Hot Water Services

• In some instances, replacing a Gas Continuous System with another Gas Continuous System might not be the way to go.
• Have you seen a hot water system that has fallen off the wall? Check out the video!
• You can also watch more of our VLOGS here

Why not replace Gas Continuous with another Gas Continuous System?

In this scenario, the existing Continuous Gas Hot Water System installed in the property was undersized. Unfortunately it’s not as simple as replacing with a newer larger system. For this particular job, replacing with a larger continuous gas hot water system means increasing the gas pipe all the way back to the meter. For this property it was quite a distance between the hot water system and the gas meter which would make replacing the whole pipe quite a costly exercise.

The Solution, a Gas Storage Hot Water System

Our skilled Plumbdogs have the skills and ability to think on their paws to find the best solutions for our customers. Rather than replacing the whole pipe which would be costly, we altered the pipes and made changes to install a Gas Storage Hot Water System.

The Video

Our skilled and experienced Plumbdog takes us through the job and does a great job explaining the whys and hows. If you have an existing hot water system that needs to be replaced, this might give you some insights so that you understand what might be required when a plumber starts to talk about why they can or can’t do something with the hot water system.

More importantly, if a plumber simply quotes and tells you that they have to replace the whole pipe for the unit that you have selected, they aren’t necessarily doing the wrong thing. They are only quoting as requested but they might not have shared insights that you may have other options available which could save a lot of time and money.

• A straight swap is as it sounds where you literally replace a like for like hot water unit.
• It isn’t always as straight forward as pulling out the old and connecting the new hot water system. We explain why.
• Compliance and safety are of utmost importance for the household.
• Testing the hot water system properly after installation is equally as important.
• Watch more of our VLOGS here.

Different Types of Hot Water System Installations

There are different types of hot water systems including electric, gas and solar hot water with different options like storage or continuous flow and with a range of brands available and even housing designs, no two jobs are the same.

Because of the different number of scenarios, most plumbing websites advertise prices with installation for what we call ‘straight swaps’ or ‘like for like’ which is the base minimum to get an existing unit replaced without having to install new pipes or any major modifications in order to get the new hot water system installed.

Usually what will happen is:

• Unit is purchased with installation
• Plumber will arrive and check a few things to make sure the new unit can go in.
• If changes are required, then an estimate is provided and payment taken on site for the changes required to get the hot water system installed.

[Note: There may be some scenarios where a straight swap is not permitted. For some properties the location of the hot water system is not compliant with current regulations. You may have seen in our recent blog where a hot water unit was too small for the property. We changed from a gas continuous flow to a gas hot water storage unit to help reduce costs of installing completely new pipes]

Today’s Video: A Straight Swap of a Gas Continuous Flow Rinnai Infinity B20

For the job today, we have a straight swap of an old and new system of the same make and model which makes it relatively straight forward. Important to note however that just because it’s a straight swap, there is still the possibility that the new unit may not be installed.

To start off with before installing, our obedient and compliant Plumbdog makes some checks.

Initial Checks:

• The supply pipe is ok. Check.
• The pipe on this property is close to the gas meter. Check.
• The Hot Water System is not close to windows and doors. Check.
• The System is not too close to the flue and at least 300mm from the eaves. Check.

Everything stacks up and a straight swap is ok which means no extras to our customer and the price is as advertised on the website.

Testing After Installing the Hot Water System

Even though we’ve literally replaced everything as it was and connected the pipes to the same places on the new unit, our job doesn’t stop there. We need to test to make sure everything is functioning properly.

Test Gas Pressure

We test using a gas gauge to make sure the right gas pressure is flowing and performing properly. Too much or too little gas has an effect on performance which leads to unnecessary costs to you when running the hot water system.

[Plumbdog Tip: Check for the red tape under your system to see if it’s still there. If it is, then most likely the plumber hasn’t checked the gas pressure]

Test Temperature Inside the House

The fact that manufacturers are putting signs to check temperatures after installation means that there are plenty of installers out there who are not adequately testing. This is part of our standard procedure. Even though the hot water unit is supplying water at 50 degrees Celsius, there are numerous reasons why 50 degrees isn’t achieved inside the house and we need to adjust accordingly.

At Plumbdog, we hold our plumbers to high standards and have procedures for safety and compliance for the safety of our customers and our team. Following these procedures means that our customers enjoy a hot water system that works efficiently providing hot water while operating efficiently burning the gas and not your hard earned money.

If you’re in the Perth area and need a new hot water system, or even if you need to service or repair your hot water system then give us a whistle!

• It is important to test for gas leaks before installing a new Hot Water System. 
• Plumbdog has All The Gear and Every Idea. Check out more of our VLOGs here!

In today’s video our obedient Plumbdog Rich is on a mission to install a new hot water system on one of the properties in West Australia. Installing a hot water system isn’t as simple as pulling out the old system, putting in the new and leaving it as that. In the video, Rich has tested for a gas leak and the test has failed.

In his first attempt, Richard checks for a gas leak before installing the new Hot water system. It is a safe thing to do as it saves the plumber unnecessary work if he detects a gas leak after the installation is complete and helps to know if the gas leak is a result of the new works completed or whether there was an existing problem. It is up to the gas fitter to ensure that there are no gas leaks when they replace an appliance. Our Plumbdogs are licensed gas plumbers/gas fitters.

