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Mains Pressure vs Low Pressure Hot Water

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Mains Pressure

Mains pressure hot water systems unlike low pressure systems gives you more equal water pressure between the hot and cold water lines throughout your home. 

Mains pressure systems come in many different options and are great for properties that are connected to a town supply, main water line.

If you’ve got a big whanau or a house with multiple bathrooms, these systems will give you a constant supply of hot water to multiple outlets at the same time, making them a popular choice.

The best part of a mains pressure hot water system is that it will provide you with an increase in shower pressure compared to a low-pressure system and decrease the wait time for your shower, bath or taps to heat up – giving you more hot water, faster.

An added benefit to installing a mains pressure hot water system is the increased range of tapware and fittings available as many are rated only for mains pressure, this is perfect when considering bathroom or kitchen renovations.

Mains_Pressure_cylinders

Low Pressure

Low-pressure hot water systems are commonly found in older homes in New Zealand. These systems rely on a pressure reducing valve to restrict the incoming water pressure to the cylinder, resulting in lower hot water pressure throughout the home.

In areas with colder climates, homes with fireplaces may utilize a wet back system in conjunction with a low-pressure cylinder to heat the water.

If there is a noticeable difference in water pressure between hot and cold taps or showerheads, it may indicate the presence of a low-pressure hot water system. The good news is that upgrading to a mains pressure system during a cylinder replacement can easily remedy this issue, providing the benefits of higher hot water pressure throughout the home.

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The importance of proper water pressure in your kiwi home

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Maintaining optimal hot water performance in your Kiwi home isn’t just about having a well-functioning hot water cylinder; it also involves ensuring the right water pressure. Too much or too little pressure can lead to various issues, from inconsistent temperatures to unnecessary wear and tear on your plumbing system. Getting your water pressure adjusted can make a significant difference. 

Why water pressure matters 

Water pressure plays a crucial role in your home’s plumbing system. When it’s too high, it can cause pipes to burst, leaks, and damage to your appliances. On the other hand, low water pressure can lead to inadequate water flow, making it difficult to get a consistent and comfortable hot water supply. Proper adjustment of the water pressure valve ensures your hot water system operates efficiently and prolongs the lifespan of your plumbing. 

Leave it to the experts 

If you’ve noticed a change in your water pressure, whether it’s too high or too low, it’s essential to address it promptly. While it might be tempting to adjust your hot water cylinder yourself, it’s always better to call a professional. At The Cylinder Guy, we offer expert advice and professional services to handle any issues you’re facing. 

Why choose The Cylinder Guy? 

By contacting The Cylinder Guy, you can ensure that your hot water system operates efficiently and effectively, providing consistent and comfortable hot water throughout your home. Properly adjusted water pressure not only enhances your hot water performance but also protects your plumbing system from potential damage. 

If you need assistance with your hot water cylinder, please contact The Cylinder Guy today! Talk to one of our experts for your hot water needs and ensure your home’s water pressure is perfectly adjusted for optimal performance. 

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Fixing holiday home hot water hassles: A quick guide

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Going on a much-needed break is essential especially during the holiday season. Off to your batch or holiday home? You might find some issues with your hot water if you have not been there for a while, or if your hot water has been sitting idle. Whether these are electrical, or hot water cylinder problems, it’s good to know how to tackle these issues. Have a read of our blog tips below to find out what to do.      

What to Do If Your Hot Water Isn’t Working at Your Holiday Home 

  • Check the Power Supply: Sometimes, a simple issue like a tripped circuit breaker or a disconnected power source can cause your hot water system to stop working. Ensure the power is on and the circuit breaker is not tripped. 
  • Pilot Light Issues (For Gas Heaters): If you have a gas water heater, the pilot light may have gone out. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to relight the pilot light. 
  • Sediment Buildup: Over time, sediment can accumulate at the bottom of the tank, affecting the heating efficiency. You may need to flush the tank to remove sediment buildup. If you have any questions on how this can be done give us a call on 0800 234 800 and we can help!
  • Check the Pressure Relief Valve: The pressure relief valve on your hot water system may need to be tested and replaced if necessary. Ensure it’s not leaking or stuck in the open position. 
  • Call a Professional: If you are unable to troubleshoot and resolve the issue, or if you notice any signs of damage or serious problems, it’s best to contact The Cylinder Guy to inspect and replace your hot water heating system. 

If you encounter problems with your hot water system while visiting your holiday home, stay calm and follow the steps mentioned above. In case of serious issues or uncertainty, don’t hesitate to seek professional assistance from The Cylinder Guy as we are open over the Christmas and New Year Holidays, just give us a call on 0800 234 800 to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable holiday experience!  

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Chlorine Causing Issues With Pipes And Cylinders

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While corrosion and leaks to water pipes and hot water cylinders can be caused by a number of things, it is widely understood that chlorinated water can contribute to the issue. The compounds in chlorine react with copper, steel and plastic polyethylene pipes in varying degrees potentially causing premature bursts or leakage.

