While in Brisbane we often think about hot summers and finishing a hot sweaty day with a cold shower. But don’t forget that we get winter here too, and that’s when we want to make sure that we have hot water available! So it’s important to make sure that your hot water system is always fully functioning so that you won’t be left out in the cold.
Having a well maintained hot water system in a unit block or apartment building is crucial for a building owner or manager.
If the system fails it means that many people are going to be affected and it could cost you even more in emergency ( and possibly after hours) repairs!
Getting onto these things ASAP means everyone stays happy 🙂
Ways to Check Your Hot Water System
There are some telltale signs that can easily show you something is wrong and you won’t even have to get your hands dirty!
- Water Leaking from Your Hot Water System
This one is pretty obvious – if your hot water system is leaking constantly, there’s something wrong and you should be taking action as soon as possible. When it comes to your hot water system, a small leak can turn into a big problem quickly.
Leaks in your system can mean corrosion, which will naturally get worse. Unfortunately if this is the case, the only solution is to replace the system. But it’s better to get onto this early before you lose hot water completely!
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Gas Smells
We don’t need to go into the dangers of a gas leak and how it can ignite or even be the cause of poisoning. If you can smell gas leaking from your system, or if a tenant reports a gas smell – you need to take it seriously, please turn the gas off if possible and call a gas plumber.If you have a gas leak on your hot water system, call in a qualified commercial gas plumber IMMEDIATELY. Emu Plumbing are experienced and fully qualified to identify gas leaks and repair them. Call us on 07 3358 3201 if you suspect a gas leak.
- Dirty or Smelly Water
Is your hot water coming out of the tap dirty or smelly?
This could mean there’s an issue with your hot water system. While this dirty water most likely isn’t harmful, it can discolour clothes. And let’s face it, your tenants don’t want to shower in dirty or smelly water! (if both your hot & cold water are dirty- the issues may be old pipes but that’s for another day!)
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Temperature Fluctuations
Reports of inconsistent hot water from your tenants can mean a faulty temperature regulator (tempering valve or TMV), faulty pressure-reducing valves or a faulty water heater. Luckily, these issues are more easily fixed by your professional commercial plumber. -
High Electricity, Gas or Water Bills
A sudden jump in your bills can mean that something is wrong. Bills tend to jump up in winter as showers are longer and a little warmer. But if it’s jumping up astronomically and doesn’t correlate with your usage, there could be a bigger issue going on.If you have no obvious water or gas leaks – there could be an issue with your hot water system that will need to get checked out and repaired by a professional.
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A Noisy Hot Water System
Is there a humming, rumbling or banging noise when the heater is running or your tenants are using hot water? Yes? That’s not a good sign – it will likely mean you will have hot water issues very soon, if not already.If your system is making any unusual or loud sounds – there is a problem that needs to be fixed that can be easily identified by your local plumber.
Replacing or Repairing a Hot Water System
Both electric and gas hot water systems have a lifespan of approximately 10 to 15 years. So if you’re experiencing issues with your hot water and the system is over 10 years old, it may be more economical to simply replace the system. Fixing something that’s only got a few years left can mean you’ll pay twice in a short period: to have it fixed and then to replace the whole system a little while later with more labour costs.
New hot water systems can be more environmentally friendly, and are generally more efficient as they have more insulation, have higher efficiency and cost less to run.
