Hot Water Services

• Like for Like Replacements for hot water systems are common jobs for plumbers but there are occasions where we are not allowed to replace and old system at its current location.
• Watch Richard explain as gas fitters in Perth why and some of the rules around the location of where gas hot water systems need to be placed.
• See where the new hot water system has been installed and how it’s reconnected up. You will get a good understanding of what is involved and why sometimes plumbers need to quote for extra works and parts needed even if you’re replacing your hot water system with the exact same model. 

Hot Water System – Straight Swap?

Todays job was originally to replace the a hot water system as a straight swap over.  Top dog Richard arrived at the property and noticed right away that the current system was in an illegal position. As gas fitters, there are specific requirements to adhere to when installing new hot water systems, even if one already exists, and the works of gas fitters are also checked which is a good thing to keep consistency and safety for the industry and our customers.

At this property, there’s only one openable side for the system as opposed to the normal requirement which is two.  It looks like that the system was installed years ago and later on when the owner added an outdoor area it blocked the other openable side.  It is very important that hot water systems are placed in well-ventilated areas. This will ensure that the combustible gases escape safely into the open air and into the atmosphere.  The gases that the system releases have carbon monoxide which is harmful to our bodies.  This gas is colourless, odourless and tasteless so a person would not even know that they are already breathing it until they either pass out or be the cause of death.

Relocating the New Hot Water System

Richard identifies an ideal location for the new hot water system and finds an external wall not too far from the original site which means he will not have a hard time in terms of re-piping.  The new location has two openable sides and he also made sure that the measurements are followed according to the legal standards. This is following 500mm on all sides from corners, wall edges, windows, eaves and the floor.

All The Gear & Every Idea

One visit is all it takes to complete the hot water installation. No need for multiple trips because we made sure that our vans are equipped with high-quality materials, such as pipes, fittings and valves and advanced equipment to make sure that as much as possible our work is “done in one”.  The new system is installed in a new location compliant to the legal standards and safe for the client to use. All in a hot summer’s day work!

• Servicing your hot water system should be a routine exercise like servicing your car
• We were called out for a major service. Check out what happens when we do a tank flush.
• Learn what needs to be done when a plumber services your hot water system
• Check out more of our VLOGs & don’t forget to like and subscribe!

In today’s video, one of our top dogs, Richard, is on the mission to revive a hot water system by replacing its eroded anodes. Most people underestimate the process of maintaining their hot water systems. There’s a general assumption that replacing anodes once every 2-3 years will suffice to maintain the quality and life of the hot water system, but this is an oversimplification and doesn’t provide ideal results.

The Tank Flush

To our Plumbdogs, hot water maintenance alone is not simply replacing sacrificial anodes. Flushing the tank to remove the anode sediment at the bottom of the tank means that you are bathing in quality water and prevents blocking your tap filters around the house.

The anodes work as a life support system for the tanks. They are made of magnesium, which reacts with the impurities to save the tank from any infection that might cause harm or depletion. The sacrifice that these anodes make result in their periodic reduction, which at the end settles at the bottom of the tank in the form of powdered magnesium.

To maintain the tank’s smooth functioning, it is vital to timely replace these anodes as and when they wear off. The anodes work as a shield to preserve the tank’s quality by enduring the destruction of the impurities.

Over the period, the impurities keep on scoring at the base of the container, making it a severe cause of concern. With time these deposits become dangerous as they attack the bottom part of the tank and become a cause of corrosion.

Replacing Sacrificial Anodes

Plumbdog Rich shows us what’s involved with replacing the worn-out anodes from the tank with the new ones to keep the tank’s condition intact.

He removes the anodes from the top of the container and shows us how the old anodes have been exhausted and totally broken down. All of the magnesium has broken down rod over time and the residue remains sitting in the bottom of the tank.

In the next step, Richard performs a tank flush to get the flush out the residue. Check out how the entire floor is covered anode sediment. For those who have not done a proper service or have called in those who simply replace the anode and move on to the next job, after watching the video you can easily see the damage that could be caused if more sediment built up to the hot water system and the quality of the water to your home.

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• Have you noticed a rumbling or popping noise from your hot water system before?
• Most people think it’s just a normal sound since the water is boiling
• Did you know that the quality of your water could be greatly reduced because of your hot water system?

Have You Heard your Hot Water System Making a Popping or Rumbling Noise?

There’s a good chance that you’ve heard your hot water system making some rumbling sounds. There’s probably also a good chance that you didn’t think much about it because that’s what happens when water boils right? If that’s the case then it’s best to read on.

The sound might be caused due to the accumulation of minerals like magnesium in the bottom of the tank. When you use the hot water system or heater for a longer time, the magnesium rod that is present inside the unit starts to degrade due to the hot water. The mineral particles get loose from the rod and get accumulated in the bottom of the bank making the noise and warm air comes out constantly if you want to replace the magnesium rod and reduce the rumbling noise, better to hire the professional plumbers who have years of experience in this field.

Why Hiring Plumber From Plumbdog Plumbing Is The Best Choice?

