There are many options when it comes to heating water for your home or workplace. Many properties throughout Wellington use hot water systems such as:
How do you choose?
Every home and workplace has different requirements and demands for hot water. At Paramount Plumbing we can offer specialist advice to help you choose the system that will best meet your needs.
We have the knowledge and qualifications to advise on and install the system that’s right for you. Call us today for personalised advice.
Every home in Wellington needs some way to heat their water for showers, washing, cleaning, cooking, laundry, and so on.
Historically the most popular way to heat water has been hot water cylinders. Many Wellington homes will have a hot water cupboard in the hallway or laundry, which also helps to keep linen dry and fresh.
The hot water cylinder receives cold water form the mains water supply, and heats it using an internal heating element.
There are many different sizes of cylinder, from small, under-bench cylinders to the more common 180-200 litres.
As a general rule of thumb you should get 10-15 years from a quality hot water cylinder. This does vary, especially when your home is closer to coastal or geothermal areas.
Hot water cylinders are usually made from stainless steel and/or copper.
Stainless steel is very durable and corrosion-resistant, but it is also more expensive.
Copper cylinders are cheaper but don’t last as long.
More recently hot water cylinders have a vitreous enamel-lined cylinder. This is an organic finish that is fused to the metal cylinder and provides the best resistance to corrosion.
If you are thinking of replacing your hot water cylinder, there are a few things to consider.
The cylinder size you need is largely determined by how many people live in your home. The more people you have, the more hot water you will need.
A small cylinder is suitable for a household of one or two people with low hot water usage. A medium cylinder is suitable for a household of three or four people with medium hot water usage. A large cylinder is suitable for a household of five or more people with high hot water usage.
Older homes and homes in rural settings usually have low pressure systems. You know you have a low pressure cylinder when the person having a hot shower is affected by someone turning the tap on in the kitchen sink!
Increasingly, new homes and renovations are installing mains pressure hot water cylinders so that they can enjoy the higher water pressure, and the ability to have two showers operating at the same time.
There are three main materials used to manufacture hot water cylinders:
Insulation makes it easier to heat water and keep it hot. High-quality insulation means you will need less energy to heat the water. This saves money in the long term.
For the same reason, it is good to wrap any exposed hot water pipes to prevent heat loss.
Warranties vary between manufacturers, and it is not uncommon for there to be different warrant periods stated for:
As an example, some Rheem cylinders have a 3-year parts and labour warranty, a 5-year tank labour warranty and 12-year tank warranty.
Interested in continuous gas hot water systems instead? Click here for more info.
When you are ready to buy a new hot water cylinder, give Paramount Plumbing a call on 0800027272. We’ll be happy to advise you on the best option for your home.
The beauty of gas hot water systems is you never run out of hot water. They heat water on demand and are very energy efficient.
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Paramount Plumbing and Gas are locally owned and operated Plumbers in Wellington. Paramount was founded to provide an unrivalled, top-quality service to homes and businesses alike, and have extensive plumbing and gas fitting experience in Wellington and surrounding suburbs. We’re proud of every job we do, whether it’s fixing emergency leaks (What to do if you have a plumbing emergency), performing repairs or working on major installations.
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info@paramountplumbing.nz
Paramount Plumbing and Gas LTD is a locally owned, Wellington-based company founded to provide an unrivalled, top-quality service to homes and businesses alike. We’re proud of every job we do, whether it’s fixing emergency leaks, performing repairs or working on major installations.
