by Gary Mays | Jun 8, 2018 | Consumer Issues, Gold Coast Plumbing, Hot Water, Hot Water Heat Pump, Hot Water Solar, Hot Water Temperature, Plumbers Gold Coast, Plumbing Maintenance, Sanden “Eco®” Plus Heat Pump hot water system, solar hot water
Replacing Your Hot Water Service – How Will You Know What’s Right For You?
When replacing your hot water service the most common question asked is what will it cost?
Whilst price is always an important consideration, at Whywait Plumbing believe that there are other equally important factors. This article will help you make an informed decision.
Should The Price of the Replacement Hot Water Service Be The First Consideration?
Besides renovating your home, replacing your hot water service is a major cost. It is often an expense that occurs with very little warning.
Unfortunately, unless you like cold showers, this gives you little time to carefully review available replacement options.
Hot water systems are not all created equal and the choice you make today will be one that lasts for the next ten to fifteen years. With ever-increasing energy costs impacting household budgets, having an efficient and well maintained hot water service has never been more important. A cheap hot water service may cost you a great deal more in ongoing expenses.
With So Many Hot Water Systems On the Market How Do You Know Which One To Choose?
With modern technological advances and the push for energy-efficient heating solutions, it’s no longer a matter of just replacing your hot water system with like for like. So how do you know which hot water service to buy?
Hot water services are available in electric, gas, solar and heat pump models, and all come in a huge range of sizes. Purchasing the right hot water service for your needs is something you should seek advice about from a qualified hot water specialist. With a little help from Whywait’s Hot Water Specialists you will be able to select the system that best suits your situation.
Hot Water Service FAQ’s
Before making any decisions about a hot water service replacement you will need to think about:
- What size is your current hot water service and have you ever run out of hot water with your current hot water system?
- Does your current hot water service operate on an off-peak electricity tariff?
- Are your hot water needs likely to increase, decrease or stay the same over the next five years?
- Do you intend to remain in your current property for at least the next five years?
- What is more important to you the initial up-front installation cost or the ongoing running costs?
- Is the quality of the product and length of warranty a consideration when comparing hot water services?
Once you have answered the above points it will be time to consider the available options.
by Gary Mays | Jun 7, 2018 | ZeroFlush waterless urinals
ZeroFlush Waterless Urinals: A Sustainable Choice for Every Gold Coast Business
ZeroFlush waterless urinals are gaining traction among architects, hydraulic engineers, facilities managers, and building owners throughout the Gold Coast, thanks to their significant water conservation benefits.
The Debate on Cost Savings
At Whywait Plumbing, we recognise the discussions around the financial benefits of ZeroFlush waterless urinals. Though they do not use water and hence save on water consumption, the broader debate often centres on the costs associated with their installation, maintenance, and operation.
However, the strongest argument in their favour is their environmental and sustainable superiority over traditional water-flushing urinals.
Corporate Responsibility and Environmental Sustainability
Choosing ZeroFlush waterless urinals is not just about saving water; it’s a statement of corporate responsibility towards sustainability.
With Whywait Plumbing’s extensive experience with ZeroFlush, we confidently offer a performance guarantee, asserting that these installations will lower your water and sewer discharge expenses.
Advantages of ZeroFlush Installation
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Reduced Capital and Maintenance Costs: The absence of expensive electronic water flushing systems lowers installation costs, and the lack of water reticulation valves minimises maintenance expenses.
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Simplified Cleaning Procedures: Our natural enzyme cleaning products make maintenance both simple and eco-friendly.
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Prevention of Blocked Drains: ZeroFlush urinals contribute to fewer blockages and issues with drainage traps.
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Environmentally Sustainable: All materials used to manufacture and maintain ZeroFlush urinals are ecologically friendly.
The Complexity of Calculating Water Savings
Calculating the payback period for installing ZeroFlush waterless urinals can be complicated. Using the average of $9 per 1,000 litres of water from Gold Coast Water and the example of an office with four men working in it, we can come up with some estimates.
Let’s say each man flushes a urinal 2,000 times yearly or about 5.5 times per day, meaning the four men flush the toilet 4,000 times yearly in the office. An older, water-flushing urinal using 15 litres per flush will use 60.000 litres, costing about $540 yearly just for water.
