No hot water? Leaking water heater? Call us for fast hot water system repair.
We are the Northern Beaches’ hot water system repair specialists. Below are recent projects we’ve completed for Northern Beaches customers, fixing their water heater to get them back to enjoying trouble-free hot water quickly.
Rheem Loline solar hot water system repair.
We installed a Rheem Loline solar hot water system at this customer’s Belrose home 10+ years ago. Every 5 years we arrange a service of their hot water system to ensure it’s in good working order.
A regular hot water service every 5 years ensures your system continues working safely whilst increasing the longevity of the cylinders, therefore saving you both money and inconvenience of future breakdown. A hot water service call-out usually takes between 30 to 45 minutes and is a small price to pay for peace of mind and trouble-free hot water.
Once onsite at the Northern Beaches property, John performed a series of tests to check the condition of parts and ensure they were in good working order. Below is a summary of the service particulars.
- Attend the Belrose property to service the previously installed Rheem Loline solar hot water system (model: 430SLV).
- Assess the site for safety and take appropriate actions.
- Isolate the solar hot water system from the main power. Re-test the load at system with an external device for safety purposes.
- Inspect anode. Replace with new 1500mm anode. Scroll down for more information about hot water heater anodes.
- Test the TPR. Ascertain it was faulty. Supply and install new 15mm RMC HTE55-1 1000kpa TPR valve.
- Inspect and test the element for correct OHMs reading. No problems found.
- Inspect and test the thermostat for continuity. No problems found.
- Test the pump, glycol levels and sensors. No problems found.
- Recomission the system. Once load re-established, take current reading.
- Clean up the site and remove any associated rubbish.
Important: Your hot water service should be undertaken by a licensed hot water plumber no longer than every five years. If this time period lapses it may result in the manufactures warranty becoming void. Additionally, most manufacturers won’t cover the terms of your hot water system warranty if it isn’t installed or serviced by a licensed hot water technician or qualified hot water plumber. Hot water systems are an expensive appliance so don’t risk voiding your warranty by installing it yourself or employing the services of someone who isn’t licensed.
What is a hot water system anode?
Anodes are steel core rods installed at the top of the hot water tanks during production to prevent rust and corrosion. The rods are surrounded by either magnesium, aluminium or zinc. They have been a staple of hot water heaters for decades and are very useful in preventing water tank damage and regular and expensive replacement costs. Also known as ‘sacrificial anodes’, through electrolysis, the rod will spent instead of the water heater’s exposed steel through a process called electrolysis. It protects the metal from rusting. Electrolysis occurs when the two pieces of submerged metal rod react to a voltage.
Anodes typically last between 3.5 – 5 years. Once the anode has fully corroded it fails to protect the tank which will start to deteriorate. In time, a rusting water heater will cause problems which are typically more expensive to repair than simply replacing the anode. Regular anode replacement ensures your water heater continues to operate as intended and lasts longer therefore saving you money in the long term.
Vulcan electric hot water system repair.
When this Bilgola customer woke up to no hot water, they contacted us immediately for assistance. With a house full of kids and Mum and Dad working full time, they required emergency assistance to get them back enjoying hot water that day. We organised to visit the Northern Beaches home mid-morning.
Once onsite, hot water specialist John inspected the customer’s Vulcan electric hot water heater (model 491315), running a series of tests to determine why the customer had no hot water. The tests uncovered problems with a few parts in the hot water system. As is the case with many hot water heaters, once one part fails, so too do others. It’s a knock-on effect. This was the case with this old Vulcan HWS.
Thankfully, the customer’s trusty old Vulcan hot water system was within economical repair and John was able to replace the faulty TPR valve and anode on the spot.
As Northern Beaches hot water specialists, our trucks are on the road right now, stocked with thousands of spare parts and replacement hot water heaters. One of the benefits of dealing with a hot water specialist company like us, instead of a standard plumber, is our expertise in fixing hot water heaters. Hot water is our business and our job is to ensure our customers are back enjoying trouble-free hot water quickly!
Importantly, we are authorised service and repair technicians for all gas, solar, heat pump, commercial and electric hot water heaters. This ensures your hot water system warranty remains intact.
If your hot water heater needs fixing don’t waste time… call Cheapa Hot Water Northern Beaches for fast hot water system repairs. We are based in Warriewood and service the entire Northern Beaches and surrounding areas.
What does a TPR valve on a water heater do?
The temperature and pressure relief valve (TPR valve) on a hot water system is an important and necessary safety feature with it’s main function being to release excess pressure and temperature from the water heater tank to prevent a catastrophic failure or explosion. As water is heated, it expands, creating pressure within the tank. If the pressure inside the hot water tank becomes too high, the TPR valve automatically opens, releasing the excess pressure to the outside. Additionally, if the water temperature inside the tank becomes too high, the TPR valve will also open to release the excess heat. It is important to ensure that the TPR valve is properly installed and functioning correctly because, as indicated above, failure to do so can result in a dangerous situation.
