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We all know the value of having a functioning hot water system. Everyone uses hot water for bathing, showering, washing dishes and cleaning on a daily basis. There isn’t a day that goes by when you don’t use it when staying in your own home. Servicing And Repairing Your Hot Water System Servicing your system is an excellent way to keep your hot water system in top working order. Like all plumbing systems, hot water systems need maintenance to continue performing as they should. Having your hot water system serviced every six to twelve months by qualified plumbers is an effective way to get as much longevity from your system as possible. Having your hot water system serviced over the years mitigates corrosion and sediment buildup and checks that all the fundamental components remain in working order. How long a hot water system lasts How many years a hot water system lasts depends on several factors. One significant factor (as mentioned above) is having your system regularly serviced by a qualified plumber. Coinciding with servicing is getting your hot water system repaired by experienced plumbers when you notice issues with your system. In terms of the predicted longevity of the different hot water systems available, gas and solar hot water systems can last upwards of twenty years, while you can often get twelve years out of an electric hot water system before replacing it. Heat pump hot water systems can last upwards of fifteen years. Signs your hot water system needs to be replaced There are a number of signs to be watchful of that may indicate that your system needs to be replaced. Signs include if the system is making loud noises, leaking water, or there are rust stains on the system, as well as fluctuating temperature and rust or dirty coloured hot water coming out of the system. Often, you only need to have your system repaired to fix the issues rather than needing to replace it. Contact a qualified plumber If you need to replace your hot water system, or your system needs a repair, or are curious to learn more about servicing your system, contact the professio nal plumbers at Ausco Plumbing. the team at Ausco has extensive experience as plumbers in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie area and can help you with all your plumbing needs. If you want to read more, check out o ur post on repairing your hot water system o r how t o choose the right hot water system for your home.

Hot water Repairs Newcastle & Lake Macquarie When was the last time you had your hot water system serviced? Most of the time, issues with hot water systems emerge when we least expect them. In households, we often take our hot water for granted until something goes wrong with the system. You use your hot water system multiple times a day to allow you to bathe and wash clothes and dishes, and the system is always working twenty-four hours a day. Therefore, it is always best to ensure that your hot water system is in top working order. Many issues with hot water systems can be mitigated or avoided entirely by having your system maintained regularly by a professional plumber. One factor to remember is that living in Newcastle, and Lake Macquarie and having a hot water system fitted outside can lead to corrosion in the long run due to salinity in the air. Having your hot water system repaired If your hot water system needs repair, it is always advised to choose professional plumbers who are licensed to repair your system. A n experienced plumber and professional gasfitter can come to your property and evaluate the issues with your hot water system to ascertain the underlying problem, whether it is gas, electric, solar, or a heat pump and fix the issues promptly. Signs your hot water system needs to be repaired There are a range of tell-tale signs that your hot water system needs repairs, including a leak from your tank, fluctuations in temperature and often lukewarm or cold water, corrosion or rust and noise coming from the system, to name a few. If you find that any of these issues are affecting your hot water system, it’s best to get a professional plumber to come out and inspect your system. Emergency hot water repairs Often, urgent hot water issues occur out of nowhere with your hot water system, which needs attention fast. The team at Ausco Plumbing are experienced emergency plumbers. They can respond to any plumbing situation with your hot water system and get it under control promptly, no matter the hour of the day. If you require emergency hot water system servicing in Newcastle or Lake Macquarie, do not hesitate to call the team at Ausco on 02 4958 6555. Replacing your hot water system Sometimes, there are instances when you organise to have your hot water system repaired, only to find that the issues to your system are severe, whether that is because the system is getting old and inefficient, has corroded, or is broken beyond repair. No matter the cause, having your hot water system replaced by qualified and expert plumbers can be done at a competitive price and in a timely fashion. Contact Ausco Plumbing For all your hot water system repair s, contact the team at Ausco Plumbing. Or, explore our wide range of plumbing services here .

Newcastle and Lake Macquarie are renowned for long sunny days, making a solar hot water system a dependable option to consider for your home. These systems, while more expensive to buy and have fitted when compared to the electric and gas hot water systems, will save you money on your energy bills over time. A solar hot water system can use up to 60% less energy than an electric or gas system, saving on energy costs and allowing you to live a bit lighter on the planet. Solar hot water systems utilise the energy from sunlight to heat the water for your household. Each system has a backup booster system, which is either electric or gas, on days when there hasn't been enough sunlight to heat the water properly. Solar hot water systems, as the name suggests, require solar panels to be installed on your roof to gather energy from the sun, but they only heat your water and do not generate electricity. Solar panels for your hot water system Solar panels are required to be professionally fitted to your roof, ideally north facing, as this allows your panels to catch as much sun as possible. While installing the system on a north facing roof is the most efficient means to generate energy from the sun, it may not be possible on your roof. You may have an east facing skillion roof, but a solar hot water system may still work well on your roof. Contact the professional plumbers at Ausco Plumbing f or more information. Solar hot water system types Two types of solar hot water systems can be installed, which include the close-coupled system and the pumped system. Each system is similar in that they both have solar panels and a booster system for those overcast days, but they provide hot water for your home in slightly different ways. Close-coupled solar hot water system This variety has solar panels installed on the roof, along with a storage tank on its side which is connected to the solar panels. The water gets heated when it moves through the collectors on a sunny day (collectors are based directly beneath the solar panels on the roof) where it then gets drawn into the storage tank and is ready to use, this process forces the cooler water into the base of the collectors to get heated. This system can heat water directly or indirectly. The above is an example of a close-coupled system heating water directly. An indirect close-coupled solar hot water system, while more expensive than a direct system, is best for frost prone regions, mitigating damage to the collectors in the system that could otherwise occur from water freezing. This system features water treated with an antifreeze that is kept separate from your heated water within the storage tank, preventing the water within the collectors and tank from freezing. Pumped solar hot water system A pumped solar hot water system is different as it has a storage system inside the home, like a conventional electric or gas system, but with solar panels still installed on the roof. This type of solar hot water system features a pump that circulates water from the storage system to the collectors on the roof of the house, sending cold water to get heated and hot water into the storage tank ready to use. This system is an ideal option for homes that do not have a roof that can support the weight of the storage tanks of the close-coupled variety of solar hot water systems. Size of solar hot water systems Both a close-coupled solar hot water system and the pumped system come in a range of sizes to suit the needs of your household. Starting at a 120-160 litres storage capacity, enough for 1-2 people. Or a storage capacity between 300-370 litres for 3-4 four people in your home. Contact experienced plumbers A solar hot water system may not be suitable for every home around Newcastle or Lake Macquarie, for instance, if you live in a multi-storey block of apartments, in which case why not read about other op tions here . However, if you are contemplating a solar hot water system for your home, contact the team at Ausco Plumbing b ased in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie for more information.

