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How To Maintain Your Hot Water System?

A well-maintained hot water system is more economical to run, has improved performance and is less likely to break down than one that's been neglected for years. Although maintenance doesn't make your hot water system immortal, it will usually prolong its life and reduce the need for costly repairs. Both tankless systems and traditional systems with a tank benefit from basic maintenance. Detailed below are the key maintenance tasks needed to keep your system working well. They take just a few minutes to perform but could make a significant difference to your hot water system's performance.

Visual Inspection

It's frequently possible to spot signs of wear simply by inspecting the system. Take a few minutes to look at your boiler, pipework and tank (if you have one). Look for signs of rust, areas of discolouration, unexpected moisture or other changes to the appearance of your hot water system. Some people take pictures of their system during an inspection, providing an accurate comparison for future inspections.

Noting Any Changes In Performance

Taking longer to reach the required temperature, producing tepid water, intermittent hot water or slow-flowing hot water could all be signs that something is amiss with your hot water system. If you notice any of these changes, we recommend seeking professional assistance promptly. Although in most cases the cause of a problem is benign and easily resolved, the problem could be a serious one, and with gas involved nobody should take any chances.

Check The TPR Valve

The TPR valve facilitates the release of hot water if the pressure or temperature gets too high inside a hot water tank. As the water emerging from the TPR valve during testing will be hot, we recommend wearing gloves. The valve is usually located towards the top of the water heater - your boiler manual will have a picture of its location. Take care to stand clear of the TPR valve when testing it. As water will be released, make sure there's nothing directly below the valve. Carefully raise the valve. If no hot water emerges, lower the valve and repeat several times.

If the TPR valve is working correctly, hot water should be released. If the valve won't move, doesn't return to its original position or leaks, it will need replacing. Should the valve work, but no hot water is forthcoming, it could be a sign that the system has lost pressure, in which case professional attention is required.

Two Maintenance Measures You DON'T Need

You may read elsewhere that emptying the hot water tank periodically to remove sediment is recommended. Coffs Harbour water is very soft, which means minerals don't build up in the tank in the same way as they might in a hard water area. For this reason, there's no need to empty the tank. There's also no need to switch the boiler off if you go on holiday - repeatedly switching the system on and off causes more wear than simply leaving it to operate uninterrupted.

Call the Coffs Gas Company on (02) 6652 2411 for more maintenance tips or professional assistance for your hot water system.

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