One of our clients has to make this choice every day.
If they want to run their oven they have to go outside to the switchboard and turn off the hot water first.
If the hot water is not turned off, the main circuit breaker will overload and trip, shutting off all power to the house.
How did they get into this crazy situation?
It happened because they got a cheap heat pump installation. The mains cables to the house are a very small size and before adding extra heating the mains cables should have been replaced with larger cables.
The contractor who installed the heat pump bypassed the requirement to upgrade the mains by fitting a 32 amp load limiting circuit breaker to the switchboard.
The circuit breaker protects the cables by shutting off when the total load drawn by all the appliances in the house exceeds 32 amps.
An oven can draw up to 32 amps on its own, so they probably couldn’t run a heater and the oven together, or a heater and hot water at the same time either.
It is legal and the work was carried out according to the wiring rules, but it’s not a quality result for the client.
Maybe the details weren’t sufficiently explained to the client before the heat pump was installed, or maybe they just wanted the cheapest price, no matter what.
We will soon be replacing the mains cables and that will solve the problem. No more running out to the fuse box with a torch, flicking switches on and off.
It probably would have cost less to get it all done when the heat pump was installed.
It’s another example of why the cheapest price is not usually the best job, and highlights the importance of getting good advice before starting major electrical work on your home.
For free advice and quotes on all mains cables upgrades, in Launceston and surrounding areas, phone Mance Electrical on 6331 4711.
Your hot water has gone cold – but should you call a plumber or an electrician? You don’t want to pay for one to turn up if you really need the other, so how can you make an informed decision? Here are a couple of tips to help you decide.
(If you’re still Not sure, give us a call on 6331 4711 and we’ll help you sort it out).
Is there water at the tap? If there is plenty of cold or lukewarm water coming out of the hot taps you probably need an electrician.
If there is no water, or a reduced amount of water coming out of the tap, you probably need a plumber.
Has the fuse blown?
Has the circuit breaker tripped or fuse blown? If so, you probably need an electrician, unless there are signs of water leaking around the cylinder in which case you probably need a plumber.
Any sign of of leaks? Check for signs of water around the base of the cylinder and for signs of rust on the external casing of the cylinder. A leaking cylinder usually has to be replaced. There is no way to repair a rusted mains pressure cylinder.
Sometimes the cylinder can leak around the element, making the area rusty.
Water leaking around the element can also affect the electrical connections, causing a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker. Sometimes replacing the element can solve the problem but corrosion from a loose element can destroy an otherwise good cylinder.
A regular check for water leaks is a good idea.
Check the pressure relief valve
There will be a pipe running from the pressure relief valve on the side of the cylinder to an outside drain. Check the amount of water running out of this pipe. A correctly operating valve will only let out a small amount of water. Probably less than a cup each day.
If there is water constantly running out the pipe you have a problem with the pressure relief valve. There is a lever on top of the valve that you can lift to let water out through the valve. Sometimes lifting the lever will reset the valve and solve the problem.
If the valve is faulty it needs to be replaced by a plumber – unless the problem is caused by a stuck thermostat, in which case you need an electrician.
A faulty thermostat can keep the water heating until it’s almost boiling. The pressure inside the cylinder builds up until the pressure relief valve does it’s job and lets some water out.
Replacing your cylinder
If your cylinder does need replacing, most of the work is plumbing work and some plumbers are authorised to disconnect and reconnect the wiring when replacing a cylinder. However, it’s wise to have an electrician attend if the cylinder does need to be replaced, especially if you are going from a low pressure to mains pressure unit.
Most plumbers are pretty good, but they are not electricians and new cylinders are sometimes reconnected to old wiring which is too small to safely handle the load of the element in the new cylinder. Fire, electric shock, insurance problems, warranty problems and running out of hot water are all possible in such circumstances.
All new hot water cylinders are physically larger than the older models as they are now required to have more insulation around them. This can cause problems if your cylinder is presently located in a laundry cupboard for example. Your new cylinder may have to be moved outside and that is definitely a job for both a plumber and an electrician.
Having hot water problems? Got a question?
Give us a call and we’ll help you out with free advice over the phone.
Need An Electrician In A Hurry? Your hot water problem can be fixed today…
Your hot water cylinder has a safety valve to vent excess pressure, to avoid the cylinder overheating and exploding like a bomb. It’s a good safety system but sometimes the valve can fail and let too much water out. When that happens it’s like leaving a hot tap running continuously, with money pouring down the drain. Often the first indication of a problem is a hot water bill that is much higher than normal.
A regular check on the overflow pipe can prevent an unpleasant surprise on your next power bill. The overflow pipe runs from the cylinder to outside, usually over a drain. It’s normal for some water to drip from the overflow pipe, probably a cup or two per day at the most. If you notice more water than this, or the overflow pipe running continuously you may have a problem with the valve.
The other problem that can cause your hot water to run out the overflow from the pressure relief valve is a thermostat that sticks on and heats the water continuously instead of cycling on and off . You will notice the water getting extremely hot if this happens.
So, if there is too much water running out the overflow and it’s normal hot water temperature, or cooler, you need a plumber to replace your pressure relief valve. If the overflow water is running continuously and boiling, steaming hot you need an electrician to replace the thermostat.
An occasional glance at the overflow pipe can save you from pouring money down the drain.
For advice on hot water problems in Launceston and surrounding areas, phone Mance Electrical on 6331 4711.
This is what happens when a small amount of water leaking from a hot water element gets into the electrical connections. One of our staff was in the right place at the right time to capture the blow up. The water caused a dead short which tripped the circuit breaker and cut the power, preventing a fire. This cylinder was installed inside the roof space, which used to be quite common, but these days is not recommended, due to the damage that can be done when things go wrong.
If your hot water cylinder is located anywhere inside your house it’s a good idea to do a regular check for leaks as they usually start slowly and can go for a long time undetected, and rot out floors, ruin carpets and sometimes eventually fail suddenly causing a major flood.
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