Pete’s advice if your hot water cylinder is leaking!

Leaks can be caused by a number of factors, including loose connections, faulty parts, excessive pressure, cracks in the tank and most commonly corrosion due to age. Leaky hot water cylinders will cost you money by increasing electricity and water usage.  When you consider 30% of the average power bill is spent on heating hot water it makes sense to repair or replace the damaged hot water cylinder as soon as possible.

What to do if you discover your hot water cylinder is leaking

1. Turn Off The Water.  Turn off the tap that lets water into your cylinder, if unsure which tap that is turn off the entire water supply to the house, the tap for this is usually located with your water meter in the ground towards the front of your property.
2. Switch Off The Power.  Locate your switch board and find the switch labelled ‘Hot Water Cylinder’ and turn it off.  This is to ensure the hot water cylinder elements do not burn out when it empties out.
3. Drain The Cylinder.  The leak will stop when the cylinder empties; this may mean you have to drain the water out by turning on some hot taps in the house.
4. Call The Professionals. For a safe reliable repair or replacement service contact our team to help you out.

Will you need a new cylinder?

Generally speaking if the leak appears to be located in the bottom of the cylinder, this leads to the assumption that there is something wrong with the cylinders internal parts and it’s time to think about a replacement.  If the leak appears to be coming from taps, valves or pipes, then this can mean a simple repair by a qualified plumber or electrician is all that is needed.

Keep in mind that most hot water cylinders have an expected life span of around 20 years, if your cylinder is over this age it most likely will not be economical to repair, a replacement will be necessary. 

If you find your hot water cylinder is not heating properly or at all, it is usually a sign that you just need an electrician to take a look.  The most common problems relate to the heating element and thermostat malfunctioning.  Your electrician may need to replace the heating element or thermostat, or just adjust the thermostat temperature setting; 55°C is considered a safe temperature for hot water at the tap.

What now?

Sometimes if replacement is necessary it is a good time to consider upgrading to more cost efficient hot water heating systems like Solar or Hot Water Heat Pumps (In some cases these can also be applied to an existing cylinder). 

Solar water heating has begun to overcome its main drawback of high installation costs and is gradually becoming a viable option for many. If solar is not for you but you are still worried about the cost of running your conventional hot water cylinder, Hot Water Heat Pumps are an excellent choice.  Able to reduce your electricity costs by up to 30%, the heating system is considered three times more efficient than a traditional electric element.