Hot Water in a Suburb of Two Halves
Housing in Centennial Park is extremely divided and that influences every hot water job here. Huge brick and stone houses were built around the edge of the park from 1905 to 1925; they are substantial houses on large blocks that are the result of a subdivision in 1904, which had covenants requiring that timber not be used and that the houses be constructed to a quality standard. At the Moore Park road end of the suburb the subdivision is changing to apartment blocks, many of which date from the 1970s. A hot water system that’s good for one person is not always good for another.
In the grand homes, the factors are demand, age and heritage. They’re big homes, with more than one bathroom and more people, and the system needs to be sized appropriately to provide sufficient hot water that won’t run out too quickly. The pipework that supplies it is often over 100 years old, old galvanised or early copper which may have flow constraints. And because a new system may be visible in substantial, often “heritage” houses, where it can be located may be subject to considerations.
In the 1970s apartments, access, strata and system type became the considerations. Access to and from the tank requires going through stairwells, corridors and cupboards created decades ago and changing the type of the tank system can require approval from the strata. Some blocks may have shared hot water systems. Once you know the type of building, the approach will change.
Whether you’re in a grand park-edge home or a Moore Park-end apartment, we fix and replace hot water systems daily, on a gas, electric, solar, heat pump and storage and continuous flow basis for Centennial Park and the Eastern Suburbs. It is only four kilometres from the CBD so we get there quickly.
Centennial Park Hot Water: The Numbers
When the large houses were built. Their century-old pipework can narrow the flow of hot water even when the system is operating properly.
A typical storage tank life. After 10 years and symptoms, it’s better to plan replacement than emergency failure.
NSW Energy Savings Scheme rebate for replacing an electric system with a heat pump. The federal STCs add about $860.
Lifespan of a continuous flow system, longer, for large homes requiring lots of hot water.
Sources: NSW heritage records, NSW subdivision records, NSW Energy Savings Scheme, federal STCs, manufacturer lifespan guidance.
Common Hot Water Problems We Fix in Centennial Park
Here are some things we see most often, from swapping out an element in an apartment to sizing for a large house.
No Hot Water at All
The most frequently heard call. For electric systems, it may be a faulty element or thermostat or a tripped circuit. For gas, it’s often a pilot light that won’t stay lit, a faulty thermocouple or a problem with the gas valve. We aren’t just speculating on what the issue is, we will diagnose it and most of these are repairs performed same day with parts on the van.
Running Out in a Large Home
A common problem in Centennial Park’s large homes. What worked fine years ago may not work with an expanding family or new bathrooms. This is usually due to sediment occupying tank space or a system that is too small. We determine if it’s a repair or a flush, or whether it needs a bigger system properly sized to the home.
Low Hot Water Pressure or Flow
Aged galvanised pipe that supplies the hot water system will corrode and narrow internally after 100 years or so, and result in hot water dripping even if the heater is fine. We test to determine if it is the system, the tempering valve or the old pipework that is causing the flow restriction and recommend the actual solution.
Rusty or Discoloured Hot Water
If the hot water supply is brown or rusty, it is likely that the anode rod has worn out and that the hot water tank is starting to corrode from the inside (although it may be rust falling off the old galvanised water supply pipes). We work out which it is. If the anode is replaced in time, the life of a tank can be saved for several years.
Leaking Tank or Fittings
Leaks from the fittings or valves can usually be fixed. A leak in the tank body itself is typically a sign of a corroded tank, which should be replaced. A leaking tank above someone else’s property is an emergency; in an apartment or heritage home, a leak onto period fabric is a serious threat. We diagnose it and provide an honest opinion.
Water Too Hot or Not Hot Enough
A fluctuating temperature is an indication of a bad thermostat or a tempering valve that is scaled up or seized. Most hot water systems have a tempering valve as required by NSW legislation, which restricts hot water to 50°C in bathrooms, and they wear out over time. We test and replace as necessary.
Signs Your Centennial Park Hot Water System Is Failing
Most systems will alert you before they crash. Catching these early will prevent a cold-shower emergency.
Rusty Water From the Hot Tap
If the water from the hot tap is brown or discoloured (but the cold tap is clear) the inside of the tank is corroding; the time has arrived to replace the anode. Also check the supply pipe, as an old galvanised pipe can shed rust into the water.
Hot Water Running Out Sooner
Sediment can be pushing out tank capacity if the once-working system is now cold mid-shower; or the house has grown too big for the system. In a large Centennial Park house, this is an issue that needs to be addressed during the winter.
Water Pooling Around the Tank
If there is water around the base of the tank, it must be addressed. Early diagnosis of a slow leak from a tank weep may be a fitting, but if the leak is persistent, then replacement of the tank body may be necessary. Don’t let it sit against heritage walls or drip into another unit.
The System Is Over 10 Years Old
The design life of storage tanks is 8 to 12 years. Where heritage siting needs thought, a planned replacement is better than an emergency failure, if yours is more than 10 years old and showing symptoms.
Dropping Hot Water Pressure
A common cause in older homes is a weakening of the hot side that has taken place over the years, including the corrosion of the century-old galvanised supply pipe and narrowing of the interior. It is worth diagnosing before thinking it is the fault of the system.