No gas hot water. Pilot light continually being extinguished.
This Davidson customer contacted us when they returned home from work to lukewarm hot water. Steve organised to visit the home after he had finished the job he was working on.
Once onsite, Steve found an old Rheem gas hot water heater installed in the customer’s downstairs rumpus room. He could see that the pilot light had extinguished.
What is the purpose of the pilot light?
The pilot light inside a gas hot water heater must remain alight at all times. This small flame lights the main burner whenever the water in the tank needs heating. If the pilot light has gone out, then the burner will not ignite, and you will not have hot water. If you run out of hot water, it may be because the pilot flame has gone out and thus there is no way for the main burner to be relit. This could occur for a number of reasons such as strong winds, gas maintenance work carried out in the street or an empty LPG cylinder.
Upon further inspection, Steve discovered that the tank was leaking which was extinguishing the pilot light flame – it wasn’t simply a matter of relighting the pilot light. You can see in the photo above (left) that there is evidence of water at the bottom of the hot water system.
Unfortunately, there is no economical option when it comes to repairing the internal tank of a hot water heater when it starts leaking. It’s just something that can happen over time when the hot water heater gets old and corrosion starts occurring. The most cost-effective solution was to replace the old gas hot water system and install a new one.
The installation of the new system provided an opportunity for the customer to upgrade to a larger storage tank so they could enjoy longer showers and run multiple appliances at the same time without running out of hot water.
Steve carefully emptied the water from the old tank in preparation for its removal. With internal hot water systems, special care needs to be taken during this process. With the old system drained and disconnected, Andrew was able to install the new Rheem Stellar 360 (160 litre / model 850360) back in the same location as the old heater.
Within a few hours, the customer was back enjoying trouble-free hot water, with a larger storage capacity that better accommodated the hot water usage requirements of their growing household.
Important: Internal gas hot water systems require specialist expertise. All Cheapa Hot Water service technicians have the relevant experience and qualifications to repair and install internal gas hot water heaters so it wasn’t a problem for Steve to inspect and repair the hot water system.
Leaking hot water system repair and replacement
We received a call recently from a customer in North Manly whose old Dux electric hot water system was not working. Hot water specialist, Steve, was close by so was able to attend the home within the hour. The customer explained over the phone that there was a fair bit of water pooling around the old hot water system and their hot water temperature was lukewarm.
A leaking hot water system is one of the most common problems we encounter and, when caught early, can prevent extensive damage to property – particularly if the hot water heater is located indoors. Thankfully, this customer’s hot water system was outside so the damage from the leak was minimal.
Once onsite, Steve could see that the leak was worse than the customer had indicated over the phone. The old Dux hot water system had been installed directly onto the soil and it was likely the bottom of the tank had rusted out causing the leak (this was confirmed when Steve removed the tank).
Don’t install a hot water system directly on soil
It is not recommended that a hot water system be installed directly onto the soil. In time, the bottom of the tank will rust out, drastically reducing the lifespan of the tank. Outdoor hot water systems should always be installed on a concrete slab or, if not available, a concrete paver large enough to support the weight and size of the tank.
Unfortunately, this customer’s old water heater was beyond economical repair and needed to be replaced with a new hot water system. Steve discussed with the customer their daily hot water usage requirements and provided several options that would cater to their needs. Since the old hot water system had been installed, the customer’s usage requirements had changed. Young children had grown into teenagers and family from interstate regularly came to stay. The customer explained that they often ran out of hot water. A bigger hot water system was needed.
The customer decided on a new Vulcan 250 litre electric hot water system (model: 6D1250R7). Vulcan hot water systems are part of Rheem’s builders’ range and come with a generous 10 year warranty. They offer high quality and performance at a very affordable price. This model has a 270 litre capacity with a 250-litre hot water delivery and is suitable for large households of 3-5 people.
Within a few hours, the customer was back enjoying trouble free hot water and can be confident that the bottom of the new Vulcan hot water system will not rust out.
FAST HOT WATER SYSTEM REPAIRS
No hot water? Running out of hot water? Leaking water heater? Want to upgrade to a more energy efficient water heater? Our trucks are on the road right now, stocked with thousands of spare parts and replacement hot water heaters, ready to get you back enjoying trouble free hot water quickly. Based in Warriewood, we offer Northern Beaches residents and businesses a fast and reliable hot water repair and replacement service.
Questions? Call to speak to a hot water specialist now for advice you can trust. Note: We don’t use call centres – you’ll speak to a licensed and highly experienced hot water specialist.