Fixing damaged pipes used to involve a lot of digging with expensive machinery, along with a degree of guesswork, but over time has become more refined as technology has advanced. Relining damaged pipes is not a temporary fix to put off having to deal with any substantial problems in the future but a legitimate way to revitalise your pipes and allow you to potentially gain decades more life out of them. The process of fixing or replacing pipes used to involve having to ascertain where a leak or blockage was within a pipeline and then digging the pipes out to replace them. This process would result in the upheaval of your backyard or your commercial property and cost you a great deal of money. These days, the techniques have become far less invasive and often don’t require any digging whatsoever. Below is the three-step sequence many qualified plumbers utilise to discover issues with the interior of your pipes and the process they follow to reline them. Diagnostic approach To diagnose issues with the inside of pipes, plumbers often implement CCTV cameras to inspect the interior of pipes and pinpoint precisely what issues a pipe may have, for example, whether it’s obstructed and the location of damage within. This technique also lets the plumber know of issues that may arise in the future, such as any damage to the interior of the pipe, which may not currently be a problem but will only grow worse over time. Hydro jetting Hydro jetting is a method used after the CCTV camera has gone down the pipe, to clean the pipeline. This process involves pumping down water at a high velocity to clear any obstructions discovered in the pipe and moving it out of the pipeline. This process also helps with the relining process, cleaning the pipe interior of any debris that may hinder the job. Pipe relining process After having inspected the interior of your pipes with a CCTV camera and then clearing out any stubborn blockages, the next step is to reline the pipes. Plumbers use a malleable and watertight lining over any damaged areas within the pipes, which sets and allows your pipes to be as functional as they used to be. Contact a qualified plumber If you have any issues with your pipes and you live in the Newcastle and Port Macquarie area, contact the friendly team at Ausco Plumbing for a free quote and more information on how they can reline your damaged pipes.

Selecting the right hot water system for your new home can feel like a daunting task, and there's a wide range of options and sizes available on the market, making the decision even harder. We all have different needs in terms of heating water, whether it’s for a large suburban home or maybe an apartment. You may even require a hot water system for a new commercial property. Whatever your specifications, it’s important to choose the hot water system that suits you. What types of hot water systems are available? There is an eclectic range of hot water systems on the market, all of which perform the same function in a variety of ways. To give you an idea, here are the most common on the market. Electric hot water system Perhaps the most conventional option available on the market, electric hot water systems are reliable and heat water quickly. They also come in a range of different sizes to suit your residential or commercial needs. Electric hot water systems can be fitted inside or outside your property and don’t require a flue, like gas hot water systems. Electric systems also come in two varieties, either as a storage system with a tank to store the hot water ready for use. Or, an instant system, which only heats the water you need. One factor to consider if having an electric hot water system fitted outside your property, particularly in the Newcastle area is corrosion from the coastline. Gas hot water system Gas hot water systems are efficient and one of the cheaper options to operate, as gas, is a low-cost fuel despite the increase in fuel prices. Gas hot water systems require either a flue or a vent to pump carbon monoxide fumes outside. While you can have these systems fitted inside it’s considered safer to have them outside as there are risks of carbon monoxide leaks, or ventilation systems getting obstructed. Therefore, it's important to have your gas hot water system serviced annually by a qualified plumber . Solar hot water system Solar hot water systems are an environmentally friendly way to heat water in your home and not only utilise the free energy readily available from the New South Wales sun but also reduce your household's greenhouse emissions. While the initial costs are often more expensive than other systems, a solar hot water system will save you significant amounts of money on hot water in the long run. The downside to these systems is that they require significant roof space, so if you live in an apartment complex, this system won’t be for you. Additionally, this system obviously relies on sunlight, so overcast days will affect the system's ability to function effectively. Heat pump hot water system Heat pump hot water systems run on electricity much like conventional electric systems, although they are more expensive, but do save you money on your hot water bills in the long run. They are typically fitted outdoors as they require plenty of space around them to draw in the air and heat your water. These systems aren’t as effective in colder climates and need to be installed in a place where they can be kept within the temperature range of 4°C - 32°C all year round. Next steps The best next step is to reach out to a professional plumber in the Newcastle or Lake Macquarie area to learn more on any of the systems listed, and to provide you with professional advice and a free quote .

Blocked drains are among the most common plumbing issues homeowners encounter. Good thing there are several ways to deal with obstructions in your drains. Read about them here.