Hot Water Services

• A tell tale sign that a hot water system is due for service is when the hot water isn’t as warm as it usually is.
• Most people leave their hot water systems until they notice a decline in performance but did you know that manufacturers recommend servicing on a regular basis?
• Plumbdog are genuine maintenance plumbing specialists. We help our customers save money in the long run by performing service and maintenance to prolong the life of hot water systems rather than simply recommending replacing anytime there is a performance issue.
• Check out more of our VLOGs & don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

Hot Water System Not Working Properly?

Our top dog Darius is out to do a minor service on a Bosch 10P. The system isn’t quite as warm as it used to be. Many would simply think that it’s been quite a few years and like any appliance, it’s almost time for a new one but you would be amazed that even a minor hot water service could breathe some new life into the hot water system.

The Bosch 10P is one of the common and popular hot water systems used in Perth and we have all the gear and every idea to repair and maintain these or if the need arises, we can replace them too like for like or with another new hot water system.

BOSCH 10P – How To Light the Pilot Light

If you’re trying to work out how to light your Bosch 10p, Darius shows us at 4:34 how to get the pilot light started. You can watch on this video or watch it in Youtube here which will take you right to the spot.

Manufacturers Recommend Regular Servicing

As Darius mentions in the video, the manufacturers of hot water systems do recommend regular servicing. Even if it’s not replacing a heap of parts, natural wear and tear will occur so checking under the hood can save on performance issues and can also improve the life of your system.

A seasoned plumber can easily tell whether the hot water unit has been recently serviced. Check out the video where Darius shows us what takes place in a minor service and shows us how even a minor service can bring life back to this Bosch 10P. Imagine if a hot water installer was contacted rather than a seasoned maintenance plumbing specialist, the customer could have been simply been recommended a new system which would have cost a pretty penny.

Give us a whistle! and a Like and Thumbs Up!

If you’re in Perth and need a local Perth plumber, then give us a whistle! We’re happy to help and don’t forget to like and share our videos if you find them useful or entertaining! You can also hit the subscribe button and the bell to get notified.

• When a like for like gas hot water system replacement just isn’t possible 
• The work of gas fitters in Perth are inspected by a third party which is good for the industry and consumer
• Check out more of our VLOGs & don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

When It’s Time To Change a Hot Water System

This video will show how Richard replaces and relocated the gas storage hot water system at a home in Parkwood.   He will be completing the installation and will make sure that it is compliant to the standard regulations of what installed hot water tanks should look like.

Tired Tank

When the client called, their problem was that they didn’t have hot water, the pilot light was out and there was a substantial amount of water leaking from the tank. Richard asked for some photos to make sure his diagnosis will be accurate before making any recommendation. Aside from the fact that the tank is 19 years old, it was missing compliant components such as a gas isolation valve and soak pits for the relief valves.

Options, options, options

After some meticulous investigation, Richard provides 3 quotes for the client. They will choose from a Vulcan 135, a Rheem 135 and a Rheem Stellar 330. The client followed Richard’s recommendation and chose the Rheem Stellar 330. With its advanced technology and given a 5-star energy efficiency, this tank is cost-effective in the long run, not to mention the 10-year warranty that gives the customer assurance that it is definitely built for the long haul.

Aside from getting a new tank, it is Richard’s job to make sure that it will be compliant to the standard regulations.  He talked to the client that the best place to relocate the tank from the alcove corner is to the main wall next to it.  The area will give ample space and clearance for the hot water storage. The client had to move their existing clothesline and will have to opt for a shorter line, or they will have to move it in a different part of the property.

Time to do the Dirty Work

Richard showed how he laid the pipework since he had to replace the old ones as they were as old as the tank. He made sure that the fittings are placed strategically, avoiding the tank so if in any case there are some problems in the future there will be no problems troubleshooting it. The worst thing is having to take out the entire gas system just to fix the fittings. He also laid a big concrete slab where the water heater will sit on.  He also installed a gas isolation valve and the hot and cold relief valves now has soak pits. All installed and ticked the checklist for compliance requirements for a gas storage hot water system.

Whistle and We will Come

Our expert plumbers in Perth install and complete the work as efficiently as possible. We provide solutions that are compliant and cost efficient to our customers whether it’s replacing a new hot water system or giving your existing system the servicing it needs. Give us a whistle and we will come!

• 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!