Hot water installation & inspection for the Northern Beaches

Reliable hot water electricians

We’ve all been in a similar scenario. When you’re taking a shower and the water suddenly becomes icy-cold, you’re not alone! For over 40 years, Waters Electrical and Solar has served Sydney, and we’ve been assisting homeowners with their hot water system maintenance or upgrading where necessary. Locals frequently contact us to inquire whether they require the services of a plumber or electrician to repair their hot water system.

If you have any hot water issues, for full peace of mind, call your licensed Northern Beaches electricians, Waters Electrical and Solar at 0431 894 327.

Emergency “No Hot Water” call outs
Element and thermostat replacements
New hot water circuits
Powerpoints for gas hot water systems

What are the potential problems with a hot water tank?

Hot water tanks don’t contain a lot of parts which can malfunction. In terms of testing issues that pop up, three things usually occur. More often it’s a wiring problem.

The wiring coming from the switchboard or the circuit breaker.
We test where it goes into the tank.
Finally, we can test the thermostat. This is a mechanism that basically presses up against the unit and detects if it is cold. To warm it up, it fires up the element that heats up the water.

If your system starts to rust out, then it’s always best to replace it. We can also do a general inspection. Just check to make sure everything looks ok and see there’s not too much rust. Once you start getting rust, you might get some water leaking. If water gets out onto the actual wiring inside, to the anode block, there’s always a risk of tripping.

We try to get there as quickly as possible if we’re called out for a hot water problem, as an emergency service. We may check your element and provide you with an indication of what problems it contains and how we can repair them. Localised wiring issues don’t take long to resolve, so we will be able to restore the hot water rapidly.

What is the life expectancy for hot water systems?

The life expectancy of a hot water system is typically 8 to 12 years, depending on the manufacturer. If your hot water supply is near to or past its expiration date and you are having problems with it, it may be time to replace it.

Be sure to continue to maintain the system as recommended by the manufacturer to give it the longest life possible.

Electrical Repairs for your Hot Water System

When it comes to hot water systems, flaws are frequently undetectable. If the water tank has broken and is leaking, contact a plumber. Otherwise, it will almost certainly be an electrical issue. Waters Electrical and Solar are emergency electricians that can work on both electrical repairs and hot water systems. If required, we can connect you with a recommended local plumber.

You should call an electrician when:

Fault Circuit Breaker: If your circuit breaker has tripped and you have tried resetting it but this fails, it’s a good indication of an electrical problem. A blown fuse is also an indicator of an electrical issue. You might also need to replace the switchboard.

Thermostat: If the water coming out of your taps is neither hot nor cold. If this is the case, your thermostat, booster, and off-peak relay switch are most likely to be broken or in need of repair.

When there is no hot water, who do you contact?

If you’re not sure whether or when you need an electrician, don’t call a plumber if you only need an electrician. What’s the solution?

The most common problems that a plumber or an electrician can help with are listed below, but this list is not exhaustive. It’s considerably easier to tell whether something is a plumbing issue than it is to determine whether something is an electrical problem, therefore give Waters Electrical and Solar a call and see if we can assist you.

Before calling a professional, check the following items:

The first thing you should do before calling is examine two factors to determine if you can handle the problem yourself:

Check to see whether your circuit breaker has tripped — if so, restart (if possible) and check to see if it stays on.
Determine whether your hot water heaters’ pressure relief valve has a little lever at the top — you can use it to test your system. Attempt to lift it to see if water can flow through the overflow pipe. It’s quite possible that your heater was just a little low and required topping up, so keep the valve in place until water has entered the overflow pipe.

But what do you do if your hot water system simply won’t function?

How can you tell if your hot water system requires an electrician or plumber to be fixed?

Here at Waters Electrical and Solar, we are ready to get your hot water back up and running as soon as possible. As a result, we’ve compiled a simple tutorial on how to determine.

If you’re short on time and need immediate assistance, give Zac a call today on 0431 894 327.

When do you call a plumber?

The following are a few factors to consider before choosing a plumber as your trade professional of choice:

Is there any dampness?
Is the quantity of water coming out of the tap reduced?
Is there no water at all?
Is the bottom of your system rusted?
Is the water clouded?

If any of these are true, a plumber is the best option for repairing your system. Remember that if there is water (where it shouldn’t be) it’s most likely a plumbing issue!

When is it best to call an electrician?

It might be a little more difficult to figure out the electrical side of things. To put it another way, if you believe there is an electrical element that you think is controlling the system and isn’t working, an electrician would be the best person to call. However, if this isn’t the case, there are a few more ways you may discover that an electrician is the professional you need:

If you’ve tried to reset your circuit breaker but it won’t stay on, there might be a problem with the circuit.
If you think a fuse has blown,
If you only have lukewarm water, not hot, this might suggest an issue with your thermostat.
The hot water system may have broken down, resulting in a large energy bill.

What about energy ratings on hot water systems?

If you are having your whole hot water system replaced, particularly if it is an upgrade, be sure to get an electrician to check your wiring to ensure it can handle the increased workload. When it comes to relocation, upgrading, or replacing hot water systems, both electricians and plumbers may be required to do the work.

Please contact Zac on 0431 894 327 for the best recommendations or to figure out what’s going on with your hot water system.

Energy Efficiency Ratings

Under the MEPS scheme, all hot water systems are subjected to energy efficiency ratings. The star rating systems make comparing the efficiency of water heaters of the same fuel type very simple. As a rule of thumb, the more stars there are, the more efficient the system is at performing its intended function. The star rating for solar hot water systems applies specifically to the booster.

The manufacturers of compliant goods may use WaterMark logos on their products.

Certification by WaterMark

There is also a certification mark known as the “WaterMark,” which seems more frequently on plumbing goods in Australia these days. This certificate is administered by Standards Australia, and it is used on water supply, sewage, plumbing, and drainage items to show that they meet rigorous safety and quality requirements.

Regulations are currently maintained by a state level, but Standards Australia is working with authorities to consolidate all of these types of goods under the WaterMark certification program.

Electrical Wiring Rules

New AS3000 electrical wiring rules were released in July 2018, which will affect the installation of new hot water systems. The regulation applies to new units or relocations of existing hot water units, necessitating the addition of an independent isolator switch near the unit and a supplementary circuit breaker in the switchboard.

We’ve included some information below to assist you better comprehend the most recent rule changes.

Replacing your hot water system

If you’re merely replacing your old hot water system with a comparable one (same kilowatt size/litre size), no additional electrical work will be required.

Upgrading your hot water system

Do the rules apply? Let’s assume you’re looking to upgrade your hot water system to a larger one with more kilowatts, for example, because you run out of hot water too quickly. If you upgrade your system, you need to upgrade to satisfy the new rules.

Relocating your hot water system

The new rules will apply if you’re having your hot water unit relocated and the cables must be extended, or the kilowatt size is changing.

If your system is moving to a different circuit, you’ll need an additional switch.

Keeping the heat for the Northern Beaches!

When you think cold showers, you think of the beach, not in your home. We aim to keep it that way. Lack of hot water can be a huge inconvenience, not to mention a massive pain in the neck. That’s why Waters Electrical and Solar offers quick service for those experiencing a loss of hot water. Our team is dedicated to helping you get back to taking cold showers as quickly as possible.

Don’t wait any longer to call Waters Electrical and Solar, your trusted experienced electricians in the Northern Beaches region. We also provide 24-hour emergency services for all of your electrical issues, so please don’t hesitate to contact us, on 0431 894 327 , at any time! We also provide emergency electrical services, so do not hesitate to contact us 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need help with any electrical problem!