Calculating the Payback Period
While ZeroFlush urinals prioritise water savings over monetary savings, the investment is justified through environmental sustainability.
For instance, in an office scenario, replacing an older, water-flushing urinal with a ZeroFlush model can lead to substantial water savings and reduced annual water costs.
A Commitment to Sustainability
Despite the primary focus on water conservation, ZeroFlush waterless urinals are a worthwhile investment for their sustainability benefits.
Contact Whywait Plumbing today to learn how ZeroFlush urinals can enhance your building’s environmental footprint and save on water and sewer costs.
by Gary Mays | May 29, 2018 | emergency plumber Gold Coast, Hot Water, Hot Water Solar, Hot Water Temperature
Is no hot water a real plumbing emergency?
If you are reading this blog because you have no hot water and wondering if having no hot water is a plumbing emergency, read on.
Generally speaking, if you have time to research a problem on Google, it’s probably not a plumbing emergency. Although technically speaking, having no hot water isn’t exactly a plumbing emergency as the house is not being flooded and no lives are in danger, but still…
Even though no hot water usually isn’t an emergency in a technical sense, at Whywait Plumbing, we made the decision many years ago that we don’t consider hot water to be a luxury, so, for this reason, we offer a same-day guarantee for a situation where your household is without hot water.
So why have you no hot water?
In our 41 years of experience at Whywait Plumbing, we have found the most common causes of having no hot water are:
· Faulty element or thermostat (possibly both)
· The relief valve is constantly leaking
· Faulty tempering valve
· The Off-Peak relay switch failed to activate
· Insufficient sunlight to heat solar hot water
· Demand exceeds the capacity
· Leaking hot water service
No Hot Water Troubleshooting Checklist
Follow the DIY checklist below before calling for help, starting with
Locate your hot water service and check the following:
- Check for any leaks in the tank, especially around the electrical box. (Do not remove the cover, as doing this will expose live wires)
- If the relief valve is leaking, activate the lever until the water runs out in a continuous flow, then return the lever to the original position and see if the leak stops.
- A faulty tempering valve usually results in tepid water rather than no hot water. You can test this by activating the relief valve and checking if the water in the tank is more desirable than the water delivered at the taps.
- If your hot water service is connected to off-peak electricity, check with your energy supplier to see if there have been any problems, in your suburb, with transmitting to the relay switch at your home.
- For solar hot water, check for foliage blocking sunlight to panels, that panels are clean and if cloudy or wet, that the booster switch is on.
Locate the meter board and check the following:
- Check the hot water switch is in the on position.
- Check for a tripped circuit breaker or a blown a fuse.
Emergency or not, having hot water that is not hot enough or no hot water can be unpleasant and inconvenient. However, you will be happy to know in most instances, it is a simple fix.
Whywait Plumbing recommends that all adults residing in a household should, at a bare minimum know the following:
- Where the main water isolation valve for the property is located.
- How to turn off the water at the water meter (usually found in a turf box on the property boundary).
- How to turn off the water at the hot water service.
- How to isolate the power to the house at the meter board.
Should an emergency arise where any of the above is required having, this prior knowledge will allow the situation to be handled quickly and calmly, allowing you to make the situation safe and minimise damage to the property.
by Gary Mays | May 22, 2018 | Blog
Gas Fitter or plumber? There is a difference.
Here at Whywait Plumbing we are often asked if we do gas fitting?
While some plumbers offer gas fitting services, individuals qualified solely as gasfitters can’t offer plumbing services and in case you’re wondering YES Whywait Plumbing does do gas fitting work.
Find this a tad confusing then let us explain:
What is plumbing work?
Plumbing work is defined in the Australian Standards (AS3500) Regulations 2013 and refers to any operation, work or process in connection with installation, removal, demolition, replacement, alteration, maintenance or repair to the system of pipes and fixtures that conveys clean water into and liquid waste out of a building.
To become a licensed plumber a four year apprenticeship (Certificate III in Plumbing) is required.
As part of this course, instruction in the basics of gas fitting will be undertaken. Upon completion these basics in gas fitting will allow the plumber to not only apply for his plumbing licence but also an interim gas licence and carry out gas work under the supervision of a fully qualified gas fitter.
