Cold Showers Be Gone! Your Essential Guide to Hot Water Systems
Avoid waking up to a cold shower this winter by learning what to look for when maintaining your hot water unit
Hot water units are one of plumbing’s best inventions, and they’ve made it easy for home owners to have hot water run at the turn of a tap. This convenience can often be taken for granted, but there is nothing worse than waking up on a cold winter’s morning to find you have no hot water for your morning shower.
There can be myriad reasons why your hot water unit may not be working, but I will explain some of the common issues with hot water units, and what you can do as a property owner to prevent waking up to the inconvenience of a cold shower.
There can be myriad reasons why your hot water unit may not be working, but I will explain some of the common issues with hot water units, and what you can do as a property owner to prevent waking up to the inconvenience of a cold shower.
Electric hot water units
The most common hot water unit installation is the electric hot water unit. It’s a tank system that has an element that heats and stores the water for when it’s needed. There can be a number of reasons why you may not have hot water from your electric system. Eight common reasons are:
The most common hot water unit installation is the electric hot water unit. It’s a tank system that has an element that heats and stores the water for when it’s needed. There can be a number of reasons why you may not have hot water from your electric system. Eight common reasons are:
1. The stored hot water has been used up from other members of the household. If this becomes common, look at upgrading your hot water system or get a quote for an instantaneous hot water unit so you will never run out of hot water again.
2. If the hot water flow is weak, the pressure-limiting valve may be faulty. Check if the hot water flow is weak to all fixtures. If it is, it’s time to call a plumber to replace the valve.
3. If the water from the hot tap is cold or lukewarm, the heating element may need to be replaced.
4. If the last member of the household has a shower, and finds there isn’t enough hot water left, the relief valve could be leaking. If you see water dripping constantly out of the relieve valve, it’s time for this to be replaced.
5. The thermostat may be defective. The thermostat monitors the temperature of the water.
6. A leak in your hot water unit can cause a hot water shortage. If you see water pooled around your hot water tank, it’s time to call a plumber.
7. The tempering valve is faulty. The tempering valve ensures the water from your hot water system is tempered to 50°C. If the hot water is lukewarm, the tempering valve may need to be adjusted or replaced.
8. Old age. The expected lifespan of a hot water unit is around 10 to 15 years. If your hot water unit is in this age bracket and you experience loss of hot water, consider whether the costs to fix the hot water unit are better off being put towards the installation of a new unit.
2. If the hot water flow is weak, the pressure-limiting valve may be faulty. Check if the hot water flow is weak to all fixtures. If it is, it’s time to call a plumber to replace the valve.
3. If the water from the hot tap is cold or lukewarm, the heating element may need to be replaced.
4. If the last member of the household has a shower, and finds there isn’t enough hot water left, the relief valve could be leaking. If you see water dripping constantly out of the relieve valve, it’s time for this to be replaced.
5. The thermostat may be defective. The thermostat monitors the temperature of the water.
6. A leak in your hot water unit can cause a hot water shortage. If you see water pooled around your hot water tank, it’s time to call a plumber.
7. The tempering valve is faulty. The tempering valve ensures the water from your hot water system is tempered to 50°C. If the hot water is lukewarm, the tempering valve may need to be adjusted or replaced.
8. Old age. The expected lifespan of a hot water unit is around 10 to 15 years. If your hot water unit is in this age bracket and you experience loss of hot water, consider whether the costs to fix the hot water unit are better off being put towards the installation of a new unit.
Instantaneous gas hot water units
There are many varieties of instantaneous gas hot water units on the market. The age of your unit will help you decipher what needs to be done to get it back up and running again.
If you have no hot water coming from your instantaneous gas hot water unit, here are some checks to make:
1. Check you have gas running to your instantaneous hot water unit. One way to check if you have gas is to light up other gas appliances in your home. If they do light up, the gas supply may not be your issue.
