Hi Gayle,
Fantastic question. It is normal for water to drip out of what is called the relief line when you hot water service is heating. When water is heated it expands and will vent out of what is called a pressure relief valve. A general rule of thumb is one litre for every 50 litres of water heated.
If this process is occuring even when your hot water system is not heating then i suspect you have a problem with your relief valve. Unfortunately these cannot be serviced meaning replacement will be required. This is a simple task for our tradesmen. Please contact our office and we will arrange for a convenient time to attend and repair this problem for you.
- Ken
get the lowdown on the plumbing trade
& home maintenance here.. need answers?
& home maintenance here.. need answers?
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
I am interested in starting a plumbing apprenticeship and was wondering if Ken Hall plumbing takes on apprentices? Damir, Renown Park
Hi Damir,
Yes, we are always looking for new people to join our growing and dynamic team. It is very important that we support the industry through apprentiships. Follow the links through the careers section on our website.
- Ken.
Yes, we are always looking for new people to join our growing and dynamic team. It is very important that we support the industry through apprentiships. Follow the links through the careers section on our website.
- Ken.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Things to look out for when buying a new home - Darren, Redwood Park
Question:
I'm looking at buying a home built in the seventies with a lot of large gumtrees. What would be involved to replace the sewage pipes if required and is this usually an expensive job?. I am concerned I could be faced with expensive repair costs. Do you offer inspections? Darren - Redwood Park
Answer:
A house built in the seventies is more likely to have earthenware drains than PVC it wasn't until the eighties that PVC became the more commonly used product.
Earthenware drains are more prone to tree root entries which may require regular drain cleaning to maintain.
Should such issues arise I would suggest a camera inspection of the drain to identify the problem area's.
A total drain replacement can become a costly repair depending on accessibility, however limiting the replacement to the affected area's can be a more cost effective option.
Ken Hall plumbers can offer you a camera inspection and give you a detailed report on the condition of the drain at a reasonable price.
- Ken
I'm looking at buying a home built in the seventies with a lot of large gumtrees. What would be involved to replace the sewage pipes if required and is this usually an expensive job?. I am concerned I could be faced with expensive repair costs. Do you offer inspections? Darren - Redwood Park
Answer:
A house built in the seventies is more likely to have earthenware drains than PVC it wasn't until the eighties that PVC became the more commonly used product.
Earthenware drains are more prone to tree root entries which may require regular drain cleaning to maintain.
Should such issues arise I would suggest a camera inspection of the drain to identify the problem area's.
A total drain replacement can become a costly repair depending on accessibility, however limiting the replacement to the affected area's can be a more cost effective option.
Ken Hall plumbers can offer you a camera inspection and give you a detailed report on the condition of the drain at a reasonable price.
- Ken
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
If i have a HWS replaced do i have to have the temp turned down like a new house or can i still have a high temp for the kitchen etc- Peter - Firle
Hi Peter,
Where an existing hot water service is replaced there is no mandatory requirement to install a tempering valve, unless there was a tempering valve previously fitted or the hot water service has been replaced with a Solar unit. However I would always advise that it would be wise to install a tempering valve to prevent the risk of scalding.
- Ken
Where an existing hot water service is replaced there is no mandatory requirement to install a tempering valve, unless there was a tempering valve previously fitted or the hot water service has been replaced with a Solar unit. However I would always advise that it would be wise to install a tempering valve to prevent the risk of scalding.
- Ken
Monday, June 28, 2010
Un-happy with my Solar Hot Water Service - Peter, Morphett vale
Question:
Approximately 12 months ago we had installed a 300ltr Chromogen Solar water heater on the roof and whilst the hot weather was here ample hot water.We now find during the winter,even on sunny days,there is insufficient hot water at the end of the day for one person to shower even if we use only one third of the tanks capacity.
Is this normal and if so,can the temperature be boosted at anytime during the day.
We are particularly disappointed with the system.
