Gas Hot Water, Plumbing Services, Uncategorized
Low Pressure Hot Water Cylinder Replacements and Options
Jan
LOW PRESSURE HOT WATER – THE GOLDEN DAYS Once upon a time, many years ago, people decided that a hot water cylinder would be a good idea. No more having to full a copper bath and heating it with a coal fire, so the family could have the weekly wash. So, the first low pressure hot water cylinder was made. It was a great idea, and still is available today. Of course only as an entry level hot water cylinder. However there are also many more options to heat water, giving you high pressure as well. You can now get rid of your low pressure hot water cylinder and get something a bit more modern. There is always constant development to meet the ever changing wants and desires of people. I say that because a low pressure hot water cylinder will meet your needs. But a low pressure hot water cylinder in most cases wont meet your wants and desires. THE OLD 135L LOW PRESSURE HOT WATER CYLINDER – STILL COMMON IN RENTAL PROPERTIES We still change and replace many old low pressure hot water cylinders with the same thing, but getting less. A lot of landlords, or rental property owners tend to put back the same thing. It costs generally at least $1000 + extra to upgrade to a high pressure system. Great for the home owner, but the landlord will be watching his pennies. $1000 takes lots of weeks of rent to recover and most tenants wont pay more, just because they upgrade you to a mains pressure hot water cylinder. A low pressure hot water cylinder on basic old taps works fine, is reliable, and will meet the needs of most tenants. You can get a replacement low pressure cylinder these days including new valves for a small cost really. Most of the sizes are still much the same also, so they fit pretty much back into the same location without much hassle. All these things contribute to why they make sense for most rental property owners to buy. LOW PRESSURE HOT WATER CYLINDERS – NOT GOOD WITH MODERN TAPWARE Of course if you have bought a new house, want new bathrooms, want high pressure hot water to run your fancy taps. You are going to need to upgrade at least to mains pressure hot water. You have options of gas hot water, electric, solar, or heat pump. All have there place. All have pros and cons. For a more in-depth article on choosing the right hot water cylinder [CLICK HERE] OTHER OPTIONS FOR HOT WATER CYLINDERS AND GAS HOT WATER HEATERS Mains pressure hot water cylinder [CLICK HERE] Gas hot water heater [CLICK HERE] Solar hot water [CLICK HERE] Heat pump hot water [CLICK HERE] Or if you would prefer to speak to our office team and discuss what you have, what you need, we can help. Or understanding what you are trying to achieve, and the reason for needing a new low pressure hot water cylinder, or an upgrade, we can help you with all the tricky questions. CALL OUR FRIENDLY TEAM ON 0800 PLUMBER | 0800 758 623 WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP YOU!
Jan
Time for a new gas hot water system, but you cant decide what to get. Will it be the Rheem Stellar or the Rheem Continuous Gas Hot Water Heater that is best for you. Hopefully this blog will help you. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE RHEEM STELLAR AND THE RHEEM INTEGRITY As this debate or question comes up every day, which is better? I will do my best to share some help on this topic for you. There is no real right and wrong, both are fantastic hot water systems, both have gas as the energy source, but both have different pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages. It is always best that you first are very sure about what you want to achieve by fitting your new hot water system. If you know why you are upgrading you will be satisfied with the outcome. Maybe you already have gas, then no doubt you have made the choice to use gas. If you have an electric cylinder now, then maybe you haven’t even got this far, but this must be the point at which you start your decision making process. For a more detailed blog on choosing the right hot water system for you – CLICK HERE But this blog is specifically on Rheem Stellar verses Rheem Continous Flow THE BENEFITS OF A RHEEM STELLAR If you already have a Vulcan Freeloader – the Rheem Stellar is a direct replacement (designed specifically to replace old Vulcan Freeloaders) The Rheem Stellar goes outside – not taking up any room in your home They are mains (high) pressure They deliver plenty of water for your big overhead shower or rain-head If you have multiple bathrooms and showers this system