The Gas Leak Test

To get started, he opens the gas meter and joins the testing kit to it, and turns on the gas. The gas at this property has been capped off and once he gets removes the disk stopping the gas at the meter, he notices a full drop in the gas pressure. Alas, the investigation failed!

The next step is to determine the reason behind the failure.

Soon he figures out that the old water system is damaged due to corrosion and has fallen from the wall which is the most likely cause of the gas leak.

After installing the new hot water system, another leak test is conducted. He attaches the testing equipment to the gas meter and turns on the gas. As the gauge reads 2.4kpa, he slowly turns the gas off and analysis the result.

In this test, the gas pressure does not drop rapidly like it did previously before installing the new hot water system. Observing for for 5 minutes, if the pressure doesn’t drop we can be comfortable that there isn’t a gas leak.

If you’re getting a new hot water system installed at your property, make sure the plumber does an initial test. In the event that there is a leak after the new system is installed, you will know whether there was already a leak or whether a new problem has occurred after the new unit is installed.

For more informative content, stay tuned to our channel, and hit the like & subscribe button on our YouTube channel, so that you get notified every time we upload a video.

What is involved in installing your new hot water system?

Hot water systems are made to last anywhere from 6-15 years. Over this time, safety regulations have changed in both the plumbing and gas worlds…

There are a lot more items we need to check to make sure installations are compliant.

Before

We were recently requested to replace this unit and in doing so we needed to bring this install up to standard.

For the new unit we needed to install a heat trap, a tempering valve, an expansion control valve, 2 drains and a soak pit under each drain. We also needed to add a gas shut off valve.

For some units, there will be even more that needs to be done, like the addition of a concrete slab under the unit…

After

This is what the pipework looks like after all the new standards have been applied to the new install.

N.B. These items are NOT included in a straight swap install.

Continue reading to find out what each one of these items does to protect your system and house…

Heat Traps & Lagging (insulation)

Heat traps are valves and or loops of pipe installed on the cold water inlet and hot water outlet pipes on hot water systems. They allow cold water to flow into the system, but prevent hot water from flowing out of the system back up the cold water pipes.

Lagging is insulation used to reduce heat loss and conserve the energy consumed. It is important that the heated water piping has adequate insulation to minimise heat loss.

Read the technical note from the Plumbers Licensing Board >> Heat Trap (And Insulation).pdf

Tempering Valves

A tempering valve ensures your hot water is at a safe temperature for personal hygiene use. A tempering valve has a temperature sensitive element which adjusts the level of cold water depending on the temperature of the water from the hot water system.

Regulations on safe water services are Australia-wide and fall under the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA). The water in a hot water storage system must be kept at a minimum of 60°C (AS3500.4.2 Clause 1.6) to prevent bacteria. The maximum temperature water can leave the tap is 50°C (AS3498) and a maximum of 45°C in institutions such as early childhood centres, schools, and nursing homes or other facilities where the young, sick, aged or disabled could be using hot water.

A tempering valve or other tempering device reduces your hot water temperature at the tap, to allow you to meet both Australian standards.

Tempering Valves should be replaced every 4 years.

Read the technical note from the Plumbers Licensing Board >> Tempering Valves.pdf

Expansion Control Valves

Expansion Control Valves limit the maximum pressure in a pressurised, unvented water heater system by relieving excess pressure to the drain line.

Expansion Control Valves should only be installed on the cold or inlet installation on a water heater as the valve is primarily intended to cope with the excess pressure generated during a normal heating cycle.

Expansion Control Valves are safety valves and should be replaced every 4 years.

Temperature/Pressure Relief Valves

Temperature & Pressure Relief Valves are safety controls which ensure that the temperature of the water in a pressurised unvented water heater cannot exceed 99° C in the event that the normal thermostatic controls fail.

These valves may be used to guard against overtemperature and over-pressure hazards wherever water is stored in unvented containers. This is a requirement of Australian Standard AS 3500-4.

Temperature & Pressure relief valves are safety valves and should be replaced every 4 years.

Gas Shut Off Valves (not shown above)

Allows the manual isolation of the gas flow in natural gas and LPG systems. In the open position (gas is flowing) the handle (lever) will be parallel with the pipe, when it is closed (gas not flowing) the handle (lever) will be perpendicular to the pipe.

Read the Newsletter ‘Gas Focus’ for more details >> Gas Valve.pdf

Soak Pits

Required so that the release of steam or hot water is controlled and does not cause a nuisance, is readily noticeable and will not cause damage to buildings or injury to persons.

Some units will require two pits to be installed and they should have gravel placed in the bottom. One pit for the Expansion Valve and one for the Temperature & Pressure Relief Valve.

Read the technical note from the Plumbers Licensing Board >>  Water Heater (SOAK PITS).pdf

Gas Pressure Tests

As replacing a hot water system involves touching the gas lines, a gas pressure test will need to be carried out to ensure that the system and pipework is gas-tight.

After your system has been replaced

Your hot water system should be serviced every two years to make sure it continues working efficiently.
Read our post about Anodes to learn more about how a storage hot water system works and how to keep it running smoothly. Read the blog post

If you have any questions, please feel free to give Plumbdog Perth a call – 1300 884 146.