The practice of chlorinating water has been around since the early 1900’s in some countries, in New Zealand we are lucky enough to have had many years of chlorine free water supply and in fact several water supplies around the country remain untreated (Christchurch is currently the largest populated area). 

In recent times however, there have been calls for mass chlorination particularly after water contamination issues in Havelock North. Although it is obvious clean drinking water is a necessity, chlorination of the water supply has proven to be somewhat problematic for hot water cylinders and plumbing fixtures and fittings.

Things To Look Out For

While avoiding chlorine is difficult where water is mass treated, it is important to understand the additional potential for degrading of pipes, fixtures and fittings and hot water cylinders in order to pre-empt future failures. Here are a few things to keep a look out for.

  • Pipes, plumbing and hot water cylinders over 10 years old in towns and cities with chlorinated water supplies
  • Copper piping or fittings (anything dating around 1960’s and 70’s is particularly problematic)
  • Visible evidence of corrosion around hot water cylinder valves
  • Pin hole leaks in calcified pipes and joiners
  • Hard water (naturally high levels of calcium) is likely to intensify corrosion issues
  • Discoloured water or blue-green stained sinks, drains and baths

The Causes Of Corrosion

Corrosion in household piping or hot water heating systems and the rate at which it occurs can usually be associated with one or any combination of the following factors.

  • PH Levels. Copper piping systems in particular are prone to damage if the pH of the water is under a certain level. The protective barrier of the pipe gets damaged which leads to a more rapid rate of corrosion.
  • Temperature. The hotter the environment the pipes and fittings are exposed to, including the temperature of the water can also contribute to increased corrosion.
  • Chemicals. Naturally and not so naturally occurring minerals and impurities in water can increase corrosive levels in different ways. For example high levels of calcium in water leads to a calcification build-up in pipes and fittings and chlorine introduced into the water supply has been known to accelerate the corrosive action of both metal and plastic plumbing fixtures.
  • Oxygen. Oxygen naturally degrades metal resulting in rust. Whether it is in pipes, hot water cylinders, cars, buildings or anywhere else for that matter, rust is gradual and inevitable.

The Effects Of Corrosion

The cost of corrosion can be expensive; it can impact your health, waste money, and damage other household fittings. Leaks that go unnoticed due to corrosion can prove expensive and even result in the need for the building to be completely re-plumbed. Corrosive water can impact:

  • Hot Water Heaters. Decreasing the efficiency and potentially causing premature failure.
  • Household Plumbing. Corrosion can cause premature failure of household plumbing and plumbing fixtures.
  • Taste And Appearance. Elevated levels of metals leaching from the pipes can impact the taste and appearance of the water (reddish coloured water or green-blue stains are most common).
  • Toxicity. Prolonged consumption of contaminated water with elevated levels of metals, such as chromium, lead, zinc and copper, has been known to cause a wide range of health problems

 

It is strongly recommended that homeowners have household water tested regularly (approximately every 2 to 3 years) for evidence of corrosive materials and toxicity. Ignoring corrosion or simply hoping it isn’t happening is not a good idea. 

 

 

Pete and the team are here to help if you’d like more information or advice

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How to choose a new hot water system

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When selecting a new hot water heating system for your home it is important to choose a water heater that will not only provide enough hot water for the entire family when they need it, but also one that it will do so in an energy efficient way, ultimately saving you money long term.  

Choosing the right energy source can have the biggest impact on your savings.  Often your chosen form of energy will also help narrow down your water heating options, as the types of fuel that are available in your area will determine where to begin your search, however there are a few other things to take into account. 

Here are five key things to consider when choosing a hot water heating system:

Annual Running Costs

How much is it likely to cost to heat your water using your chosen form of energy per year? 

The Purchase, Installation And Maintenance Costs

What will it cost you upfront to purchase the system, have it installed and are there any ongoing maintenance requirements?

Energy Efficiency

To maximize your energy and cost savings, you need to find out how energy efficient a water heating system is.  Many websites have good information on the energy efficiency ratings and saving for various hot water heating systems, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority or EECA is a good place to start.

The Life Span

It is a good idea to source some reliable information regarding the expected lifespan of your selected hot water heating systems.  Sometimes systems are less likely to stand the test of time and may require budgeting for full or part replacements in the near future. 

How Much Hot Water You Need

Getting the correct sized water heating system will ensure you do not run out of hot water, and also maximise efficiency.  Consider how many people live in your household now and how many there may be in the future, as a general guide one person on average will use around 50 litres of hot water per day.

 

Choosing a new or replacement hot water heating system is one of the most important decisions you will make when it comes to long term cost benefits within your home.  Water heating costs generally make up about a third of your electricity bill; this is a large chunk of money and it makes sense to put some substantial thought into this decision to provide maximum cost and energy efficiency for the future.

 

Contact Pete and the team if you’d like a free assessment and advice!

 

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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 

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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.