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Electric Hot Water Cylinders

Electric hot water cylinders are the most common form of hot water heating system found in New Zealand, using an electric heating element to heat the water in the cylinder, providing a constant supply of hot water. They can be configured for mains-pressure or low-pressure setups depending on the cylinder type and hot water valves used based on household requirements.

What are the benefits?

  • Easy Shutdown. Turning off the hot water cylinder while you are away is easy, just flip the switch on the wall. Great for saving power when away on holiday.
  • Large Storage Capacity. There is always plenty of water on hand.
  • Low Upfront Costs. The upfront costs of electric hot water cylinders will come in well under other forms of water heating here in New Zealand.
  • Tried And Tested Reliability. Electric hot water cylinders have been around for many many years, the components have been refined and perfected providing excellent reliability and extended life expectancy.
  • Good Flexibility. Hot water cylinders are available for purchase with future proofing in mind. They can be solar ready, wetback ready, or suited to hot water heat pumps. Allowing for greater adaptation if/when you circumstances change or hot water demands alter. Mains pressure and low pressure options are also available.
  • External Installation. Certain types of hot water cylinders are now able to be installed outside the house, freeing up space within the home and providing easier access when servicing is needed.

What are the considerations for an electric powered hot water cylinder?

  • Slow Recovery Rates. The speed at which your hot water cylinder heats its water to temperature in an hour is referred to as its recovery rate. Electric hot water cylinders tend to have slower recovery rates than gas hot water heaters.
  • Electricity costs. It is thought hot water heating amounts to roughly a third of a household’s electricity bill. High electricity costs in New Zealand are a definite motivator for some people to look for water heating alternatives.

 

There are a wide range of hot water cylinders available! Contact Pete and the team today if you’d like a free assessment or explore our different hot water solutions. 

 

Contact Us     Hot Water Solutions

 

How do I drain a hot water cylinder?

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The unthinkable has happened, you have opened the cupboard where your hot water cylinder is located, and you notice that it is leaking.

Worse still, it’s late in the evening and the chance of getting a qualified tradesman in to fix the problem is next to nil. So what can you do as first aid to stop the cylinder leaking so that you aren’t going to deal with a major flood as the tank empties itself into your house?

 

Actually, the best and fastest fix is to drain your cylinder, and just follow these instructions to temporarily solve the problem before the Plumber can get there and assess what needs to happen next.

1. Isolate the power to the hot water cylinder. The easiest way of doing this is to turn the power switch off to the tank, or if you are feeling super technical, turn the fuse switch to the off location at the power board in your house which will isolate the circuit.

2. Turn off the tap. Technically called the “cold feed” that fills the hot water cylinder with cold water to be heated. This is found around the cylinder somewhere, usually at the bottom, and this means that the tank isn’t going to keep on filling up with cold water and adding to the problem.

3. Turn on every hot water tap tap in the house and drain the tank. Once you have turned off and isolated the power, stopped the tank filling with new cold water, the last step is to turn on every tap in the house and drain the cylinder, and this means that the leak will stop. This can take a while to drain depending on the size of the cylinder, but keep them on until the water stops.

It may pay you to throw a couple of towels down to pick up any water that may be around the area, but at least the initial problem of a leaking hot water cylinder has been temporarily solved.

Contact us and we can organize a local plumber for a free assessment 

Contact Us

 

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

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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.

Pete’s tips on maintaining your hot water cylinder

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Your hot water cylinder is probably the last thing on your mind when it comes to household maintenance tasks, but this often overlooked appliance does need some attention once in a while to keep it running at peak performance levels and prolong its potential lifespan.  Below are some simple maintenance tips that you might want to consider.

Going away?

If you plan on being away for more than five or six nights it is worth considering switching the hot water cylinder off.  This can be done at either the switch board or by isolating switch depending on your system. Giving your cylinder a break not only extends the life of your hot water system but has the added bonus of saving you money on your electricity bill.

