Hot Water Talk Archives - Page 6 of 15

Posted on August 2, 2018August 3, 2022 by k yhp

Rinnai Discontinues INFINITY Composite Recess Box

Rinnai Corporation, leading manufacturer of tankless gas water heaters, announces the discontinuation of its INFINITY™ composite recess box (R1406).

The composite recess box was introduced as an affordable alternative to the metal recess box designed for housing some units from the INFINITY™ range. Composite products are known for being incredibly strong and corrosion resistant, making them perfect for external applications. Despite this, the Rinnai NZ team explains that demand for the composite recess box is low, hence their decision for its discontinuation.

Meanwhile, the metal recess box will continue to be available.

INFINITY^TM Metal Recess Box

The Rinnai metal recess box allows you to virtually hide your INFINITY^TM unit, pipe work and power supply into a cavity, ensuring a smooth and neat finish to the job.

It allows a continuous flow gas water heater to be partially or fully recessed into an external wall, unlike the composite recess box which can only be semi recessed. The composite recess box is also not suitable for fire rated walls. These are probably why the metal recess box proved to be a more popular option.

Constructed of folded galvanised steel and powder coated white, the metal recess box can easily be painted to match or complement the exterior cladding. It is suitable for the following external Rinnai INFINITY gas water heaters:

R1405 recess box:

A-Series: A16-A26 (current range)
VT16-VT26 (discontinued)
XR16-XR26 (discontinued)
V16-V24 (discontinued)

R1407 recess box:

EF24 (current model)
HD200 (current model)
HD250 (current model)
XR32 (discontinued)

Installing a metal recess box

The INFINITY^TM metal recess box is ideal for new builds or major renovations as it needs to be installed during the framing stage, i.e. before the internal linings, claddings or building wrap are applied.

The Rinnai continuous flow gas water heaters are designed for external installation, and thus your metal recess box must be located in an above ground, open-air situation. The area must have natural ventilation, where flue gases are safely expelled and rapidly dispersed by wind and natural convection.

Generally, it can be mounted on any vertical structure with water and gas connections and enough clearance for the pipe work. You can install it on an outside wall below eaves, balconies and other areas, but you might want to reconsider siting it near bedrooms since water heaters inside a recess box operates at a slightly louder level than units located externally. In most cases, the metal recess box is better located near the kitchen where there is a high demand for instant hot water.

In addition to general clearances, you need to consider your local building codes regarding this type of installation. To make sure your INFINITY^TM water heater is compliant and installed properly, consult a licensed gasfitter familiar with the system prior to installation.

For Rinnai installation advice and consultation, you may call us at 0800 TEAM EURO. For more information about the Rinnai metal recess box and gas water heaters, click here.

Posted on July 2, 2018August 3, 2022 by k yhp

How Water Cylinder Theft And How To Prevent It

Did you know that hot water cylinders are a target of theft? To most people, the thought of someone stealing your hot water cylinder would be ludicrous. But it is no joke, and hot water cylinder thefts continue to rise.

Cylinder Thefts And The Resulting Problems
The main target of hot water cylinder thefts are older low pressure hot water cylinder units which contain a large amount of copper. Copper fetches a significant price over metals like steel at scrap metal merchants, as high as $7.40 per kg, which means a 180L cylinder could be worth as much as $74, placing these cylinders containing copper at the top of the list for thieves.

However, the theft of the cylinder is not the only problem. When these thefts occur, the thieves are not exactly overly concerned about what state the property is left in, and as such usually take the quickest route to removing the cylinder which involves quickly sawing or ripping pipes, letting the cylinder drain onto the floor and then removing the cylinder by force. This causes a substantial amount of damage, not only to the pipework and the area surrounding the cylinder, but extending into the rest of the house due to the flooding.

Primary targets have been older homes which are under renovation or construction and are easier to access, not occupied and are likely to have an old cylinder about. Boarded up unused houses and houses which look to have been unoccupied for a while (such as when the occupants go on holiday) are also common targets.