2. Check if the pilot light is on. Some instantaneous gas hot water units will need a manual re-light of the pilot flame, while others may be automatic (electric ignition). If there is power supply to the unit, it will be an electric ignition.
3. Ensure the hot water unit is serviced annually. Instantaneous gas hot water units are prone to carbon build-up inside the unit. If you find the above tips don’t assist with your unit, it’s time to call a plumber
4. Age of the unit. Instantaneous gas hot water units also have a lifespan of between 10 to 15 years. However, I have serviced some Bosch systems that have been going for more than 20 years.
When to Call a Plumber About a Faulty Appliance
There are many varieties of instantaneous gas hot water units on the market. The age of your unit will help you decipher what needs to be done to get it back up and running again.
If you have no hot water coming from your instantaneous gas hot water unit, here are some checks to make:
1. Check you have gas running to your instantaneous hot water unit. One way to check if you have gas is to light up other gas appliances in your home. If they do light up, the gas supply may not be your issue.
2. Check if the pilot light is on. Some instantaneous gas hot water units will need a manual re-light of the pilot flame, while others may be automatic (electric ignition). If there is power supply to the unit, it will be an electric ignition.
3. Ensure the hot water unit is serviced annually. Instantaneous gas hot water units are prone to carbon build-up inside the unit. If you find the above tips don’t assist with your unit, it’s time to call a plumber
4. Age of the unit. Instantaneous gas hot water units also have a lifespan of between 10 to 15 years. However, I have serviced some Bosch systems that have been going for more than 20 years.
When to Call a Plumber About a Faulty Appliance
Solar hot water units
Solar hot water units are not only an energy-efficient way of heating up your water, they can help you save on your power bills. If you find there is no hot water from your solar hot water unit, here are some things to check:
1. Ensure the system is serviced as per the manufacturer’s standards. These generally vary from recommending an annual checkup to every five years. Look at the warranty and check for their recommendations.
2. Check the solar panels are clean. Dirty panels will make the system inefficient.
3. Most solar hot water systems will have a booster system to ensure there is hot water on cloudy days. Check that whatever booster system is installed with your solar hot water system is turned on.
4. If you can’t source the reason for the lack of hot water, you will need to call your plumber. Your plumber will need a solar endorsed license before he or she can service the system.
Solar hot water units are not only an energy-efficient way of heating up your water, they can help you save on your power bills. If you find there is no hot water from your solar hot water unit, here are some things to check:
1. Ensure the system is serviced as per the manufacturer’s standards. These generally vary from recommending an annual checkup to every five years. Look at the warranty and check for their recommendations.
2. Check the solar panels are clean. Dirty panels will make the system inefficient.
3. Most solar hot water systems will have a booster system to ensure there is hot water on cloudy days. Check that whatever booster system is installed with your solar hot water system is turned on.
4. If you can’t source the reason for the lack of hot water, you will need to call your plumber. Your plumber will need a solar endorsed license before he or she can service the system.
The vast variety of hot water units can make it difficult for a plumber to pinpoint the exact cause for a lack of hot water from your existing system. The best way to diagnose the problem is do the checks as detailed in this post and then call your licensed plumber. They will be able to advise the steps necessary to get your system back up and running, or they may suggest the installation of a new system.
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Have you had suffered through cold showers? Tell us about it in the Comments below, and join the conversation.
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Tell us
Have you had suffered through cold showers? Tell us about it in the Comments below, and join the conversation.
More
Find a plumber near you
If you find yourself in the situation of having no hot water, it’s important to find out what kind of system you have installed at your property before you call your plumber. The most common hot water units installed in Australia are an electric hot water storage tank, instantaneous gas hot water unit, and solar hot water systems. You can also get gas storage hot water units and heat pumps, but this story will focus on the three main hot water units most commonly installed.
In some cases, the checks on an electric hot water unit can be done on a heat pump and the checks on an instantaneous hot water unit can be done on a gas storage hot water unit.
Once you’ve ascertained the type of hot water unit you have, here are some things to check.
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