Water temperature

Regularly checking the temperature of your hot water as it exits the tap is recommended.  Too hot and you are placing unnecessary strain on the cylinder, not to mention paying more in electricity costs than is required, too cold and you may end up using more hot water than necessary or run the risk of bad bacteria inhabiting your tank.  A simple test using a thermometer while running a hot tap is all that is required, the recommended temperature should be 55°C.  If the temperature needs adjusting it is best to contact a professional for assistance. 

The pressure relief valve

This relief valve is especially important for mains pressure cylinders as it protects the hot water cylinder from excess pressures.  Usually located at the top or to the side of the cylinder, it is best to release the valve every six months, remembering to raise and lower the lever very slowly.  If the water does not flow when the valve is released it may be faulty or mean there is a problem with the system, you will need to contact a qualified hot water cylinder specialist as soon as possible.

Flushing the tank

Cleaning out your hot water tank regularly is an important step to prolonging the life of your cylinder.  Build-up of sediment in the bottom of the tank is inevitable due to mineral deposits, grit and impurities in the water accumulating over time.  This sediment can potentially reduce the cylinder’s efficiency, capacity and interfere with ongoing maintenance.  Draining the water from the bottom of the tank through the drain valve is necessary every few years.  Remember you are dealing with very hot water, take all necessary precautions and consult a professional if you require assistance.

The Anode rod

This is a long narrow solid bar positioned inside the water tank; typically it is made from aluminium, magnesium or zinc, all of which are particularly susceptible to the corrosive process.  The Anode rod plays a key role in extending the life of your hot water cylinder; it is designed to reduce the disintegration of metals inside the tank essentially by providing a much easier target for corrosion.  Overtime the Anode rod will corrode and dissolve completely, meaning it will no longer be providing protection to your cylinder, therefore it makes sense to check the condition of the anode rod regularly.  Always remember to be very careful when dealing with hot water heating systems, if in doubt it is best to leave it to the professionals. 

Maintaining your hot water cylinder will extend its useful life and provide more efficient hot water heating year round.  As well as the above tips it is recommended to schedule a comprehensive hot water cylinder service every five years from a qualified professional in order to keep your hot water cylinder running optimally.

All about gas water heating

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A common concern people have when purchasing a gas hot water heating system is the future of gas in New Zealand. Rest assured gas will remain a vital source of energy in New Zealand homes for many decades to come

There is a misconception that the government is banning gas energy. This is absolutely not the case. In fact, the Climate Change Commission has noted in its policy direction for energy, industry and buildings* that access to diversity of energy options, like gas, makes Aotearoa more energy secure. The Commission has also differentiated fossil gas from other low- and zero-carbon gases and made recommendations around the reduction of fossil gases specifically.

The gas industry in New Zealand is right behind the Climate Change Commission recommendations and major gas suppliers are committed to achieving zero emissions by 2050 by using biogas, bioLPG and hydrogen. There will be a gradual transition to zero emissions and your gas connection will continue to work throughout that time.

So, if you’re thinking of connecting to gas or already connected, you can be sure that gas and LPG will continue to flow as New Zealand makes the shift to zero carbon gases.

Can I still connect to natural gas or LPG?

Yes absolutely. There has been no proposed ban on either!

Will natural gas be turned off in the near future?

No. Natural gas and LPG will continue to be delivered to connected consumers and gradually transition to new low- and zero-carbon gases. This is likely to be by 2050.

Can I buy a gas water heating system with confidence?

You sure can! You can have confidence that you’ll be able to use any new gas or LPG water heater for its expected lifetime.

The Cylinder Guy team fully supports New Zealand’s move to new low and zero carbon gases. Our modern gas water heating systems are already able to run on a blend of natural gas and renewable hydrogen gas (up to 20%) or biogas/bioLPG. This aligns with gas supplier goals and Climate Change Commission recommendations.

Learn more about Gas Hot Water Cylinders