Rising Energy Bills
When a system is inefficient (sediment, scaling element, or age), it takes more energy to produce the exact same hot water. Your hot water system may be breaking down if the bill is creeping up while your usage hasn’t changed.
Choosing a Replacement in Centennial Park
Gas Continuous Flow
Great for Large HomesIt is often perfect for the big homes in Centennial Park, because it provides unlimited hot water, and a large family with multiple bathrooms will never run out of hot water. It also eliminates the extra space a large tank would take up. Lifespan of 15-20 years. A wall location is important in a heritage residence, it should be at the back of the house, and not interfere with the home’s appearance. Several units can be used for extremely large homes.
Heat Pump
Lowest Running CostThe most efficient and most popular choice, and the one that’s eligible for the highest rebates, up to $640 from the NSW Energy Savings Scheme and an estimated $860 in federal STCs to replace electric. Homes in Centennial Park on larger blocks may have the outdoor space and air circulation required for a heat pump, and may be a good match for this situation, but may require consideration for noise and location on a heritage home. We assess the space and siting.
Electric Storage
Simplest SwapCommon in the 1970s apartments and some homes, especially where there’s no gas connection. Least expensive to replace and easiest to swap like-for-like. The downside is running costs, and with a large family, one tank may not keep up with demand. Keep up to date on anode replacement to get full tank life.
Solar Hot Water
For Homes With Roof SpaceThe roof space for solar hot water is generally available on the large homes located in Centennial Park, and the operating expenses are extremely low. Panel visibility is what’s taken into consideration; a rear roof installation is more likely to be acceptable than a front roof one. Before recommending it, we evaluate the roof orientation, household size and heritage constraints.
Sizing Hot Water for a Grand Home
The large homes at Centennial Park stand in stark contrast to the apartment-and-flat-filled suburbs around the area. These are generously sized homes with a lot of bathrooms and an ensuite or two, and a family to match. In a one-bedroom flat this barely matters, but in a home like this, hot water sizing matters a lot.
The usual problem in these homes is that the hot water supply is not adequate and they end up with a cold shower. Sometimes it’s a failing system losing capacity to sediment; sometimes the system was simply never sized for the way the household uses hot water, or for an extra bathroom added in a renovation.
When we replace a system in a large Centennial Park home, we match it to the use, whether it involves the number of bathrooms or household size or peak usage time. A continuous flow system (or more than one) is usually the best choice because it won’t run out, though a larger storage tank or a properly sized heat pump can also work. The idea is to customize the system to the home, and not wind up with a cold shower while the rest of the house is using hot water.
Heritage Homes and Period Pipework
The grand homes of Centennial Park were built to withstand the passage of time, with brick and stone and under covenants which demanded quality. The plumbing line inside them is about 100 years old, however, and this has two implications for hot water.
First, the pipework for supply. Over the years the material of the pipes used for the hot water system deteriorates, rusting and narrowing the inside of the pipe, meaning hot water can be blocked by the pipe even if the system is functioning properly. When an old pipe is too constricted, a new heater can only perform as well as the old pipe allows, which is why we assess the pipework when considering replacement, and indicate when a section is worth replacing.
Second, the siting. Many of these houses are heritage listed and where a new external unit (continuous flow heater, heat pump or solar panels) can be installed, it is subject to keeping the home’s appearance intact. A unit on a prominent facade doesn’t suit a heritage home. We know where to install it so it won’t detract from the character, typically at the back, and we’ll flag anything needing council approval before you sign on the dotted line.
How a Hot Water Call-Out Works
Give us the symptoms: no hot water, running out, weak pressure, leak, etc. and if you are in a house or an apartment. We sent out a plumber.
We identify the actual problem and explain it simply, whether it’s element, thermostat, anode, valve, sizing or old pipework causing the blockage, including any heritage or strata aspects.
There are no hidden costs or surprises. Where possible we repair at your location, or replace with a system sized and positioned for your home, whether it be a heritage house or an apartment.
We test everything, clean up, and give a written report and warranty information, important for landlords, owners, and for records.
What Our Customers Say
“With our large house needing hot water all the time they installed a continuous flow system, just right for the house and it was installed in the back out of sight. No more cold water showers. Very good advice.”
“Fixed our problem quickly, told us exactly what the issue was, and charged a reasonable, fixed fee for the job; honest and knowledgeable.”
“They arrived the same day to fix the hot water in our apartment, were reasonably priced, and took care of the rebate paperwork for the new hot water system, highly recommend.”
Hot Water Repair Centennial Park: Frequently Asked Questions
Other Centennial Park Plumbing Services
We also do these typical jobs at Centennial Park.
Emergency Plumber:
Burst pipes, flooding and gas leaks that need immediate repair, across Centennial Park, 24 hours.
Blocked Drains:
Tree roots, grease and wet wipes cleared, with CCTV and jetting, across Centennial Park and the Eastern Suburbs.
Hot Water Service Areas Near Centennial Park
We service and replace hot water systems throughout Centennial Park and in all of the surrounding Eastern Suburbs areas.
No Hot Water in Centennial Park?
From a big house leak to an apartment that’s gone cold, we’ll diagnose the problem, size it properly and have hot water back in your home, same day!
