For the most part, seasonal hot water system issues in Australia are a matter of temperature and demand, of energy use and water pressure, and components that have been left to go. The cold water coming in during an Australian winter is enough to make a system labour and one’s showers will draw on more hot water. Then come the summer months and a household can be taken by surprise with a sudden leak, high demand, overheating or some other fault in the solar set up.
Olivia Redfern here. One learns from experience that domestic troubles do not present themselves with any courtesy; they make their presence known with a puddle beside the storage tank, an odd click in the cupboard or a shower that has gone lukewarm. I have put together this guide to cover what you can put your mind at ease about, what is likely to be amiss and when to put it in the hands of a licensed plumber.
Seasonal Problems Worth Catching Early
You will find troubleshooting a hot water system less of a chore once you get the pattern of the fault. A winter fault will tend to be one of capacity or heating, whereas in summer you are more apt to see trouble with pressure, solar controls and overheating. Regular preventive care routines can also help identify issues early.
This is not about making an amateur plumber of you. Rather, it is so you can identify a real problem and head off a minor nuisance before it turns into a flooded cupboard, a leaking tank or the prospect of a very costly cold shower.
| Symptom | Likely seasonal cause | Safe first check |
|---|---|---|
| Hot water runs out quickly | Higher demand in winter, an undersized system, a heating element on its last legs or wrong thermostat setting | See if all the taps are affected and give the system time to recover |
| Water is too hot | A tempering-valve issue, the solar is overheating or there is a fault with the thermostat | Do not use the system if there is a risk of scalding and get some professional input |
| No hot water | Could be a power or gas interruption, a tripped circuit, a control failure or pilot light | Have a look at the gas and power supply to the home, but leave the appliance alone |
| Water near the system | The tank is leaking, a pipe is damaged, a connection has come loose or there is a pressure relief discharge | Find the source of it but keep clear of electrical parts and hot water |
| Unusual noises from the system | A component giving way, restricted flow, expansion or sediment | Make a note of when it happens and put in for an inspection should it continue |
By way of a calculation, consider the demand of a shower. At 9 litres a minute you are looking at 90 litres over 10 minutes. Not a hard and fast rule for consumption but it will explain why a couple of long winter showers can empty a storage tank quicker than you would think.
Stay Warm Through Australian Winter
In winter the system is under more pressure as the inlet brings in colder water which it has to bring up to operating temperature, meaning recovery is slower and you may notice less hot water on hand.
There is also a change in habits. Showers run longer, the washing machine is put on a warmer cycle and warm water is used with greater frequency. The system could be in fine order but the house is putting more of a strain on it.
Why Your Winter Showers Go Cold
It is the number one complaint in winter that the water does not heat up to speed. With an electric system you might have a bad heating element, the electrical supply or a thermostat; with gas it is often the pilot or gas control. A heat pump will be slow to recover in the cold as it is drawing heat from the air.
Start by ascertaining if the whole house is involved. If the cold is confined to a single tap then the mixer or the tap itself is to blame. Where every outlet is down, look for a tripped breaker or loss of power and gas. Should it trip again, do not go about resetting it or taking the covers off.
Prevent Frozen Outdoor Components
While frozen pipes are something you are more likely to encounter in alpine climes or a hard cold spell than in most of the country’s cities, exposed pipework should not be overlooked. Some insulation on the more vulnerable pipes will stave off the cold and cut down on heat loss.
Under no circumstances put an open flame, a portable heater or boiling water to the pipework; the shock of rapid heat will do damage to the fittings. Isolate it if you can and ring a licensed plumber if the water stops flowing.
Cut Down on Winter Hot Water Demand
Do not be quick to conclude your system is broken just because the electricity bill is up. In winter the incoming water is of a lower temperature and usage is higher, hence the energy cost.
- Stagger your more demanding chores and pay attention to how long you are in the shower.
- Make sure the outdoor pipework is well protected and the visible insulation is in good order.
- Rely on the system’s standard controls rather than making adjustments to the thermostat without proper counsel.
- Make a note of any time the water is cold, how long it is before it recovers and if the problem has a way of recurring.
Take for instance a family of four that has been left with no hot water after a single shower; there could be a heating element on its last legs, a fault in the thermostat, sediment or simply not enough capacity. It is better to have a professional put these to the test than to replace parts on a whim.
Summer Systems Under Control
In Australia the hot water system will present other issues come summer. With the heat comes higher pressure, more output from a solar set up and greater water use in the home for cleaning or when one has visitors or is out in the backyard.