will deliver up to 40 liters per minute (truck loads of water) The Rheem Stellar does not require power for ignition of burner (hot water even when there is a power cut) THE NEGATIVES OR CONS OF A RHEEM STELLAR If only a couple of people live in the home, you’re wasting a lot of energy heating a large storage cylinder of hot water for nothing They are started and controlled by a pilot light – meaning that should the pilot go out, they can be temperamental to re-start These are large units and take up a big space on the outside of house (only a problem if its in an access way or similar) Also a little hungry on gas consumption They do not provide endless hot water for the family who all shower at the same time of day When you go on holiday, or are at work, they’e still using lots of gas They are not available for use on LPG MY OPINION OF THE RHEEM STELLAR Based on my personal opinion – with 25 years of experience as a plumber, and having had one in my last home, I highly recommend the Rheem Stellar. We upgraded to the Stellar after we found our heat pump hot water cylinder just couldn’t deliver enough hot water for a family. In a nut shell, when you are replacing a hot water system of any kind (a retrofit situation) the plumbing of the house will always be best designed to fit the new hot water system back in the same place as where the old one was. Therefore because I had a cylinder on the outside of house, miles away from the kitchen, and because I had a plumbing system with a circulation ring main – circulating hot water through the house continuously, the Rheem Stellar was the best choice for me. Also as we had 7 living in the house – so we needed lots of water, and we used lots of hot water, so were able to take advantage of the large storage capacity. THE BENEFITS OF A RHEEM INTEGRITY OR CONTINUOUS FLOW GAS HOT WATER HEATER The unit goes outside – not taking up any room in your home Only a small compact box – visually more appealing than a large cylinder outside They are mains (high) pressure Super efficient (especially on natural gas) They work great on both natural gas and LPG When you are at work or away on holiday, you are wasting no gas or energy at all They are electronic ignition, incredibly reliable You will never run out of hot water again (endless delivery of hot water) THE NEGATIVES OR CONS OF A RHEEM CONTINUOUS FLOW GAS HOT WATER HEATER They require power for ignition (if there was a power cut you would have no hot water) They are only able to deliver as much hot water as the unit notes. A Rheem 27 will only deliver 27 liters per minute at optimal conditions The delay or lag of hot water to each tap can be frustrating They are fitted on the exterior of building, often not in an optimal space or location The water only heats as it passes through heater so capacity or output is restricted if water is very cold coming into unit MY OPINION ON THE RHEEM CONTINUOUS FLOW GAS HOT WATER HEATERS These are by far the most popular system being installed in Auckland NZ today. Why? because they are so usable, and in most cases the most efficient. The pro’s for most people out weigh the cons. As many homes, buildings in Auckland now have reducing numbers of people in them, they adjust perfectly well. Many homes that were once family homes with large electric storage hot water cylinders are now being converted to Rheem Continuous Flow, primarily for the reason that only mum and dad live there now, the kids have all gone, and they don’t need all that hot water. However come holidays, the kids pile back home, along with all their kids and you suddenly need a stack of hot water. Well you have it, endless hot water. Then when they leave again, you are back to your super efficient system on the wall heating […]
Jan
RINNAI GAS HEATER A great way to heat your home is with the Rinnai gas heater. The gas heater is well worth considering when you need effective and efficient heating. In many cases there is no better way to provide real warmth to your home than with a Rinnai gas heater. With an extensive range of flued and portable gas heaters to choose from, you are pretty sure to be able to find a gas heater model that is just right for you. WARM YOUR HOME FASTER THAN A HEAT PUMP WITH A RINNAI GAS HEATER A gas fired Rinnai Energysaver gas heater heats your home faster than a heat pump of the same output. You’ll be amazed how quickly it warms your home, making it comfortable and a great place to live. You can connect them to either natural gas or LPG. They are also approved by the Sensitive Choice programme of the Asthma