Hot water is an essential part of our daily routine, and we often take it for granted until something goes wrong. If you’re experiencing issues with your hot water cylinder, don’t worry; there are usually straightforward solutions to fix the problem. In this article, we’ll explore some common hot water faults and how to identify them.

Instant Hot Water Heaters

Instant hot water heaters are a popular choice for many households as they provide hot water on demand. However, they can also experience faults that can disrupt your hot water supply. Here are some common issues to check for:

• No power to the unit: If your instant hot water heater has no power, it won’t be able to produce hot water. Check that the unit is plugged in and that there is the power to the socket.
• Reduced water flows: If you’re experiencing reduced water flow, this could be due to blockages in the diffusers or in-line strainers. Clean these out to improve water flow.
• Run out of gas: If you’re using LPG gas, check if you’ve run out. If so, replace the cylinder to restore your hot water supply.

Gas Cylinders

Gas cylinders are another popular option for heating hot water. However, there are some common faults that you should check for:

• Pilot flame is blown out: If the pilot flame has blown out, relight it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Water leaking onto the burner or pilot flame: If water is leaking onto the burner or pilot flame, this can cause it to go out. Check for any leaks and repair them if necessary.
• Gas meter shut off: If the gas meter has been shut off, your hot water cylinder won’t be able to produce hot water. Check that the meter is on and functioning correctly.

Electric Hot Water Cylinders

Electric hot water cylinders are a reliable option for heating water, but they can also experience faults. Here’s what to check for:

• Element: If the element has failed, the hot water cylinder won’t be able to heat the water. Check for any signs of damage or wear and replace them if necessary.
• Thermostat: If the thermostat isn’t working correctly, it can cause the hot water cylinder to overheat or not heat the water at all. Check the temperature settings and replace the thermostat if necessary.
• Fuse: If the fuse has blown, the hot water cylinder won’t be able to function correctly. Replace the fuse with a new one.
• Strainers: Check the strainers for any blockages, as this can affect the flow of hot water.

Renovation Work

If you’ve recently had any renovation work done in your home, this could cause your hot water faults. Check that all pipes and connections are secure and that no damage has been done to the hot water cylinder during the renovation work.

Conclusion

In conclusion, identifying hot water faults can be simple if you know what to look for. By checking these common issues, you can often diagnose and fix the problem without the need for a professional. However, if you’re unsure or unable to fix the fault, it’s always best to seek advice from qualified professionals such as Hot Water Cylinders NZ.

If your hot water is not heating up or is not reaching the temperature you’re expecting, it may be time to replace your hot water cylinder. Hot water cylinders use a sealed system of water that heats up as it passes through the metal coils. Over time, this system can become corroded and damaged, which can lead to a decrease in the heat output of your cylinder and a decrease in the temperature of your water. If you’re experiencing any of these problems, it’s important to get your cylinder replaced as soon as possible. Cylinders can be replaced relatively easily and cheaply, and repairs can be done in a matter of minutes. So don’t wait – get in touch with our team today to find out more about replacement cylinders and repairs.

 

The hot water cylinders in your home can last anywhere from 10 to 30 years, so it’s important to keep an eye on the date and make sure you’re ready to replace them when the time comes. Hot water cylinders are typically replaced every 10 to 15 years, but it’s always a good idea to check with your provider to make sure you’re getting the most up-to-date information. In addition, repairs and replacements for hot water cylinders can be expensive, so it’s always a good idea to budget for them in advance. So if you’re like most people, you probably don’t want to know about the date – but you definitely want to be prepared for when it does arrive.

We get many phone calls and emails from people asking, “What is the best hot water cylinder”?

The quick answer is, there is no quick answer.

This blog could end up being thousands of pages long

In principle, this answer is not brand-driven but rather situation driven.

These situations consist of

• Residential applications
• Commercial applications
• Efficiency applications
• How many people are in your household?

 

Let’s explain.

 

Residential applications

If you only have two people in your household, sure you can get a “standard” 180L hot water cylinder. But this would be wasteful as you would never truly use all the hot water that cylinder provides and beyond that, you will be spending a lot more on energy costs heating up more hot water that you won’t use!

You would be much better off with a gas instantaneous unit instead, this unit is designed to only heat hot water when you use it. Because you only have 2 showers a day and run the kitchen and bathroom occasionally, you will only use gas when you need it.

These units as you can imagine are ideal for holiday homes. You visit the Bach a couple of times a year, normally when you arrive you’ve got to wait a couple of hours for the water to heat up. With an instantaneous unit, just hook up the gas bottle and turn on the electrical switch. Instant hot water straight away.

A 3–4-person household:

If you have 3-4 people in your household, your standard-size hot water cylinder of 180 litres such as a Rheem 180 would be your ideal solution as you would use most of the hot water of that cylinder and you wouldn’t be heating water that you don’t use.

 

However, if you have 5 or more people in your household, you’ll need more hot water. A gas hot water cylinder such as a Rheem Stellar would be most beneficial for your situation for energy consumption. Gas has the power to produce a great amount of energy in a short amount of time. Instead of 160 litres that the cylinder holds, it produces 300 litres in the first hour.

 

Commercial applications

 

Commercial properties undeniably require a lot of hot water and for this, you need a stronger unit. A Rinnai HD250 is designed for higher hot water demand such as hotels, nail salons and restaurants. These units are excellent for producing great amounts of hot water for busy business applications and again, it only uses hot water when you need it.

Efficiency applications

 

There are options to get more efficiency out of hot water. There are solar options that harness the power from the sun to heat up your hot water – at no cost.

You can get cylinder blankets that are wrapped around the cylinder to keep in as much heat within the cylinder as possible.

Insulating the hot water pipework is also an option to efficiently keep more heat from escaping away into the atmosphere. Much like the cylinder blanket, it’s wrapped around the pipework and acts the same way as a heat barrier.