Professional Perth Plumbers like Plumbdog Plumbing (did you like that tongue twister?) are one of the most trusted and reputed plumbing service providers having an experienced plumbing team using the latest skills and techniques that will help in repairing your hot water systems, block drains, gas plumbing, general plumbing services, water leak detection and more. We like to say that we have “All the Gear and Every Idea!”

Sediment Build-Up Will Affect the Water Heater System

A small amount of build-up wont make any difference. However, a large amount of sediment will surely make the difference to the functioning of a hot water system. A deep layer of sediment accumulated at the bottom of the heater tank can create the following issues-

1. Slows down the transfer of water causing the water heater to get overheated. The overheating of the system can damage the lining of the hot water system and weaken the steel tank, which will cause further leaking of the tank.
2. If you are using the electric water heater, the sediment can cover the electric heating rod that causes the rod to burn out later, causing the popping sound.
3. Too much sediment will displace the water in the tank; it means that you do not have any available hot water in the tank.
4. Lowering the water heating capacity. Thus it will increase the water heating bills.

These are some of the issues that are caused by the accumulation of sediments in the hot water system. If you notice any one of these above-discussed issues, you can surely hire the expert plumber who will provide the best services to clear the sediment and clear the dirt from the hot water system. If the sediments and mineral accumulation is removed in the right manner, there will be no further sound coming out from the heater.

In the plumbing industry, the rumbling or popping noise is called ‘kettling’ and this indicates that your hot water system needs major service. In this type of scenario, our obedient Plumbdog plumber will visit your location, replace sacrificial anodes and complete a tank flush to remove the anode residues.

In the video, our obedient Plumbdog shows that the magnesium rod present inside the hot water system as the sacrificing rod will slowly degrade and the magnesium gets accumulated in the bottom of the heater. The rod gets replaced, and the hot water system is thoroughly cleaned.

• Common hot water problem – There’s low pressure from the hot water system and the water isn’t very hot. 
• Common cause – The hot water system has been left there doing its thing for years without a major hot water service or any maintenance at all. 
• Watch our local Perth Plumber, Top Dog Richard, at work on a property in Thornlie, Western Australia
• Check out more of our VLOGs & don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

On the job today, our customer is facing trouble getting hot water with a steady flow. The hot water system is a Rheem Stellar 360 gas water heater, manufactured in 2012. There’s no service sticker on the heater, which means it most likely hasn’t been serviced at all since installation.

The Tempering Valve

In a hot water system, the tempering valve is responsible for delivering the perfect hot water to 50 degrees inside the house. The valve mixes the right portion of hot and cold water to strike the ideal balance and prevents the user from burning due to water overheating.

The tempering valve installed on this property is calcified, suggesting it has been worn out, which is an excellent sign as it has done a fair job all these years. But to maintain the smooth functioning of the hot water system, you ought to replace it once every five years.

Taking his thorough investigation forward, the next thing that Richard checks is the water isolation valve, which on turning on, makes a rumbling noise that implies the overdue of the tank’s major service. This sound is the sign of complete degradation of magnesium anodes, which also means that there is most likely sediment in the base of the tank.

Other Checks

Examining the water isolation valve, cold relief valve and hot relief valve, all else appears ok.

Our obedient Plumbdog goes inside and checks the water temperature using the thermometer, which reads 43 degrees, seven degrees below the desired temperature. The flow of the water, too, is not up to the mark.

Fixing the Hot Water Issue

The ideal way of addressing this issue from the root is by opening the water heater and replacing the degraded anodes with new ones. The replacement and service is a costlier option but recommended for longevity of the hot water system. Due to budget constraints on the costumer’s end, we have a fix that won’t dig a massive burn in the pocket but our customer is still aware of the consequences of not performing a major service.

Note: because this a quick fix, there’s a fair amount of possibility of residue being stuck inside the valve with the residue already sitting in the tank. This fix could last a long time or it could quickly get blocked up again.

Warning

The tempering valve does a great job at regulating water temperature and stops the residents from getting scalded. The water in the house may be very hot but it’s not hot enough to cause and harmful damage.

We always recommend hiring a professional to do the job. Not only are we qualified and experienced with the right tools for the job, we are also insured and are aware of the consequences to each part of the process.

If you are keen to try replacing the tempering valve on your own, be especially aware that the water directly from your tank is much hotter than the water that comes out of the tap in your home. It can cause severe burns and as you can see from the video, hot water can continue to flow from the tank depending which system you have.

Final Check

Richard goes back inside the house and checks if the water is adequately heated. On checking, the thermometer reads precisely 50 degrees, which is the desired result, and the flow of the water has improved considerably.

If you face a similar issue at your place and need a Plumber in Perth, then do not wait any longer and give us a whistle! Our Plumbdogs will fix your plumbing problems using the knowledge of their expertise. We pride ourselves in being genuine maintenance plumbing specialists. Not only do we have all the gear and every idea, our specialist services also include water leak detection and repairs and finding and fixing blocked drains.