Foundation. These gas heaters draw in external air to maintain the quality of air in your home. The gas heater is backed with a 2 year warranty. FEATURES OF A RINNAI GAS HEATER These are easy to operate Cost effective heating They have power output up to 6.9 kW Available features include thermostats, programmable timers, remote controls, multi-speed fans and electronic ignition Safety features may include tilt switches, oxygen depletion sensors, flame failure safety system, dress guards and child locks You can be sure you will find a gas heater that is just right for you. They also operate on both LPG and natural gas. RINNAI GAS HEATER – EASY TO CONTROL With a simple and modern control panel, heating your home has never been easier. The gas heater is easy to programme and operate in a way that suits your lifestyle. Have it come on and off when you need it most. This all helps to have a cozy home, yet still be economical to run. RINNAI GAS HEATER – PORTABLE OPTIONS AVAILABLE Is some homes you will already have a gas bayonet on the wall from a previous heater. This makes it quick and easy for you to connect your new Rinnai portable gas heater. Just purchase the LPG or natural gas model you require, take it home and you’re ready to roll. Just be sure to check the output and required air space to operate the heater are within the required limits and specifications. If you need help with this be sure to call an Rinnai installation expert. So, if you find yourself with a house that is rather chilly and needs a warm up. Grab yourself a gas heater. Even if you don’t have gas in your street, you can run it on LPG bottles. They just make sense in so many cases. They are also really efficient and push the heat out at low level. And where do you go when you need one… Regency Plumbing. We have a team of licensed gasfitters who would be most happy to fit one for you. Don’t spend another winter freezing when Rinnai have a whole warehouse full of these heaters do nothing in a box. CALL OUR FRIENDLY TEAM ON 0800 PLUMBER | 0800 758 623WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP YOU!
Jan
Are you just over running out of hot water, every time you wish to take a shower? Have you heard all the hype about the continuous flow gas hot water heater? If you want to never run out of hot water again – this is what you need. TREAT YOURSELF TO AN ENDLESS GAS HOT WATER HEATER Maybe you have heard lots about the Rinnai Infinity, the Rheem Integrity, and the Bosch units. Maybe you have not and want to find out more about these has hot water heaters. Hopefully this blog will help you, in your search of finding a solution to endless hot water. WHAT ACTUALLY IS A CONTINUOUS FLOW GAS HOT WATER HEATER? A continuous flow gas hot water heater, works similarly to other water heaters with one exception – there is no large storage tank. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit. The gas burner heats the water. As a result, the gas hot water heater will deliver a constant supply of hot water. You don’t need to wait for a storage tank to fill up with enough hot water. The only downfall for most people is that the continuous flow gas hot water heater has a limited flow rate, meaning that in some situations you can get fluctuations when multiple hot taps are used at one time. It is not the end of the world, but can be frustrating if you were never informed about it prior to making the decision to get a new Gas Hot Water Heater fitted in your home. Also as they are normally fitted on the exterior of the house, if you have a long run of pipe to a particular tap, you can experience significant delays waiting for hot water each time you use the tap. Be sure to put the unit as close to the kitchen as possible for a most satisfactory results. The kitchen you use multiple times a day, so a big delay can be awful. Fitting multiple units can overcome the lag of hot water and fluctuations to certain fixtures, or taps along way from the gas hot water heater itself, however every home is different and it pays to talk to an expert for getting the right location for installation. When looking at installing or replacing your old hot water cylinder, a continuous flow gas hot water heater is a great option to consider. WHY WOULD YOU CHOOSE A GAS HOT WATER HEATER? Are they as good as people say they are? Based on our findings of over 20 years of installing Gas Hot Water Heaters at Regency Plumbing – these are the real benefits. Endless hot water Strong hot showers Increased water pressure Free up space in your home Efficient hot water heating WOULD I RECOMMEND YOU