Hot Water Banksmeadow

Restoring Hot Water to a 20-Unit Residential Complex in Kings Cross

When a centralised hot water system fails, it can impact all of the residents. That's exactly what happened when the team at Everyday Plumbing was called to a residential unit block in Kings Cross after all hot water services suddenly stopped working.

The building, which consisted of approximately 20 units, relied entirely on a centralised hot water system. With no hot water available throughout the complex, residents were understandably frustrated and required an urgent solution.

Our experienced Sydney plumbers attended the property on Good Friday during the Easter long weekend to investigate the cause of the failure and restore hot water as quickly as possible.

Diagnosing the Cause of the Hot Water Failure

Upon further inspection, our plumbers identified a major failure within the existing commercial hot water system. The heat exchanger had failed, letting water enter the system's electronic components.

As moisture spread throughout the electronics, the system completely broke down. The damaged electrical buttons and wiring no longer worked, preventing the unit from having access to hot water. Our team decided that a full replacement was the only way forward.

Emergency Temporary Hot Water Solution

As an immediate solution, we installed multiple electric hot water systems to create a temporary bypass arrangement. The system we needed was made to order, so it wasn't readily available. While not ideal as a long-term solution, these systems provided functional hot water to the building while we were waiting for the replacement equipment.

Removing the Existing Centralised Hot Water System

Once the new system arrived, our plumbers returned to the property a week later to complete the replacement. The project involved dismantling and removing the existing hot water infrastructure including:

• Failed Raypak heat exchanger
• Existing 430-litre hot water tank
• Associated pipework and components
• Damaged mechanical equipment

All of these components were removed manually by hand and safely removed down six flights of stairs.

Installing a New Commercial Hot Water System

We installed a brand new hot water system, designed to provide reliable hot water to all 20 units within the complex.

The installation included:

• New commercial hot water system
• New pipework throughout
• New circulation pumps
• Updated exhaust system
• System commissioning and testing

Our team made sure that every component was installed to the latest safety standard and thoroughly tested to ensure it is working properly and safely.

The Result

The new centralised hot water system meets the daily demands of residents while offering improved reliability and performance compared to the previous setup.

By responding quickly during the Easter long weekend and implementing a temporary hot water solution, Everyday Plumbing was able to minimise disruption and ensure residents were not left without hot water while waiting for the permanent replacement system.

 

 

 

Replacing an Old Gas Instantaneous Hot Water System

This customer in Burraneer contacted our hot water team after their existing Bosch instantaneous gas hot water system failed. The system was indoors, old, had developed reliability issues and replacement parts had become increasingly difficult to find. This made repairing it more expensive than it needed to be.

Assessing the Best Hot Water Replacement Option

Following an assessment, our team initially recommended replacing the Bosch unit with a new Rinnai internal gas instantaneous hot water system. However, the customer was concerned about the overall price. Internal gas units are considerably more expensive than their external counterparts due to their design and installation requirements. This increases the replacement cost by approximately 50%.

The customer asked if there was a more cost-effective alternative and we proposed installing an external Rinnai instantaneous hot water system on an exterior wall of the property. Although this required the installation of new hot water, cold water, and gas pipework, the overall cost remained significantly lower than replacing the system with another internal model.

The Installation Process

To achieve a neat and professional finish, the new services were routed internally through the garage before exiting to the external installation location. A licensed electrician installed a dedicated outdoor power supply to suit the new appliance, and the installation was completed in full compliance with the manufacturer’s requirements.

The customer was extremely pleased with the outcome. The completed installation provided a reliable, modern hot water system with neatly concealed pipework, while also delivering an estimated saving of approximately $2,000 compared with installing a new internal unit.

Hot Water System Upgrade!

Our plumbing team were called to a home in Gymea to investigate a Rheem gas hot water system. The homeowners were getting frustrated with the positioning of the hot water system and they weren't able to install a fold-down washing line due to the unit blocking it.

To resolve this, the homeowners wanted to replace their bulky Rheem system with a compact Rinnai 26L instantaneous hot water system. This system is approximately one-seventh of the size of the original unit, providing a sleek and less obstructive design.

We keep the installation process Neat and Tidy

During this job, the homeowner emphasised that it was incredibly important for the installation to be neat, particularly in how the pipes were positioned and attached to the wall. To achieve a clean and tidy finish, sections of the brick wall were carefully removed to allow the pipe connections to sit within the wall cavity, leaving them flush with the surface of the brickwork.

All works were completed to a high standard, and the outcome successfully addressed the client’s space constraints.

The new system also provides continuous hot water, subject to a constant gas and electrical supply.

Hot Water System Upgrade in Lilli Pilli - Solar to Heat Pump Replacement

This homeowner in Lilli Pilli called our hot water team to discuss why they had no hot water. This was caused by a failed roof-mounted solar system. The unit was severely corroded and beyond repair

How We Solved The Problem

Our team of hot water technicians thoroughly inspected the roof and the solar system, confirming that the only option was to completely replace it. At this stage, it was more cost-effective than trying to repair the system.

Our Solution

We recommended upgrading to an air source heat pump system over another solar system. This was due to the high additional cost of purchasing and installing a brand-new solar system. Roof-mounted solar systems are also difficult to service and can rack up expensive running costs during rainy, cloudy weather.

This heat pump can run virtually free of charge if there are already PV solar panels installed, but they also run incredibly effectively if there aren't any solar panels, so it's a win-win situation. This new system is also mounted on the ground, making it easier to access when it comes time to perform maintenance and repairs.

Another bonus is that there are several government rebates and schemes available when switching to heat pump systems. This helps reduce the overall initial cost of the unit.

If you need to upgrade or replace your hot water system, call our experienced technicians on 0488 801 008 or fill out our online booking form today.