Anti hammer tap washers - do they work??

Depending on your situation anti hammer tap washers can work, but they are not a fix for every situation.

For an anti hammer tap washer to work correctly the face or seat which the actual washer seals against inside the wall or tap body needs to be immaculate so very old seats are not likely to seal properly due to imperfections in the brass housing.  To achieve the perfect seat a re-seating tool must be used (we always recommend that a licensed plumber perform this task).

As a guide if your are experiencing very dramatic water hammer throughout your home there are probably other things which will need to be done as well as anti hammer washers such as anti hammer arrestors installed on the actual pipe work and maybe even a pressure reducing valve at the boundary connection to the street mains.

Typically the most common location we install anti hammer tap washers for our customers is in the shower and hand basin, this is where the most adjustment of the water temperature takes place and there fore slight or large amounts of water hammer can be heard.

When it comes too selecting an "anti hammer tap washer" your local plumber will most likely have a brand of choice which he or she like to always use, but if your attempting this yourself we recommend hydro seal anti hammer washers, there are other brands on the market such as fix a tap, doust, enduraseal, ramjet, kinetic and performa it will just depend on your local suppliers stock.  As a guide on costs a packet of 2 is some where under the $20au mark, they are a lot more expensive then your run of the mill tap washer but they are specifically designed to perform a task.

So to answer the question, do anti hammer tap washers work?  Yes, but its best that your local plumbing company advise on what will work best in your situation.  For more information and questions please feel free to visit us at https://www.facebook.com/Mayfair-Plumbing-Gasfitting-814447295232681/ or call us on the plumbing direct line 0429 361 819

Anti hammer tap washers used by Mayfair Plumbing

How you can change to instant/continuous flow gas hot water in Adelaide, South Australia

If your looking to convert your old hot water tank to instantaneous gas fired hot water then there's a few things you'll need to have checked out first by a licensed gas plumber in Adelaide, South Australia.

• Do you currently have gas at the property?
• Can you get gas to the property?  Will it be natural gas or bottled lpg?
• Is the gas supply pipe work large enough to provide the right amount of gas to the new hot water system.
• What is the gas supply pressure going to be to the new location high or low pressure?
• Will the location of the instantaneous/continuous flow hot water service comply with Australian Standards?
• Is there access to an external weather proof power point?  Within 1 metre of the new location?
• Is there excessive water pressure on site and will a pressure limiting device be needed?
• Is the plumbing firm licensed to install gas hot water service's and will they be performing the electrical for you as well?  Or will you need to engage an electrician separately and at what cost?

Some of these factors are rather minor and can add small amounts to the total such as $200 to the total cost of the job but others such as getting a complete new gas main installed or enlarging section's of the gas pipe work can add thousands of dollars to the whole job, quite the investment.

The location of the gas pipe work on the property can also reflect the cost of the job.  If the pipe work is in the ground there will be extensive digging involved and if the pipe work is in a roof or cavity access can be quite tricky and will often require at least two tradesman to perform the task, once again adding substantial costs to the project.

If you did previously have a gas storage hot water system in place the likely hood of the gas supply now being large enough to supply sufficient gas to your new continuous flow gas hot water system is very slim.  The reason behind this is that gas fired storage hot water tanks are a slow burning furnace which heats a tank of 135L in approx 60 minutes, where is a continuous flow gas hot water system like the name suggests it is often referred to as instant and needs a large amount of power (gas) to deliver this result instantly and allow the hot water service to work to its maximum efficiency.

If you are not considering staying at the property for a long period of time then the investment may not be worth it and instead a newer version of your old system (which most likely could be 3 star rated) could be considered such as a Rheem Stellar 5 star rated hot water service.  The difference in gas consumption between a 3 star rated unit and a new 5 star rated unit is approx 4,000 mega joules annually, so as you can see from this information you will already be financially in front as far as gas consumption annually (per year).