Answer:
Solar units rely on the boost element during the winter months as there is not enough heat generated from the sun. A rough guide to determine the solar gain on a two panel solar system is double the day time ambient temperature. e.g. An 20 degree day time temperature will on average generate a full tank of 40 degree C the boost element will then heat the water overnight up to the temperature set on the thermostat approx 65-70 degrees C, due to the placement of the element on solar units you would only ever heat half a tank. For this reason the tank manufacturers always recommend installing a larger capacity tank. I believe the most cost effective method to repair would be to contact your electrician to see if they could provide you a day/ night switch or boost button. In times of heavy demand you could put the element onto a day rate. It is important however to remember to put the switch back to night rate to avoid paying the higher rates a boost button would revert back to the cheaper night rates once your thermostat is up to temperature.
- Ken
Approximately 12 months ago we had installed a 300ltr Chromogen Solar water heater on the roof and whilst the hot weather was here ample hot water.We now find during the winter,even on sunny days,there is insufficient hot water at the end of the day for one person to shower even if we use only one third of the tanks capacity.
Is this normal and if so,can the temperature be boosted at anytime during the day.
We are particularly disappointed with the system.
Answer:
Solar units rely on the boost element during the winter months as there is not enough heat generated from the sun. A rough guide to determine the solar gain on a two panel solar system is double the day time ambient temperature. e.g. An 20 degree day time temperature will on average generate a full tank of 40 degree C the boost element will then heat the water overnight up to the temperature set on the thermostat approx 65-70 degrees C, due to the placement of the element on solar units you would only ever heat half a tank. For this reason the tank manufacturers always recommend installing a larger capacity tank. I believe the most cost effective method to repair would be to contact your electrician to see if they could provide you a day/ night switch or boost button. In times of heavy demand you could put the element onto a day rate. It is important however to remember to put the switch back to night rate to avoid paying the higher rates a boost button would revert back to the cheaper night rates once your thermostat is up to temperature.
- Ken
Friday, May 7, 2010
How much to replace a 130l gas outdoor heater?I currently have a Rheem that has lasted 10 yrs so would be looking at replacing that- Patrick -Lockleys
Hi Patrick,
There are a variety of options for replacement with Rheem being one of the better options. Please call our office and we can give an estimation over the phone or have one of our plumbers attend for a no obligation free quotation.
- Ken
There are a variety of options for replacement with Rheem being one of the better options. Please call our office and we can give an estimation over the phone or have one of our plumbers attend for a no obligation free quotation.
- Ken
Help, Our shower still is leaking. I replaced the washers, rings on boths taps and even grinded the seats and still drips.At wits end. Gary -Northgate
I feel your pain Gary. Majority of the time a reseat, o'ring and washer change will solve a leaking tap problem. After a reseat there should be no blemishes on the brass and it should look shiny and clean.
After a reseat you also need to make sure that there are no brass filings left in the tap body, any filings caught under the jumper valve "tap washer" will allow water to pass.The tap body always should be flushed with water before re-installing the spindle and jumper valve. An old plastic drink bottle with a pull up nozzle sprayed into the tap body will normally clear the debris left after a reseat.
Worse case scenario is a fine crack in the brass seat, this will allow water to pass and cannot be solved with a reseat or jumper valve replacement , a breecher replacement is the only method of repair if this is the issue.
If in doubt give us a call and we can have this fixed for you in about half an hour.
- Ken
After a reseat you also need to make sure that there are no brass filings left in the tap body, any filings caught under the jumper valve "tap washer" will allow water to pass.The tap body always should be flushed with water before re-installing the spindle and jumper valve. An old plastic drink bottle with a pull up nozzle sprayed into the tap body will normally clear the debris left after a reseat.
Worse case scenario is a fine crack in the brass seat, this will allow water to pass and cannot be solved with a reseat or jumper valve replacement , a breecher replacement is the only method of repair if this is the issue.
If in doubt give us a call and we can have this fixed for you in about half an hour.
- Ken
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