INSTALL A GAS HOT WATER HEATER? For sure I would. In most cases they are fantastic. There are a couple of types of installations where I would not recommend them, but there are many I would. When you consider family homes, the baby boomers big homes that just have 2 people in them. They are using only a fraction of the hot water they once used. Of course they are great for them. When you are home you have hot water, but when you are at work, or on holiday they are using no energy at all. But come the long weekend and 10 people turn up for a family catch up, there is endless hot water for everyone. WHAT A CUSTOMER SAID ABOUT HER NEW GAS HOT WATER HEATER We fitted a new gas hot water heater for Kavita in Botany and this is what she had to say, actually it was a Rheem continuous flow gas hot water heater… “The special offers at the home show in addition to the information on benefits of gas water heating prompted us to use Regency plumbing. They installed gas water heating and gas hob connection in our home with a large complex layout. Quote was given by the end of day and within 3 working days, appointment booked and a job well done. The team at Regency were friendly and completed the job efficiently and to a very high standard. Our low pressure trickling showers have transformed to water blasters! Thank you Regency.” Kavita, Botany Downs This was yet another Gas Hot Water Heater Installed in Auckland Gas Hot Water Heater Installed in Auckland – Get yours today CLICK HERE for our latest Special Offers If you want to find out more about getting a Gas Hot Water Heater installed in your home – call our office today. CALL OUR FRIENDLY TEAM ON 0800 PLUMBER | 0800 758 623 WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP YOU!
Bathroom Renovations, Gas Hot Water, Plumbing Services, Toilet
Always use a Licensed Plumber Gasfitter
Jan
Is your regular plumber or gasfitter a Licensed Plumber Gasfitter? MEDIA RELEASE | Homeowners are warned not to use unlicensed tradespeople over the summer break. Always use a Licensed Plumber Gasfitter. CHECK THE SERVICEMAN COMING TO YOUR HOUSE IS A LICENSED PLUMBER GASFITTER New Zealand homeowners are being warned today not to use unlicensed tradespeople for plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying work. The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB), which regulates the industry, is calling on New Zealand homeowners to ask plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers for their licence cards to ensure they are authorized to carry out the work. PGDB Chief Executive, Max Pedersen said it is illegal for anyone to do plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying unless they are authorized to do so by the Board. From 1st April each year, plumbers, gasfitters, and drainlayers must re-license with the Board in order to work legally in New Zealand. DON’T RISK NOT USING A LICENSED PLUMBER GASFITTER “We’re reminding homeowners not to risk their family’s health and safety, or their insurance hiring unauthorized tradespeople to undertake work. “Unlicensed plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers potentially place consumers in harm’s way with their poor skills. New Zealanders have the right to have confidence that any plumbing, gasfitting or drainlaying service provided to them is safe.” He added: “Anyone carrying out plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying must be able to produce their licence card if asked. This provides consumers with assurance the work is being legally carried out by an authorized and competent trades person. Someone who is currently licensed by the PGDB.” Consumers can also check to see if a plumber, gasfitter or trades person is authorized to carry out the work by logging onto the PGDB’s website at www.pgdb.co.nz, he said. “If a homeowner believes work has been done by someone who is not authorized, or has concerns about the competency of tradespeople, they can make a complaint to the PGDB.” REGENCY PLUMBING – CALL US FOR A LICENSED PLUMBER GASFITTER At Regency Plumbing all our team have a current license number and should have their card on them at all times. We strongly endorse the comments of the boards CEO, Max Pedersen. For a licensed plumber in Auckland or licensed gasfitter in Auckland, call Regency Plumbing. We are glad to be able to provide you someone who knows what they are doing. CLICK HERE for services provided by Regency Plumbing’s licensed plumbers and gasfitters. CALL OUR FRIENDLY TEAM ON 0800 PLUMBER | 0800 758 623 WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP YOU!
