FAQ'S

We provide the best answers to your frequently asked questions about hot water systems. Hot water 2day is the best source for information about water heaters. We provide tips and advice on how to select the right model, how to save money on your energy bills, and more! 

Get the answers to all of your frequent questions about water heaters from our team at hot water 2day. We offer expert advice and services for both residential and commercial properties. We have a wide variety of hot water systems to choose from, and our experts are always happy to help you find the perfect one for your home.

 

Inquire Today

Cost of Hot Water Systems

Listed on our site we offer two fixed prices.

  • Supply including delivery ” this means we will have the product of your choice delivered to your chosen location generally within hours of your order being processed this applies for all major cities and a majority of regional areas. 
  • ” Supplied including installation ” (this price includes the product of your choice, delivery fee along with installation) this is priced for a straight changeover of like-for-like products. 

For anything outside of the purchase and delivery of a product or the supply and installation of like-for-like products, additional charges may be needed, listed below are scenarios where additional charges will be required.

  1. As part of the Australian standards, you may require the installation of additional valves, these valves are all listed on the site along with videos that describe these valves and their application.

2. Installation of a new system that isn’t the same as your existing system, may require additional charges for the alteration of pipework

3. Installation of a continuous flow water heater in place of an existing storage heater or vice versa.

On most occasions Delivery is free especially when you live in major cities or larger regional towns, on the odd occasion where you live outside of our free service areas you will be notified of any additional fees before delivery, fear not we will never slap you with an additional delivery fee without notification.

Best Water Heater

When you are looking at installing a new continuous flow water heater there are few things to understand.

  1. Is it LPG or Natural gas that you require? Lpg is bottled gas, Natural gas is supplied from the street.
  2. Do I need a 50 Degree unit or a 60-degree unit? Quite simply if you’re replacing a continuous flow with another continuous flow unit, you can easily see if you have a tempering valve or not, if you do then you want a 60-degree unit if you don’t then a 50-degree unit is what you need.
    3. If you are wanting to replace your existing gas storage water heater with a continuous flow unit, then things start getting a little trickier, and there are several questions you need to ask yourself.
  • I have no space for a large water heater, continuous flow units are great space savers, small compact, and easily put where traditional units won’t fit
  • I want an economical gas unit, Continuous flow units are only slightly more economical than storage units, If you are serving under 3 people in the house, anything over this you are not saving anything.
  • I run out of hot water, as the name suggests these will supply you with a continuous amount of hot water.
  1. Can the plumber connect onto a 20mm cold water pipe? Traditionally gas storage water heaters are serviced by a 15 mm cold water supply, however, this is inadequate for a continuous flow unit as they require a larger flow of water to function.
  2. Can the plumber connect onto a 20mm gas pipe? Traditionally gas storage water heaters are serviced by a 15 mm gas supply, however, this is inadequate for a continuous flow unit as they require a larger flow of gas to ensure the burner fires up.
  3. When installing a continuous flow unit an electrician is required to install an external PowerPoint, most traditional units that we sell will require this.

More often than not a continuous flow water heater isn’t a straightforward install when replacing a gas storage heater, so what other options can be offered? The good news is that manufacturers have recognised this issue and have engineered a few products that will provide a suitable solution in the instance where a continuous flow will not suit.

  1. Rheem or AquaMax 340Ltr Gas water heaters, these units are a storage unit with a capacity of 155L, however, these hard-working units will deliver 340L TRS of hot water in the first hour with 185L delivered every hour after, meaning they will supply ample hot water for any large-sized family, along with a very speedy recovery rate ensuring that your demands are met easel, not only are they a happy medium between a traditional storage heater and a continuous flow unit they are also 5 stars rated with proven efficiencies. 

Rheem-5-Star-340 155L Gas Hot Water System

2. Rheem stellar 330 and 360, these units are not only 5 stars rated but also deliver large amounts of hot water for the consumers, with the delivery of either 330Ltrs or 360Ltrs in the first hour and up to 200Ltrs every hour after, making these units a terrific solution and option when considering the installation of a new water heater instead of a continuous flow unit. 

Rheem Stellar 360 160L Gas Hot Water System

Recently I have been trying to purchase a large ticket item online valued at several thousand dollars, however, my confidence in pulling the trigger on the purchase has been limited by my knowledge of what I am buying and of course the amount that I am spending on the item

I am struggling to gather enough information on what would be suitable for my application. And simply the reviews that I have found on the products don’t seem real? And I can’t trust what the sites are telling me. ( sites like product review and of course the manufacturers sites are never to be trusted when purchasing) 

At the end of the day, I need to either find a professional who will offer me an unbiased opinion and tell me what I need to know so that I have faith in my decision or I roll the dice and hope for the best. Unfortunately for me, the information at hand doesn’t give me this luxury.