However if you are thinking of investing in the future and seriously considering up grading to instant gas hot water there are many different things to look at and think about.  What brand will you select?  Bosch, Rheem, DUX, Rinnai, Kelvinator, Thermann, Raypak and Quantum.  How many litres per minute do you require?  16 litres or maybe perhaps even 32 litres per minute, these factors will all depend on how many bathrooms you have and the size of the water supply to the new hot water service.  Majority of houses have a small 15mm (half inch 1/2") cold water feed to the existing water service so there is no real gain in putting in a large continuous flow hot water service such as a Bosch 26e as the unit will only produce what it is delivered.

If you would like to talk to a plumber about your gas hot water service requirements why not visit us at http://mayfairplumbing.com.au/services/hot-water/ we would love to hear from you and discuss your next hot water project.  Remember we also work in a close relationship with Certegy Ezy Pay to give you 12 or 24 months interest free on your hot water upgrades in Adelaide, South Australia 5000.

New Installation of a Gas Instant Hot Water Service, replacing an old storage gas hot water system.

The Bosch 17L continuous flow hot water system.  6 star rated energy efficiency.

The Rinnai B16 model of continuous flow hot water services can deliver up to 60 degrees of hot water direct to any tap in the home or office while maintaining a huge 5 star energy rating a true leader in its class.

How often should you test your pressure relief valves on your hot water boiler?

Do you own a storage type boiler hot water cylinder?  Then you will have a minimum of 2 pressure blow off valves installed (that's providing your plumbing contractor has done the right thing).

The manufacturer of these blow off valves will recommend that some where between every 3 to 6 months someone should relief these and ensure that they are doing what they are designed for and that is release water from both the hot water cylinder and the cold water mains to the properties.

Majority of manufacturers these days will supply a HTPRV with each tank sold (High Temperature Pressure Relief Valve).  This is typically located towards the top of the tank where the water is at its highest temperature and has a short probe which enters the tank.  If the temperature of the water in the boiler ever exceeds a safe zone the probe will swell and cause the tank to release itself via this valve rather than blowing the cylinder up itself.  The idea is that regular checking of water release will ensure that the blow off device is working or not and the required maintenance can then be ordered if required.

The other type of pressure relief valve which I want to talk about today is known as the CWPRV (Cold Water Pressure Relief Valve).  This valve is not supplied with the new boiler, BUT the manufacturer recommends that the plumber provide and install one to comply with the manufacturers warranty, why they don't supply these?  Great question.  Anyway that's a story for another day, as long as your plumbing contractor is doing the right thing he or she will supply and install one of these with every new install they perform.  Once again these are designed to protect the tank from becoming a ticking time bomb, this time these valves will relief due to a spike in the street mains and blow off water to protect the tank from catastrophic damage.

Hot Water is great when its working, but when its on the fritz no one likes a cold shower, if your experiencing some kind of hot water problem why not visit our technicians at http://mayfairplumbing.com.au/services/hot-water/ and get the right solution to your hot water problems today.

How to make your Hot Water Service live for longer

Do you own a storage hot water tank?  Are you interested in knowing how to make the tank live a longer life and avoid fast corrosion?

Most manufacturers these days provide a warranty on the tank of between 7 to 10 years and even longer if you upgrade to a stainless steel tank.

Inside the hot water tank is a metal rod called the sacrificial anode, it has a 3/4" male thread which screws into the center of the top of the hot water tank (as seen in the image below). The sacrificial anode is approximately 1000 millimeters in length and over the life of the hot water tank it slowly sacrifices itself in place of the hot water tank being sacrificed to corrosion.  Not many home owners know that this device should be replaced at various intervals during the hot water systems life depending on water quality delivered from your source.  You will find that if the sacrificial anode is replaced at the right intervals it can truly extend the life of your hot water boiler significantly, your local plumbing contractor will be able to advise the correct schedule to suit your circumstances.

The cost of a sacrificial anode will vary from country to country but typically they are under $100 and then it is just the plumbers labour costs on top of this. When you put this into perspective the cost of a replacing a hot water boiler can be well into the many thousands of dollars so for the sake of a few hundred dollars the financial impact is far less and if it extends the life of your hot water tank well beyond the manufacturers warranty the savings are great.

If you have any questions about your hot water boiler why not contact Adelaide's trusted hot water repairers.

