Extreme weather can damage hot water systems. Insulate pipes and tanks, drain sediment, maintain thermostat temperature. Prepare in advance to prevent issues.
In Mortdale’s fluctuating climate, ensuring your water heater is ready for both sweltering heat and freezing cold is essential to avoid burst pipes and water tank damage. Proactive maintenance can avert costly repairs and disruptions.
Insulating pipes, adjusting thermostats, checking anode rods, and clearing sediment buildup are cost-effective ways to optimise systems. Upgrading older units or adding protective features like heat tape and pressure relief valves helps heat your water efficiently and provides further protection. Follow our expert advice to guarantee warm water delivery from exposed pipes, even during Mortdale’s harshest weather.
Insulating your hot water tank and the initial two metres of connecting pipes can substantially reduce heat loss, particularly for pipes against exterior walls during Mortdale’s cooler periods.
Homeowners should adhere to Red Cross guidelines by insulating tanks with R2 rated wraps or blankets and applying foam tubing to exposed pipework. This creates a thermal barrier, ensuring a safe warm environment where more heat energy directly warms the water rather than dissipating into the air.
For optimal insulation of your hot water unit, position the tanks and pipes away from exterior walls or unconditioned areas like basements crawl spaces.
Alternatively, use insulation sleeving for more effective protection of your house’s pipes and ensure all joints are fully insulated.
Well-insulated systems ensure your water heats more efficiently, which can make a significant difference to energy costs, and allowing the investment in materials to be recouped via ongoing savings on energy bills. A well-insulated water heater is not only winter-ready but also cost-effective all year round. Call us if your hot water insulation needs an upgrade prior to the onset of colder weather.
Sacrificial anode rods play a crucial protective role inside tank components, defending against corrosion. Made from reactive metals like aluminium or magnesium, they attract corrosive damage instead of the tank itself. Checking and replacing anode rods regularly helps water heaters last longer.
Replace the anode rod if substantial pitting or a reduction to less than 6 mm in diameter is identified during inspection.
Reinstall a new food-grade anode rod, using pipe thread sealant to prevent leaks. Continuing this maintenance ensures the tank itself stays corrosion-free for up to a decade longer than units with untouched anode rods. Feel free to reach out to our team if you require assistance with your plumbing pipes or accessing or assessing your hot water system’s sacrificial anode.
Over time, sediment from rust, corrosion, and mineral deposits can accumulate at the base of hot water tanks, impacting water pressure and requiring routine flushing. Left unchecked this buildup insulates the heating element, forcing it to work harder while reducing available hot water.
To maintain your system’s efficiency, we recommend periodically draining and flushing systems. Open the pressure relief valve, allowing the sediment-laden tank water to drain out via the connected hose.
Start by switching off the power, closing the cold water inlet valve, and affixing a hose to the tank’s drainage spigot.
After turning the spigot to the pilot light position and ensuring clear water runs, refill the tank via the cold inlet. The lighter tank now heats water faster using less energy. For heavily sedimented units, consider professional draining or replacement if more than 8 years old.
Bleed air from taps, restore power and monitor.
To maintain comfortable hot water in winter, many homeowners raise their water heater’s temperature. However, we caution against temperatures above 49°C to prevent accidental scalding. Use a thermometer to make sure your settings align with safety recommendations.
For safe water temperatures and appliance support, install thermostatic mixing valves to balance temperature pressure. Adjusting the settings on your tankless water heater can prevent performance issues; alternatively, consult the manufacturer for guidance.
Consider upgrading your unit if it’s older and lacking fine calibration, and check out our selection of modern units designed for superior efficiency. Ideally maintain 120-140°F (49-60°C) for energy efficiency and safety.
Feel free to call us anytime to prepare your water heater for the winter performance demands and ensure reliability. We tailor adjustments to your household’s specific needs, providing expert recommendations on ideal thermostat settings and supplementary accessories like insulation and heat tape.
Applying heat tape is an effective method to shield water through pipe from the perils of freezing during Mortdale’s chillier moments. Self-regulating and waterproof tape can protect by running water through pipe encased in tape, as it warms to 45-55°C when activated, showing how weather can impact your water system. Cover all joints and connections, taking care not to overlap excessively to prevent overheating risks.
Position tape evenly with 50% overlap for effective cold weather protection, securing with provided adhesive backing.
For optimum safety and to help keep pipes from freezing, we recommend plugging heat tape into a GCFI outlet with a weatherproof cover and keeping extra batteries handy for emergencies. Note the limitations when there is a power outage, disrupting the power supply, where an alternative power source or backup heat sources like foam pipe sleeves should be used.
While relatively affordable, in some cases, avoid stretching tapes over long distances which reduces heating capacity. Routine inspection also ensures heat tapes function when subzero weather strikes.
Using an insulative blanket for your water heater is an effective measure to safeguard against heat loss and freeze damage in colder months.
Blankets wrap completely around tanks, secured with velcro tabs to create a tight seal that traps heat. Blankets wrap completely around tanks, secured with velcro tabs to create a tight seal that traps heat.
Ensure you purchase a properly fitted blanket for your specific tank model. Leave the pressure relief valve uncovered for safety monitoring. Fasten the bottom flap for total coverage retaining warm air. Installed correctly, blankets can keep your system more efficient, potentially saving homeowners a significant amount on energy bills by reducing standby heat loss by up to 25%.
Slide it over the top then secure the velcro sides snugly, taking care not to obstruct any points where you might be running water through.
For vulnerable outdoor tanks, you should also combine blankets with weatherproof enclosures or heat tape for added protection. Check condition annually, replacing deteriorated blankets to maintain optimal insulation. Properly installed and maintained, blanket insulation greatly enhances system resiliency and efficiency.