One might put up with a cool shower in such weather and think a fault is of no consequence. That is a mistake. An overheating cylinder, a tank on the leak or a bad temperature and pressure valve are still in need of tending to even if the weather is doing some of the work.
Heat And Pressure
Under strong sun a solar system can get very hot, especially if the house has been empty and there has been little demand on it. While a properly functioning unit has the right safety components and controls in place, an overheat may point to a defect in the tempering valve, circulation or thermostat.
A pressure relief valve will discharge water in the course of managing pressure but you should not let a steady drip, a sudden gush or water of a dangerous temperature go unheeded. Make sure children are kept clear of any discharge points to avoid scalding.
Weak connections will be made plain by water pressure too. Should you have hammering pipes or a valve in the habit of opening in the height of summer, have it inspected. Cranking up the pressure is no solution and could aggravate the matter.
Solar And Electric
Do not expect a bottomless supply of hot water just because it is summer. The solar system is only as good as its collector, backup heating and controls; an empty tank, cloud cover or a pump that has given up will see performance drop.
With an electric system the cold water is warmer so it seems fine, but a tank will be cold if the heating element is down. A heat pump will run well in warm air provided dust and plant growth are not impeding airflow.
As for inspecting solar collectors on the roof, leave that to those with the training and authorisation. There is no sense in mixing hot surfaces and electricals with a bit of Saturday afternoon tinkering.
Seasonal Comparisons
The Australian climate elicits a varied response from different systems. An understanding of the pattern will prevent one from putting the same cause to every symptom and is useful in deciding on a repair or a new system. The most powerful option does not suit a small home and the least expensive to put in is not always the one that costs the least to operate.
Electric Storage
These store their heated water in a tank or cylinder and are at the mercy of the household’s habits, the state of the heating element, the insulation and the thermostat. A slow recovery or lack of capacity will show in winter but may not be apparent until guests are in the house in summer. Any rumbling or popping from the unit is likely the sound of sediment taking its toll on the heating element.
Gas Continuous-Flow
Here the water is heated in passing rather than being held in volume. Provided it is of the right size there is a continuous supply, though one must attend to the flow rate, gas pressure and ignition.
If there is an issue with the pilot light or flue, call in a professional. In the event of an odd flame, a smell of gas or poor ventilation, do not use the appliance. Get out of the area and put in a call to your gas service or emergency number.
Heat Pump And Solar
The heat pump is an energy efficient way of drawing heat from the air into the water via electricity, but it calls for correct settings and installation. Solar will take the load off conventional heating but you want a back up for high use or when the clouds roll in. How either system performs in the season is as much down to the quality of the install as the technology.
For information on household energy the Australian Government has guidance available.
Know When A Technician Is Needed
A homeowner can be expected to do some checks, but not when it comes to the likes of roof equipment, gas controls, internal valves or electrical terminals. Hot water is an unforgiving business given the mix of high temperatures, pressure, gas and electricity involved.
That is where you will want professional hot water system repair Australia services to come in; they will put a fault in its proper perspective as being either unsafe, beyond repair or simply a case of the system having had its day.
Warning Signs That Matter
There are certain things that call for a qualified technician or licensed plumber: a tank on the leak, discoloured water, a valve that will not stop discharging, any smell of gas or something burning, water that is too hot to handle, no supply at all or circuit trips that keep happening.
One might get by with a leak at a connection, but if the tank itself is letting water out, there is likely internal failure or corrosion. Should water make its way to electrical gear, stay clear of the puddle and only cut the power if it is safe to do so.
A leaking tank need not be an emergency, though it has a way of becoming one. The tank will heat and expand and a small leak can escalate without notice. Make it a priority if the area is flooding or the water is scalding.
Build Reliable Year-Round Care
The sort of maintenance routines that are effective for a hot water system in Australia are for the most part unexciting. Yet a few observations over the course of the year will show a pattern and spare the system from giving up on a Sunday morning with every plumber’s diary full.
I have made my own household mistake in this regard. A slight alteration in the temperature of the water was easy to put down and move on with. In the end I could not overlook the problem and what should have been an early warning cost less than the ensuing repairs.
A Simple Maintenance Plan
Preventive care is a matter of following the manufacturer and what the local conditions dictate. It is well to put down in record any servicing, odd noises, repairs or a change in recovery time; a technician will find the evidence useful and it may save on parts that do not need replacing.