Bathroom Renovations, Gas Hot Water, Plumbing Services, Toilet
Plumbing World – Recommended By Regency Plumbing
Jan
PLUMBING WORLD IS WHERE YOU WILL FIND GREAT PLUMBING AND BATHROOM FITTINGS Plumbing World is a general plumbing merchant store which supplies everything. From basic plumbing trade products to top fashion bathroom fittings for your home. They supply many of the best brands from here in New Zealand and around the world. When you need great products to make your bathroom awesome – head on down to a showroom near you. With branches from Kerikeri to Invercargill, Plumbing World has grown to become the largest 100% New Zealand owned plumbing business. Visit a showroom near you to find the bathroom fixtures and tapware you love. You will be sure to find their team helpful and informative. If you wish to visit Plumbing World – CLICK HERE REGENCY PLUMBING HAS BEEN A SHAREHOLDER OF PLUMBING WORLD FOR OVER 15 YEARS Plumbing World is the supplier of plumbing products for many plumbers in Auckland. Over the years we have bought millions of dollars of product from them. We have always found them to have great products, which are well priced. As Plumbing World is owned by Plumbers from around NZ, selling quality products for the plumbers is a critical part of their philosophy. Plumbing World have their own brands, and other brands of taps and fittings. We use a good mixture of both. GETTING THE BEST PRICE FROM PLUMBING WORLD In most cases at Regency Plumbing we will be able to help you get a better price than just buying direct. We will do all we can, helping make your bathroom renovations, or kitchen upgrade, or new development more affordable. We can also help you make sure the fittings you want to purchase actually fit your installation. BE SURE TO GET A LICENSED PLUMBER TO INSTALL YOUR PLUMBING PRODUCTS Remember when you want to get your new fixtures and tapware installed, be sure to use a licensed plumber or gasfitter. Regency Plumbing is a great choice if you are in Auckland. Why? Because we are familiar with nearly all their products. We also have brand alliance with a number of the bigger suppliers in NZ. Regency Plumbing are one of the biggest plumbing companies in Auckland NZ. With a team of over 30 we have years of combined experience in plumbing, gasfitting, and heating. This allows us to solve any problem you might have. We also complete the plumbing of hundreds of new homes every year of which Plumbing World supplies the front of wall fixtures on. Regency Plumbing is also a service based business, making sure we take great care of our customers. We also have a specialist bathroom renovation team which will help you with design, layout, and managing your new bathroom. CLICK HERE to learn more about bathroom renovations
Jan
Many people ask… Why do I have Cloudy Hot Water? CLOUDY HOT WATER Of course nobody wants to cook or wash dishes using cloudy hot water or milky looking water. The good news is that the problem is usually minor and free of health risks. WHAT CAUSES CLOUDY HOT WATER, AND HOW TO GET RID OF IT? Water is an interesting substance. Made from two gasses (hydrogen and oxygen), it expands when turned into either a solid or gaseous (steam) state. Not only do minerals become trapped in water, but a wide range of gasses can also be trapped. These tiny air bubbles are the primary reason your water is white or cloudy as it comes out of the tap. As your water heater runs, the molecules in the water expand and trap any other gasses due to pressure. Think of how a bottle of soda holds onto carbonation. When hot tap water is drawn, it’s the same effect as opening that soda. The sudden reduction in pressure allows gas to separate itself and float to the top of your glass or pot, then escape into the air. You can watch this process in action in a clear glass – the water will clear from the bottom up. CAN OR SHOULD YOU EXPECT HOT WATER AFTER THE PLUMBER HAS BEEN? The answer is yes. As the plumber will often turn off the water, open up lines, make repairs, and then turn the water back on again. Air can be trapped in the lines, and as it escapes for a period of days or even weeks sometimes you can find you still get a bit of cloudy hot water. As noted above though it is not harmful to you, just not so appealing to look at when you see it in a clear glass or pot. Cloudy Hot Water If you need any further help with your plumbing or gasfitting, or you would like to see a full list of the services we provide CLICK HERE CALL OUR FRIENDLY TEAM ON 0800 PLUMBER | 0800 758 623WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP YOU!