To obtain a full gas licence from the Department of Mines and Energy the plumber will need to have worked on an interim gas licence for a minimum period of twelve months and successfully completed a Certificate IV in Plumbing.
What is gasfitting work?
Gasfitting work is defined in the Gas Standards (AG5601 Gas Installations) Regulations 2013 as to any operation, work, or process in connection with installation, removal, demolition, replacement, alteration, maintenance or repair of a gas installation.
To train as a gasfitter and gain an interim gas licence it is necessary to complete Certificate III in Gasfitting which once achieved will allow the recipient to work under the supervision of a fully qualified gas fitter. This course is much shorter and does not cover plumbing works.
The course can be completed by non-tradespersons or tradespersons within electrical, mechanical, electronics and other fields who are required to work on and install, commission and service Type A gas appliance and reticulated gas supplies.
Once again to obtain a full gas licence from the Department of Mines and Energy the recipient will need to have worked on an interim gas licence for a minimum period of twelve months and successfully completed the relevant Certificate IV qualification.
Now that we have clarified the difference between plumbing and gas fitting works we would like to give you some tips to ensure you choose the right person with the right qualifications for the job.
Important Differences between Plumber and Gasfitters
Consumer Safeguard
- A Gas Certificate & Compliance Plate should be issued by the fully qualified as fitter for all gas work.
Excludes servicing & fault finding.
So now you know the difference whether you need plumbing work or gas fitting work Whywait Plumbing has you covered. We’re here to help and just a telephone call away.
by Gary Mays | May 15, 2018 | solar hot water
Ever wondered if solar hot water systems work in winter? The short answer is Yes, solar hot water systems do work in winter, it’s not that simple though so let us explain.
Solar Hot Water Collectors
The heart of a solar hot water system is its hot water collectors. Solar hot water collectors capture and retain heat from the sun then transfer this heat to the water stored inside the tank.
So how do solar hot water collectors work?
Put simply, heat and infrared radiation are produced when short wave radiation light hits the reflective surface of the collector’s absorber, which is then trapped inside the collector.
Fluid, usually water, in contact with the absorber collects the trapped heat and transfers it to storage.
A common misconception is that your solar hot water system does not operate as well in the winter due to the cooler temperatures when in fact the real reason is the fewer hours of sunlight.
Solar Hot Water Collector Efficiency
The design of your solar hot water service has incorporated some technical factors to make the collector as efficient as possible.
Flat Panel Solar Collectors
The most common flat panel collector has a large surface area to maximise exposure to the sun. The coating used for the absorber has been formulated to absorb as much heat as possible and the glass is specially designed to allow as much light energy through as possible. Read more about Flat Panel Collectors.
A common misconception is that your solar hot water system does not operate as well in the winter due to the cooler temperatures when in fact the real reason is the fewer hours of sunlight.
Evacuated Tube Collectors
If your system has evacuated tube collectors then they will have long, skinny absorbers inside the glass tube and all the air will have been sucked out, which makes it highly insulated. Read more about Evacuated Tube Collectors.
Solar in a Warmer Climate
Here in Queensland we have a great climate for using Solar Hot Water and in most areas do not need to worry about pipes freezing. So when Queenslanders, or people living in a tropical climate, ask if solar hot water systems work well in winter, there is little to be concerned about. We still need to take some simple steps to ensure our solar hot water system is operating at its best during these cooler months though.
Handy Solar Hot Water Tips
Listed below are some handy tips to ensure your solar hot water system is operating to maximum efficiency and you don’t run out of hot water:
- Cut back any foliage casting shadows or blocking sunlight from the panels.
- Ensure there is no built up dirt or grime on the panels and clean with soapy water as required.
- Check that the relief valve is operating correctly and not leaking.
- If you run your dishwasher at night check it is connected to cold water only.
- Any laundry loads done at night are cold water washes.
- Review you evening hot water usage as remember any hot water used after dark won’t be reheated until the sunlight hits the panels the next morning.
- Use the electric booster on wet, cloudy or days of heavy demand.
Help Is On Hand
Here at Whywait Plumbing we understand that not everybody has a ladder or is able to climb up on their roof. Remember we are only a call away and happy to help!
