Bathrooms
How to Prevent Mould and Mildew in Your Bathroom
As an experienced Wellington plumber, Paramount Plumbing & Gas knows that preventing mould and mildew is one of the smartest ways to protect your home.
Reliable Hot Water Solutions for Wellington Homes
At Paramount Plumbing & Gas, we understand the importance of a dependable hot water system for your daily comfort. Serving Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, and Porirua, our certified professionals specialise in installing, maintaining, and upgrading a wide range of hot water systems to suit your specific needs.
Types of Hot Water Systems We Offer
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:
1. Continuous Flow Gas Systems
Experience endless hot water with our continuous flow gas systems. These units heat water on demand, ensuring you never run out. They’re energy-efficient, as gas is only used when a hot water tap is turned on, and they provide consistent water pressure throughout your home.
2. Gas Storage Water Heaters
Ideal for households with higher hot water demands, gas storage heaters keep a reservoir of hot water ready for use. They offer quick recovery times and are a reliable choice for families.
3. Electric Hot Water Cylinders
A common choice in New Zealand homes, electric cylinders are straightforward to install and maintain. While they have higher running costs compared to other systems, they are suitable for properties without gas connections.
4. Hot Water Heat Pumps
For energy-conscious homeowners, hot water heat pumps are an excellent option. They use ambient air to heat water, significantly reducing electricity usage. Although the initial investment is higher, the long-term savings on energy bills make them a cost-effective solution.
5. Solar Hot Water Systems
Harness the power of the sun with solar hot water systems. These systems can substantially lower your energy bills and carbon footprint. They’re most effective in areas with ample sunlight and can be integrated with electric or gas boosters for cloudy days.
Why Choose Paramount Plumbing & Gas?
Certified Expertise: Our team comprises licensed professionals adhering to New Zealand’s safety and quality standards.
Local Knowledge: With extensive experience in the Wellington region, we understand local requirements and preferences.
Customer-Centric Approach: We prioritise your comfort and satisfaction, offering personalised solutions and transparent communication.
Quality Assurance: We use reputable brands and high-quality materials to ensure the durability and efficiency of your hot water system.
Hot Water Cylinders
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.
How long should a hot water cylinder last?
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.
What are the cylinders made of?
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.
How do I choose a new or replacement hot water cylinder?
If you are thinking of replacing your hot water cylinder, there are a few things to consider.
1. What size cylinder do you need?
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.
2. Should you get low pressure or mains pressure?
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.
3. What construction material is best for your situation?
There are three main materials used to manufacture hot water cylinders:
- Stainless steel:
- Pros: very durable, corrosion-resistant
- Cons: more expensive.
- Copper cylinders:
- Pros: Cheaper
- Cons: Don’t last as long.
- vitreous enamel:
- Pros: Organic finish that is fused to the metal cylinder, provides the best resistance to corrosion.
4. How much insulation does the cylinder have?
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.
5. What warranty comes with the cylinder?
Warranties vary between manufacturers, and it is not uncommon for there to be different warrant periods stated for:
- parts and labour – typically 1-3 years.
- replacement of cylinder – typically 3-12 years.
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.
Gas Hot Water Systems
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.
Rinnai Infinity Gas Hot Water
Rinnai is a leading manufacturer of gas hot water systems. They are so popular in New Zealand that many people simply ask for a Rinnai rather than mention gas hot water systems.
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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.
Raising the standard of plumbing and gas fitting throughout Wellington