Thread: Hot Water System is Leaking (uh-oh) !

Originally Posted by juan

I have a Rinnai 26 Plus that has had the dip switches set to deliver 60 degrees max. The tempering valve is below the unit but the hot water to the kitchen and laundry is taken off before the tempering valve which supplies the bathrooms.
Works a charm and the water at the kitchen sink is HOT. Controller in kitchen near sink and another in the bathroom.

Cheers

The way it should be exactly!

Thanks all, is it definite that this can't be patched or repaired ? Im just thinking because if you have a car radiator leaking, you can do a patch/repair of that to stop the leak and keep driving - yeah it will prob spring a leak again soon but it might last until we sell our house, rather than paying to get a new hot water which will prob not add as much value to the $ we get compare to what we pay for the new HWS... ?

I think from a $ point of view if it can't be repaired or patched it will probably be better to do a straight swap/similar swap rather than convert from like gas storage to instant gas hws

You could patch it and it would probably work. But if there's a hole then it means the whole cylinder is almost certainly very rusty on the inside (and will still be rapidly corroding away assuming the anode has gone and rust is lifting the lining off) so it's likely to be fix one leak and another one appears.

I have patched an old copper tank successfully, but they corrode much more slowly and aren't under mains pressure. That one is still in use (at work) and was patched with gutter silicone about 3 years ago. It was only planned to be temporary but it's been working fine ever since. It's a very low pressure unit though.

The best advice I can give is dont bugger around with it, go through the trading post or ebay and see if you can pick up a cheap 2nd hand one.

And yes its definately beyond being patched or repaired. The tanks are enamelled on the inside and once this starts going its all over. The best way out of it would be a straight swap and a new duo valve on the CW inlet.

Originally Posted by juan

Looks like a Rheem 31 series 135litre fast recovery unit. Also looks stuffed but I will let the plumbers here tell u that as I am only a sparkie. Remove the lift off cover plate at the bottom front and the date of manufacture will be on the printed label inside.
I guess about 10-12 years old so probably at the end of its life.
cheers

10- 12 years... my 135l unit is 15 years old, and (almost) as good now as the day it was made (fingers crossed, touch wood )

Originally Posted by Terrian

10- 12 years... my 135l unit is 15 years old, and (almost) as good now as the day it was made (fingers crossed, touch wood )

Put a new anode in and with a bit of luck it will last a while yet.

Originally Posted by Smurf

Put a new anode in and with a bit of luck it will last a while yet.

At this stage I believe in the 'if it aint broke, don't fix it' motto

I paid $300 for it about 15 years ago (it was bought from a work mate who had just had a new unit built and it was smaller than what he wanted) I wouild say I have had my moneys worth out of it

Elgas had an offer of I think $ 300.
sorry I cant remember all the details but it looked damm good. I Had LPG installed about six years ago and thought mickey mouse. Got the plumbers quote including this temp valve over $1200. No go. I learned late that with the instant heaters, If you have a shower and just a few minutes pass and someone else showers they will get the remaining hot water in the line and cold water until the heater catched up. Think this would be very be very off putting good luck

Originally Posted by China

Go for instant gas replacement you will save heaps on gas

yes yes yes

I learned late that with the instant heaters, If you have a shower and just a few minutes pass and someone else showers they will get the remaining hot water in the line and cold water until the heater catched up. Think this would be very be very off putting good luck

How can it be different with storage hot water? The water that has cooled in the pipes has to be discharged and replaced with hot water before you get hot water again. Besides the water would cool relatively evenly in the hot water pipe so why would they get hot water at first then cold. It would be cool at first and gradually warm up regardless of the water heating system (unless you have some pre heat device).

cheers