You won't need your GPS when you have this map of Adelaide Plumbers

Usually without a GPS you would be lost, but with our latest map below your in safe hands.  Its the latest digital technology money can buy a map of the best plumbers for the best price.
North, South, East, West, Yorke Peninsula, Fleurieu Peninsula, River Land and even the Adelaide Hills is where you will find these plumbers anywhere in South Australia.
What tasks can can these plumbers and gas fitters perform for you:

• Hot Water Repairs
• Hot Water Installations
• Gas Installations
• Gas Leak Locating
• Gas Repairs
• Leaking Toilets
• Leaky Taps
• Bathroom Renovations
• Kitchen Renovations
• Blocked Drains
• Hydro Jet Cleaning
• Backflow Valve Testing
• Backflow Valve Installations
• Emergency Plumbing Services
• 24 Hour Plumbers
• Water Main Installations
• Domestic and Commercial Maintenance

If it involves water, gas, sewer or storm water these plumbers are the right choice for your next plumbing project, be sure to check it out now today!!!

Get the best plumbers in Adelaide, yes we deliver what you expect.

Are you looking for a list of the TOP PLUMBERS in ADELAIDE?  Well you certainly have come to the right location.  Here you will find a map of the best plumbers, why are these plumbers the best?  The answer is simple:

• These plumbers arrive on time
• They are reasonably priced
• These plumbing companies offer emergency plumbing services
• You can get same day hot water repairs
• AND most importantly these plumbers are local to Adelaide

If you are not so familiar with the areas in which these plumbers service check out our map to local plumbers in Adelaide and you will find a map of the top plumbers in ADELAIDE, yes these plumbing firms are the best and rightfully so, with over 20 years of experience up there sleeves they've seen it all.  From broken water pipes to over flowing drains these plumbers will fix it all and when it suits you.  It's not always that a plumbing problems arises during the day it can be at night or on a public holiday, these plumbers can always help you.

Dissecting battery ignited bosch hot water services 13b and 16b models

Do you own a Bosch 13B or 16B hot water service?  Are you having problems with it?  Are you getting cold water instead of hot?  Or perhaps its just not igniting the natural or lp gas?  These are just a couple of the symptoms that relate to a fault with your Bosch Battery Ignited Hot Water Service, in this weeks blog post we will dissect a few of the common symptoms of a problematic bosch battery ignition hot water service and what are the required steps for a licensed plumber to fix your hot water system.

example of a Bosch 13b hot water service flaming up properly after the water section has been overhauled

To start with if you have a Bosch 13b or 16b hot water service which will not ignite the gas there are most likely 2 things which will be wrong.  Either the 2 x D size batteries have gone flat which assist in the ignition process or the ignition control pack has packed it in.  If it is just the batteries this will be a relatively cheap fix at approx $10 on parts, but if it is the ignition control pack then this will be a bit more pricey at approx $250 for a genuine bosch ignition pack.

If your bosch 13b or 16b hot water service is only sometimes igniting the ignition module could be out of alignment and this is a relatively simple task to be under taken by a licensed plumber which initially requires no parts.  If how ever this still does not resolve the problem it can then lead to the ignition pack needing to be replaced.

Are you noticing significant temperature spikes whilst in the shower, fluctuations from warm water to scalding hot?  If this problem has only just recently occurred and you have not replaced a shower head then this is a very go indicator that the water section for the bosch 13b or 16b is in need of an overhaul.  Typically parts for this job start at approx $85 for the diaphragm and then approx $75 for the other parts which make up the complete water section over haul, your plumber would advise at the time as to if both repair kits are needed or just the one.  If it is established that water section is in good condition and the problem is still occurring the gas valve may need re-greasing, no parts are needed but it can be labour intensive (your licensed plumber will advise).  When considering taking the step of dismantling the bosch 13b or 16b to re-grease the gas valve components the age of the hot water service should be taken into consideration as it may be a better option to just upgrade, but your licensed master plumber from Mayfair Plumbing and Gasfitting would assist with these decisions at the time.

If you would like to discuss the operation of your Bosch Battery Ignition Hot Water Service with an accredited hot water repairer why not visit us online at https://www.pinterest.com/masterplumer/ or feel free to contact us via our emergency plumbing cell +61429361819