This got me thinking? My customers are likely in the same boat as me, they are asking themselves the same questions

What if it doesn’t do what I need and it’s a dud, I’ll be stuck with a product that isn’t suitable?

Will the online supplier warrant the product if it fails? Or will they just disappear into the internet without a trace? Is the online supplier offering me what I need or is he selling me what he wants?

Am I dealing with an Australian company that is knowledgeable about what they sell or are they a shell company just there to take a quick buck?

So let’s discuss the first question

The simplest way to answer this question is by asking yourself the following questions and finding the answers.

  1. What system do I currently have? On the side of every water heater is a sticker (except for some continuous flow water heaters) this sticker will tell you the capacity in liters, date of manufacture ( the age of the unit), the brand, write all this down or take a photo. 
  2. Has the existing unit you have performed the way it should? (has it given you enough hot water daily?)
  3. Is my existing unit restricted by cupboards, surroundings, or access that may prevent a newer or larger unit from being installed?
  4. Ask yourself “will my hot water consumption be increasing shortly?” if yes then you may want to install a larger unit.

Once you have completed the above questions it’s time to start shopping, the simplest way to buy a new system is to purchase the same sized unit as you currently have (unless of course, you are running out of hot water continually, if this is the case please give us a call and we will organise a suitable unit for you).

For example, if you have a Rheem 250Ltr water heater, then you can select another 250Ltr irrespective of brand, all brands will perform basically in the same way giving you the same result as your existing unit. 

The only differences between the units will be a possible variance in dimensions (so if you are short on space please check this) and of course the warranty periods, with Rheem being the only product that offers 12 years on some products, however, all other brands will have a 10 year warranty period.   

Buy with confidence, when buying according to the capacity, choose a unit that is of the same capacity and you can’t fail. All the brands we offer are tried and true well-known products with strong after-sales support and warranties.

Abbreviations

PLV stands for Pressure Limiting Valve. It reduces the water pressure that comes through the pipes.
ECV stands for Expansion Control Valve. This is otherwise known as Pressure Limiting Valve.

kPa stands for kiloPascal. It is a unit for measuring pressure. 1 kPa is approximately the pressure exerted by a 10-g mass resting on a 1-cm2 area.

kW stands for kilowatt which is a unit for measuring power.
MJ/h stands for Megajoules per hour. It is the unit used for ratings on hot water heater appliance, indicating the gas consumption, not the heat output.
L/min stands for Litres per minute. This is usually the unit used for measuring the delivery capacity for instant gas water heaters.

Water Pressure

Water pressure is the flow strength of water within your water pipes. It can be measured in the imperial measure of PSI (pounds per square inch) or the more widely accepted metric measure of kPa (Kilopascals). If you think about a balloon, how much air (pressure) should you put in it? If you don’t blow enough air in your pressure will be too low and the balloon will be limp, but if you blow too much air in then the pressure is too high and–POP! Similarly, if the water pressure in your pipes is too low then you aren’t going to be getting the best performance from your shower, taps, toilets–basically anything connected to your taps. Worse though is if your water pressure is too high–because then you run the risk of something going POP! And you don’t want that to happen in your home.
Call the Plumbing and Electrical Doctor today on 131091 for a free water inspection in your home.
The most common source of high water pressure is from the water supply. The water company sets the pressure to meet their own needs, such as delivering to fire hydrants, higher volume of residences, high elevation buildings, and other reasons. This water pressure is oft en well over 800kPa, and too often over 1000 kPa. However, the maximum recommended pressure for a residence is 500 kPa which is a requirement to meet the Australian Standards AS/NZS 3500 2003. This recommendation is also what manufacturers set as the maximum pressure to meet warranty requirements.
500 kPa should be more than enough to run your home, and you are unlikely to see any impact on the performance of your shower. Even if you were to run two showers at the same time, the change should be barely noticeable.
In a best case scenario–nothing. But even if nothing does happen, if an appliance connected to your water supply should stop working then the manufacturer may void the warranty if the water pressure is too high. In the worst case scenario, you may end up with a burst pipe and a flooded home.
Unfortunately, PLV’s – like any mechanical device – don’t last forever. If think you are experiencing symptoms of high water pressure and you already have a PLV, it’s worth having us test your water pressure, to see if the PLV is operating properly.
All new houses and renovations must use a Pressure Limiting Valve which controls the water pressure on your property. When these devices get older they become less efficient and can have a negative impact on the pressure in your home. These valves can be changed easily by a qualified plumber.