However, due to these thefts, it is required by law to produce ID when selling scrap metal to a metal dealer. This makes it more difficult for thieves to sell the scrap once they’ve taken it, and acts as a deterrent to minimise the amount of theft that is happening.

How To Protect Yourself
There are steps you can take to minimise the risk of your hot water cylinder being targeted by thieves. One of the best steps you can take is to make your property look occupied, even if you are going away. This could involve having a friend clear out your letterbox regularly, leaving an old car parked in the driveway or leaving a light or two on to seem like someone is home. Thieves usually target vacant homes when going for cylinders, so if it looks like someone is home it will minimise the chance that they will try your home. Always have a friend or family member check on your home regularly to ensure it is secure while you are away.

Other measures you can take include making sure your cylinder is securely strapped into its installed position. This makes removal much more difficult, and is likely to put off opportunists. For home owners with instantaneous gas water heating units installed outside, there are brackets and cages which you can install on the unit to make removal next to impossible.

Luckily, modern mains pressure hot water cylinders are usually either stainless steel or enamel, which makes them much less of a target for theft than the older low pressure copper cylinders. While this does not guarantee that your home won’t be targeted, it certainly means that the reward is far smaller and will make the break in much less worthwhile.

Always Report Theft
If you have been a victim of theft, it is always important to report it to the police, even if you believe the damage is insignificant or you believe that they won’t be able to help. Reporting crimes helps to paint a bigger picture, allowing the police to see how prevalent the problem actually is and treat it as a priority. It can lead to an investigation which could result in the apprehension of the culprit. It will also help with insurance claims, as a police report can help with the process of filing a claim.

If you would like assistance in securing your water heater or have questions about how you can prevent theft from your property, contact us today.

Posted on May 20, 2018August 3, 2022 by k yhp

We Have Hot Water Cylinders for Sale!

Gas heaters can be found in many homes in Auckland. These heating systems often use hot water cylinders to ensure copious amounts of hot water are stored and available on demand. There are a number of things to consider when choosing a hot water cylinder for your home, i.e. capacity, efficiency, cost effectiveness and suitability to your boiler system.

Types of Hot Water Cylinders

There are two main types of cylinders:

Unvented Cylinders. These work off the cold water main pressure, providing hot water on demand. Since they operate without a feeder tank, unvented cylinders free up space in your loft and allows you to install the cylinder anywhere around your home.

Generally constructed with top quality stainless steel, unvented cylinders have long lifespan and high durability with manufacturer’s warranty that range up to 25 years.

Since they operate at higher pressure than traditional vented units, unvented systems require additional safety features and need to be installed by boiler specialists. This adds up to the installation costs.

Vented Cylinders. These copper tanks are fed cold water from the mains feed and use gravity to drive water through the pipes to the home’s heating system. They are suitable for use with standard heat only boilers. A vent pipe connects the cylinder and the cold water in the header tank.

Vented hot water cylinders are less complicated than vented systems, which means they are easier to install and maintain.

Other types of hot water cylinders come in both vented and unvented systems:

Direct Systems

In direct systems, an internal element (usually an immersion heater) heats the water in the cylinder directly. The heated water is fed out the top of the cylinder and supplied to the outlet (i.e. a shower or a tap) on demand.

Direct cylinders are an electric only option and are normally used when no central heating is installed, such as in flats and apartments.

Indirect Systems

As the name suggests, indirect cylinder systems heat water indirectly via an external heat source such as a gas boiler or solar thermal. An immersion heater is typically fitted as a direct backup or supplementary heat source. This ensures you have a steady flow of hot water even when your boiler is broken.

Indirect gas heaters particularly heat up and recover faster, making them a cost effective option. If you want to save cash without compromising performance or efficiency, you can always switch to gas cylinders any time.

We offer Best Price Guarantee!

Just as not all hot water cylinders are created equal, not all varieties are priced the same. Think your quote is cheap? Try Us!

We carry a wide selection of hot water cylinders from leading brands including: