Here’s Why You Need to Service Your Brisbane Hot Water System ASAP

Here is a fact I bet Brisbane residents did not know! Hot water units require servicing every five years. And no, it’s not one of those sneaky services designed to charge you an arm and a leg for no reason. Brisbane water is “hard” and can be particularly hard on electric hot water heaters. It is an essential service to replace two of the more crucial components of the hot water system. 

The sacrificial anode and the hot water valves.

Why? Read on!

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Are Heat Pumps Brisbane Friendly? How They Work & The Climate They Need

If you are fishing for an energy-efficient solution to heat your water, heat pump systems could be the answer. But how do they work, and are they a good fit for our balmy Queensland climate? Let us explain. 

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Heat Pump Hot Water System Reviews

Congratulations on choosing a heat pump hot water system.  You’ll qualify for hot water upgrade rebates, and you’ll enjoy years of real savings on your water heating bills. 

So, which heat pump hot water works best for your family?  Let Salmon Plumbing, the Big Fish in Water Heating Efficiency guide you through the best options available in Australia.  We’ve already weeded out inferior systems and have carefully selected the four best heat pump hot water systems on the market.   

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How to Install Solar Plus Heat Pump Hot Water Systems

When installing a solar power system to your home, consider installing a heat pump hot water unit to maximise your savings. Solar plus heat pump hot water systems have changed our approach to residential hot water supply, combining the sun’s abundant energy with the efficiency of a hot water heat pump system, creating a powerful solution that is both eco-friendly and cost-effective. 

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Rheem – Leading Innovation in Heat Pumps

The prestigious Canstar Blue Innovation Award for home appliances in 2023 has been awarded to Rheem Australia. We extend our warmest congratulations to the entire team and celebrate the well-deserved recognition of Rheem’s AMBIHEAT HDc-270 Heat Pump as a market-leading innovation.  

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The Ultimate Guide to Heat Pump Hot Water Systems in Brisbane

Don’t be left without hot water! 

It happens to us all. Waking up on a cold winter’s morning and discovering the hot water system has gone on the blink. Or returning home from a camping trip and there’s no hot water to wash off the unmistakable smell of the great outdoors. There’s nothing worse than an unreliable hot water system! 

Don’t stress. We’ve got you covered. 

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5 Reasons You Have No Hot Water

water tap with hot water steam

No one wants to start their morning with a cold shower, and certainly not during the peak of winter. It’s certainly an inconvenient occurrence to have freezing water cascading right when you need warmth the most. So what is the cause and what can be done to fix it? Here are 5 reasons why you have no hot water and how they can be fixed.

Split Tap Washers

If you have hot water coming through all the correct taps in your house, except not through the shower, you may need to replace the tap washers. A dribble of warm water through the shower rose is a sign the tap washer has split and is preventing the hot water to flow through to the shower rose. Get the washers replaced and you should have steaming water running through in no time.

Faulty Tempering Valve

All electric hot water installations should have a tempering valve installed. This tempering valve controls the temperature and tempers the heated and stored water to 50 degrees Celsius. If you have water running through the hot water tap, but it’s lukewarm or cold, your tempering valve may need to be adjusted or tested by a plumber and replaced if faulty.

Rusty, Split Tank

A rusty or split storage tank won’t be able to supply your home when it’s draining from the bottom of the tank. A rusty water tank is a sign of old age and a tank that has never had its sacrificial anode maintained. The only way to fix this issue is to replace the tank with a new system. Salmon Plumbing can give you a quote for supply and install of a new hot water unit to suit your needs.

Tripped Switch

As the name suggests, electric hot water units require electricity to heat the water. Even some gas hot water units require electricity to ignite the pilot light. Before calling a plumber to investigate the system, check the power switchboard of your home. If the switch labelled ‘HOT WATER’ is off, there may be an electrical fault which will require a call out from an electrician.

Faulty Relief Valve

If the hot water pressure is minimal throughout the house, this is a sign the pressure relief valve is faulty. Call your local plumber to replace immediately.

Sometimes the plumbing fault may not be immediately obvious to you. To give your plumber an idea of the possible cause, test all the hot water taps within your house. Make a note of the temperature and flow. This will prepare your plumber on what to look at first when they come out to fix the problem.

For all your hot water unit maintenance needs, contact Salmon Plumbing. Our team is ready to take your call today.

Making the Most from Your Plumber’s Call Out Fee

We understand: calling a plumber can be an expensive exercise, and no one wants to spend more money than they have to. But a timely appointment with a plumber can not only fix your immediate problem, but it can also save you thousands of dollars in the future. That’s because the plumber is already at your home or business, so by planning ahead you can get them to look at other things that might not be causing concern now, but may need some minor maintenance to help prevent major problems in the future.

Plumber working, make the most of your plumber's call out fee

It’s a little like going to the doctor for a bad cold, but also asking a few questions about your diet or back pain: you’re already there, so why not make the most of it and get value for your money! Getting the most out of your plumber’s call out fee is pretty much the same concept, at the very least you will have peace of mind that things are all under control

Here are some things to make sure you get checked out next time you have your plumber on site.

Water Leaks and Tap Washers

Changing washers is a pretty simple business with most tapware, but if there’s a professional in the house, it’s worth getting them to have a look at what might need replacing and getting it done. Not only will it be faster, but you’ll likely also be able to get a quote to repair any slightly more expensive parts like ceramic discs inside the tapware.

Gutter and  Downpipes

Gutters and downpipes can back up with debris, and then all it takes is a heavier than normal rain event for water to end up in all sorts of places you don’t want. While your plumber is there, ask them to do a visual inspection of the property to check the gutters and downpipes. They’ll know the places that are likely to be “choke points” for problems, and are also experienced at spotting where signs of damage have already occurred.

Hot Water System

The hot water system is one of the most heavily used and most important parts of many household plumbing systems, so it pays to have it checked regularly. An experienced eye checking over the system can spot plenty of problems like hidden rust, and your plumber can also do a quick test to make sure the system is heating water to the required temperatures.

Water that is not heated to the correct temperature in the tank can quickly become an attractive place for bacteria to grow, and a Legionella problem is the last thing you want in your hot water system.

Your plumber can also double check the operation of all valves and ensure there is no unexpected surprises waiting for you in the immediate future.  Some minor maintenance can also help extend the life of your Hot Water Service.

Water Tanks

Droughts over the last few decades in all parts of Australia have meant that water tanks have become as common in Australian backyards as BBQs. But these are often out of sight and out of mind. Having your plumber inspect the mesh at the opening of the tank as well as the pump connections is always a good idea to make sure that wildlife isn’t getting in. Stopping water pooling from leaks or mosquitoes from getting into your tank is also the best way to continue enjoying your outdoor area by denying the mozzies a space to breed.

Flexible Hoses

The flexible hoses around all manner of plumbing equipment are made of a large number of metal threads which means that with age they might fray, rust, or leak. Getting these checked and replaced can go a long way towards preventing any future flooding emergencies!

Like most things nowadays, there are also some cheaper, imported, flexible hoses available on the market today – your plumber can identify these and replace with high quality alternatives that also come with a manufacturers warranty for piece of mind.

So, take the chance to make the most of your plumber’s call out fee next time you have them visit your premises.  Have them check over one or more of the areas we’ve mentioned in this article. A friendly, professional plumber like the ones at Salmon Plumbing will be happy to take a look for you and advise what needs to be done to keep your home or office in top shape.

Legionella – What it is and Why it Might be Lurking in Your Home

If we asked 100 people what Legionella was, we bet we would get a high number of blank looks in return, which is a fair reaction. The Latin scientific name of a bacteria isn’t common knowledge for those of us without a passion for biology.

But Legionella can be the cause of Legionnaires’ disease, Legionellosis, and Pontiac fever, and in a lot of cases this can be traced back to hot water and plumbing equipment. So what is this sinister sounding bacteria and where does it lurk in your house?

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