Hot Water Systems

Different solutions suit different situations. Things like roof space, energy tariffs and access to natural gas can all have an impact on which type of systems is going to deliver you the best results. If you have natural gas available on your property then gas boosted solar, 5 Star gas storage or continuous flow may be the best choice. If not, then perhaps an electric boosted solar heater or a Heat Pump might be the answer. To get the right advice from professional tradespeople give us a call. We will inspect your property, give you a list of options and tell you an upfront price before any work begins.
Yes, all of these options are possible:
  1.  Indoor gas water heaters are available but they require an available gas supply and flue through an external wall.
  2. A solar tank can be placed indoors, but if it’s gas boosted it will need a gas supply and flue through an external wall.
  3. Split heat pump systems – that allow the tank to be installed indoors and the heating unit outdoors – are also an option.

For the most effective solar hot water solution you need the following:

  1. Enough roof space – The average home needs about 2m x 2m of clear roof space to take 2 collectors which are around 2m tall x 1 m wide. You will also need some clearance space on your roof and some ground space for the ground-mounted hot water storage tank. If you decide to use a roof-mounted tank then you will need additional roof space depending on the size of the system. 
  2. A north-facing roof area – north facing roofs are exposed to the most sunlight. The more sunlight your system gets the more effective it will be. If you’re not sure, use a compass or check your property plans to see which direction the roof faces.
  3. A shade-free roof – the roof area where the solar collectors are going to be fitted needs to be shade-free. Consider what trees are planted on your property or neighbouring properties. If they are going to grow large enough to cast a shadow on your roof then your system may be less effective. Also, consider building developments which may cast shadows on your property.
  4. Climate can also impact a solar heater. Extremely cold or hot temperatures will need units that need a product designed to suit the climate.

Our qualified plumbers can help you make sure you have the right set-up. If your house doesn’t suit solar, a Heat Pump is a great alternative and they can also attract solar rebates and incentives.

Heat Pumps don’t need solar collectors to extract energy. Instead, they use the warmth in the air to extract and intensify the warmth that is naturally around us. They then use that warmth to produce hot water. Traditional solar water heaters use roof-mounted collectors to collect energy from the sun to heat the water. Both solar heaters and Heat Pumps attract government incentives.

How much you save depends on your existing system. If your old system is an electric water heater then you are likely to save more. Your current energy tariffs and how your new solar system is installed may also have an impact. The biggest savings on hot water bills are seen when replacing an electric water heater on a continuous tariff.

It is also important to know that solar water heaters can reduce greenhouse emissions by up to 65% depending on where you live, according to Australian Government approved modelling.

It depends on the size of the existing pipes and the type of system that you want to install. Some gas storage systems can be fitted to existing piping, but continuous flow systems require larger diameter pipes from the gas meter. Our qualified plumbers are also gas fitters. They can inspect your home and give you the right advice for a system for your home. 

 
If you have gas piping in your street, your home can be connected to natural gas. Our plumbers are also gas fitters and can provide you with the right advice for your home. If gas is not available, you can install a propane (also known as LPG) gas water heater, which can be run from refillable gas bottles.

t depends on how much hot water you use and when you use it. There are two types of gas hot water heaters:

  1. Continuous Flow – wall-mounted and compact these heat water as you use it so you should never run out of hot water. 
  2. Gas Storage – these heat the water and stores it ready for use supplying it at mains pressure. This means you can run several taps or showers at once without loss of pressure.

These three valves are essential when installing your water heater.

The short answer is yes, regularly. Your Hot water system is the most hardworking mechanical device in your house. It is heating water, expanding and contracting, building and releasing pressure day in and day out. It’s the quiet achiever that provides us with one of the most wonderful luxuries of our time. It is often the most neglected and overlooked part of our houses. Modern water heaters have a life expectancy of between 7-10 years. Do you know how old yours is? Manufacturers and the trade recommend that your water heater be serviced every 5 years, this will ensure that your water heater lasts as long as possible and continues providing you with piping hot water this winter and for many more to come. Some units may require annual or bi-annual maintenance, some of which can be carried out by the property owner. Check the owner’s manual for advice and if you are still unsure check with the manufacturer or your local plumber.