wiring, remove the junction box cover and attach the ground wire to the green ground screw. Using the previous connections as a guide.

Twist the wires together with wire connectors, replace the cover, and turn on the power. If you do not have power, turn off the circuit breaker and check your connections.

Follow your manufacturer’s operational instructions. It might take several hours to initially heat the water. 120 degrees celsius is recommended. After a few hours, check the discharge pipe. A dripping pipe usually means that the pressure is too high.

Turn it down below 80 psi. Also, if a tap stops working after installation, take out the aerator and clean it and then run hot water to remove loose sediment and now you will be able to enjoy hot water for many years.

If you are thinking about replacing your water heater you might ask, is a tankless water heater the right choice for you? Depending on your household and priorities, a tankless water heater has specific advantages over traditional water heaters which may make it the perfect choice.

Never run out of hot water again

A tankless hot water heater works by heating water on demand. When a hot water tap is turned on, water is instantly heated by a gas burner or an electric heating element. If you have family members that like to take really long showers, (or if you like to take long showers) worrying about running out of hot water would be a thing of the past.

Since a tankless system is just that, you no longer have to wait for the tank to fill up with hot water before using it. Also, if you have a giant bathtub that never seems to fill up entirely with hot water, a tankless water heater is definitely something to look into.

More compact than traditional counterparts

The potential need for more than one water heater makes the relatively small size of tankless water heaters a serious advantage. They take up significantly less space than water heaters with tanks, meaning that you do not have to sacrifice precious garage space. Some used for supplemental purposes (sometimes called booster units) are even small enough to fit under a sink!

This can come in handy if you are considering a tankless water heater as a booster for a remote bathroom that may take a long time to have hot water delivered because of its distance from the traditional water heater.

More energy efficient

As we mentioned, purchasing a tankless water heater is an investment for most families. The rate at which you will save money depends on your hot water consumption and whether you have a gas or electric water heater. Either way, there is a definite ROI in the form of decreased utility bills and the desirability of the feature should your home go on the market.

Years of Lifespan

You can count on a traditional storage tank water heater lasting you about 10 years. On the other hand, a tankless water heater should keep you bathing comfortably for a whopping 20 years.

So despite the higher initial costs, in the long run, a tankless water heater may end up costing you less money, especially if you calculate the value of the time you have to invest each time you replace a water heater.

Maintenance

Tankless water heaters must be maintained regularly to prolong their life. They must be flushed and cleaned, doing so every month is ideal. Along with flushing them out, the filters must be changed often and the system drained completely as well. If you do not mind taking the time to do these extra maintenance steps, then a tankless heater is a good option.

Still wondering if a tankless water heater is right for you? Contact us today. One of our professional plumbers will talk you through any questions you might have and make a recommendation. Life’s too short to take cold showers!