Example of the installation of an electric storage hot water system
This article talks you through an example of the installation of an electric hot water system.
In this particular example the customer had an existing 315 litre single element hot water system.
The hot water tank was 9+ years old and was found to be leaking from the top of the cylinder. As the tank had exploded, and given it’s age, it was determined that it was in definite need of replacement.
The professional and experienced plumber from Inline Plumbing quickly concluded, based on the fact that all hot water heater’s last only ten years, replacing the unit was economically more sensible rather than repairing it.
Thus a new electric hot water system was agreed upon, and needed to be installed, as a matter of urgency.
In this case, the client wanted to keep things simple, and therefore opted for a straightforward like for like hot water system replacement in order to keep the up-front costs to a minimum.
One advantage of hot water systems lasting around just 10 years is that when the hot water tank eventually breaks down, this gives you the opportunity to replace it with a different type of hot water heater. (A typical example being, the replacement of an existing electric storage water heater for a new gas continuous flow unit.)
Step 1 :- Coordinate delivery of new hot water system with installer being on site
The hot water installer, upon receiving all the necessary details from the customer, was then in a position to order the new water heater together with new brass fittings and valves.
Once a delivery to the site was organised for the new 315 litre hot water tank, fittings and valves, the hot water tank installer was then, simultaneously, able to drain and disconnect the existing tank.
This close coordinating of the delivery of the new water heater, together with the draining and disconnecting of the old tank, can turn out to be a great time saver. So, rather than waiting for his delivery to arrive, the old tank was appropriately put to one side, as described above, in readiness for the arrival of the delivery, shortly after.
Step 2 :- Installation of new hot water system
The next task for the installer was to trolley the new 315 litre tank to exactly the same outdoor position as the existing, at the side of the house.
Part of the new installation of the tank includes the adjustment of pipe-work for both the cold water inlet and the hot water outlet. It is absolutely crucial that these new connections to the hot water system are made with the utmost of vigilance and professionalism.
This being due to the need to prevent undesirable leakages from occurring after completion of the job. So far, the old unit had been disconnected and the new water heater carefully and precisely positioned into place. Also, the new tank had been hooked-up with all the necessary brass fittings and copper pipe-work.
The fittings and pipe for this part of the installation included all necessary brass fittings, plumbers tape and copper pipe. Install a new tempering valve Now that the bulk of the installation was complete, the next part of the process was to fit the required valves to the water heater, that were essential to this installation.
The first valve being the compulsory installation of a tempering valve or, as it is sometimes referred to, a thermostatic mixing valve.
This anti-scolding device is installed as a safety precaution, whereby the temperature of the hot water is ultimately, set to 50 degrees. Install a new pressure limiting valve and non-return isolating valve In addition to the tempering valve, the customer also had a pressure limiting valve and a non-return isolating valve fitted.
As the name suggest the “pressure limiting valve” controls and regulates the water pressure being received from the hot water unit. This is important as this valve could even prevent a leak from occurring. The non-return isolating valve or duo valve (as it is sometimes called) simply controls the flow of water from the tank. So, the 3 valves fitted to the water heater, each have their own function in providing for a successful outcome in relation to the workings of your hot water system.
Step 3: – Test all connections
The installer was now ready to test all connections, and that both he and the customer were satisfied with the result. Of course, it was only after a few hours of completing the installation, that the customer was able to witness her first dose of hot water from the new tank. Remove and dispose of old tank Lastly, the installer had arranged, in advance, for the removal and disposal of the old tank from site.
A company, well versed in the supply and installation of this and other types of hot water systems are Inline Plumbing. In actual fact they have fast become leaders in the field of both hot water replacements and repairs.
They are fully accredited with all the major hot water manufacturers, including Rheem, Dux and Rinnai, and they have won a Rheem award. In so doing, they have also become the preferred installers for Rheem and other major manufacturers.