- Look for moisture around the tank and on visible pipes and connections.
- See if the temperature and pressure valve is dripping.
- Clear away the leaves, dust and other detritus from a heat pump’s airflow.
- After a spell of cloudy weather or an absence from home, check how the solar system is performing.
- Heed the advice of a professional when it is time for service.
For your part, do not put anything in the way of relief-valve outlets or safety covers, nor wrap up components that require ventilation. There is no point in turning up the thermostat for hotter water; it does not address a lack of capacity and raises the risk of scalding.
Plan For Local Conditions
You will find wide variation in the Australian climate. A Melbourne home has to contend with cold inlet water in winter, a property in the Top End with the wet season and the attendant storms and power loss, and an alpine dwelling with pipe-freezing that would not be an issue in coastal Queensland.
An electric or heat pump system, even with backup solar, will be put out of action by a power outage. Give it time to get back to normal before writing it off. But if the circuit is tripping once more, leave it and seek plumbing or electrical counsel.
To Repair Or Replace?
If the tank is in good order and the trouble is with a heating element, pump, valve or thermostat then a repair is the sensible option. When the tank is corroded or leaking inside, or just cannot meet the demands of the household, replacement is called for.
Allowances in the budget will depend on access and location among other things. By way of a rough guide, expect to pay in the region of AUD 150 to 350 for a service, AUD 250–600 for a run of the mill component repair and anywhere from about AUD 1,500 to well over 6,000 for a new system. One should not take these figures as set in stone; they are no more than estimates and can be altered by a host of factors from urgent compliance work to electrical upgrades or where access is problematic.
Household Use and Capacity
It is the gap between what is expected and the reality that will have it with many a household. Put in a bigger tank and you do not have a cure for an ill-tempered thermostat, poor insulation or profligate use. On the other hand, while a small tank is all one or two conscientious users need, it is no good for a family keen on long showers.
Take stock of the situation before putting in a new system: the climate, how many people there are, their showering habits, the energy at your disposal and roof or outdoor space, not to mention when you like to run things. And put some questions to your installer as to what the proposed system will make of cold weather, overcast days or a spike in demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
A perfectly unremarkable shower can turn into something of an inquest in the home, and I am asked the following most often. The answers are straightforward enough, though any symptom of danger warrants a professional opinion.
Why is my hot water being used up quicker in winter?
The incoming cold water calls for more energy to be heated and in winter households tend to draw more of it. Then there is the matter of a defective heating element or thermostat, sediment, or storage capacity that is insufficient to make the difference.
Summer and a non-functioning hot water system?
You could be looking at a power loss, a problem with the gas control or solar circulation, a tripped safety device, a failed element or blocked airflow to the heat pump. See to the basic power and water supply and if every outlet is affected have it tested professionally.
What kind of trouble does one get with hot water in Australia?
Anything from the water not heating or running out in a hurry, to leaking tanks or connections, valve discharge, low pressure, a pilot light that will not stay lit, or a build-up of sediment. It is a case of what the local conditions and type of system will allow.
How to keep the system from freezing in the depths of winter?
Insulate any pipework that is exposed and keep the cold air off the vulnerable parts. For systems in alpine country or where it is very cold you would want to consult an expert. Under no circumstances should a naked flame or boiling water be used to thaw a pipe.
Excessively hot water in the summer?
Something is amiss with the tempering valve, the solar control or the thermostat. Scalding hot water is a safety concern. If you have to, put the supply out of commission and get a licensed plumber or technician to look at it.
How often is servicing required here in Australia?
There is no one size fits all. A qualified professional will take into account the age of the system, the fuel, the quality of the water and the climate, but start with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Do not wait for advice if you see a change in performance or the safety components have discharged.
Time to repair or to replace?
If the tank is in order and a component has given way, a repair will do. But when there is extensive corrosion or the tank is leaking, or the system cannot cope with the house, then replacement is in order.
Is a leak an emergency?
It can be, particularly if the water is scalding, or if it is making its way to electrical equipment or out of the tank. Get clear of any wet electrical areas and put in a call for help without delay.
For a predictable shower
It is better to be on top of seasonal issues early. In the winter the system has to recover and be shielded from the cold, in the summer one must be mindful of leaks, pressure and how the solar is performing.
Make note of how the system normally behaves and put pen to paper for maintenance. When in doubt as to safety, ring a licensed plumber. There is nothing to be said for the glamour of it, but you will be the first to know when such a household luxury as dependable hot water is gone.