When installing outdoor hot water units, strategic placement is key to combatting extreme weather risks, especially in an area prone to such conditions. Ensure it is not shaded by structures or foliage which could limit your solar hot water system’s solar gain from sunlight. An ideal location is southern facing, strategically placed to flood stop issues like water sprinklers or drainage pathway splashbacks.
Position the unit in a sheltered spot that remains above below freezing temperatures, away from strong winds if possible, such as beside a wall or sturdy fence that can act as a wind buffer.
It’s prudent to check your wall-mounted units and consider elevating them off the ground before you go outside, as it aids drainage and diminishes the risk of being engulfed in a frozen area during heavy snow or ice events. Consider a weatherproof housing or wrap if additional insulation is needed for vulnerable pipe work leading underground.
You can take steps to clear vegetation and obstructions around the unit to enable unimpeded maintenance access. With thoughtful placement and methods for preparing your system for extreme conditions, sensible safeguards help you prevent water pipes freezing, ensuring external hot water units reliably withstand the elements.
Conducting preventative maintenance on your hot water heater every 2 years is integral in learning how prepare extreme weather scenarios, greatly enhancing efficiency and longevity while averting emergency breakdowns. Our qualified Mortdale plumbers can show you how prepare extreme cold scenarios, offering comprehensive servicing for your plumbing, inspecting all components and clearing any corrosion and sediment buildup.
Proactive care, which can extend your hot water heater’s lifespan by up to five years and enhance performance, is essential for preparing for extreme cold situations. Preventative maintenance also reduces costly repairs by catching minor issues early. Book your next service today and gain peace of mind that your hot water system can handle extreme weather when it strikes.
Take advantage of this essential maintenance which can help prepare extreme cold, offered by the trusted local experts. With careful inspection and fine tuning, we assist in winterizing your equipment to optimise functionality across all makes and models. Contact our friendly team today to schedule an affordable preventative maintenance inspection.
Inspecting for leaks is crucial to protect against water damage and energy waste, disproportionately affecting systems in extreme weather. Visually check tanks, pipes, fittings, valves and connections for corrosion, cracks, drips or dampness. Replace deteriorated water shutoff valve components and leaking temperature and pressure relief valves, which can indicate more serious issues.
Rebates often apply when upgrading to energy-efficient, gas hot water systems with enhanced freeze resilience. Book your plumber for comprehensive whole of system inspections through Mortdale’s Plumbing to catch issues early, avoid outages, and maximise efficiency. Our experts tailor solutions, like those used in chilly North Carolina, to withstand extreme conditions across all system types and households.
Testing your storage tank’s pressure relief valve every 6 months is crucial to ensure it can safely release excess pressure, preventing explosion risks. Locate the valve near the top of the tank - it looks like a spout with a lever.
Activate the lever to ensure water flows unimpeded. If the valve fails to open or close correctly, it should be replaced.
Similarly replace valves that drip constantly, signalling faults allowing pressure buildup.
An operational relief valve should release approximately 10 litres within a half-minute.
Faulty pressure relief valves are hazardous. Stay vigilant to ensure this essential safety component works properly.
Our technicians test and replace them on all servicing, using only approved valves meeting Australian standards. If yours requires replacement or you’re unsure of its condition, contact our team to arrange an inspection.
When extreme weather persists, it’s a good idea to consider upgrading to more advanced hot water systems to provide enhanced protection and performance. Consider newer technologies such as tankless water heaters with built-in freeze protection and computerised temperature control, accommodating your home’s layout and useful during cold snaps.
Tankless units provide on-demand hot water with a continuous flow system, reducing the risk associated with standing water. Their compact size ensures the unit can allow strategic indoor placement, while advanced control panels let you optimise temperature precision. Upgraded built-in sensors not only guard against overheating or freezing but also help homeowners save money on maintenance and repairs.
Alternatively, installing a modern gas hot water system with superior insulation and freeze-resistant valves can protect your pipes in severe conditions. Rebates up to $1000 are one of the things can assist when switching from electric hot water systems to gas-powered heaters. Discuss the best upgrade options for your household size and budget with our team.
Compare costs to potential repair bills from older unit failure.
When battling extreme cold, some homeowners raise their hot water system’s temperature setting higher than the typical 49C. However, we strongly advise against settings above 54C due to dangerous scalding risks.
Should you encounter ice in the system, understanding how thaw areas safely as a precaution can prevent accidental damage and carbon monoxide hazards. Take care to test water temperatures with a thermometer before bathing or washing. Install thermostatic mixing valves to protect your family with balanced temperatures if higher heat is essential for appliances. Adjust tankless systems at the unit or consult manufacturers. Consider upgrading outdated models lacking precision controls.
Contact our team anytime to manage your thermostat and prepare for extreme cold, optimising winter performance. We provide expert advice tailored to your household’s needs - inspecting existing systems and recommending ideal accessories alongside suitable settings. Reliable hot water through harsh weather is our priority.
If your water heater is old, leaking, rusty, noisy, not heating water properly or has low pressure, it could fail soon. Get your hot water system inspected today.
Read MoreIf you have plumbing fixtures that are over 10 years old or showing signs of wear like leaks and cracks, it’s important to replace them to prevent more costly water damage in the future. Replacing worn fixtures improves water efficiency.
Read MorePipe relining is a trenchless method that renews pipes from the inside out. It involves draining, drying and scrubbing the pipe interiors before applying materials like silicone, PMMA or epoxy resins to create a resilient, soft, temporary liner inside the existing pipes.
Read MoreMortdale, 2223 NSW
We will call back as soon as possible.
