SERVICE & MAINTENANCE
Should your Chromagen water heater not provide sufficient hot water please undertake the following quick checks before requesting a service visit:
-
SUNLIGHT – Check to ensure that shading from trees is not excessive and is not covering the collectors for all or part of the day. Insufficient light due to cloudy/overcast weather and low solar contribution during winter months may require you to use your booster (back up electric) switch more often.
-
WATER CONSUMPTION – Have you used more hot water than normal?
-
LEAKING – Can you detect water leaking from within the plumbing system? If leaking from valve is it cold (expansion valve) or hot (PTR-Pressure temperature relief valve) water? If Hot water is discharging hot water from PTR valve in summer months during the middle of the day to late afternoon this is normal. As it will discharge anywhere from 50-150Ltrs of hot water to allow cold water into the tank to bring the temperature of the tank down. If it is cold water leaking from the expansion valve (which is located in the cold water line to the water heater) it is normal for this valve to discharge anywhere from 5-10litres of water per day. As the cold water heats up in the tank, the water expands and therefore discharges from the cold water expansion valve.
-
BOOSTER SWITCH TURNED ON – Is the booster switch turned ON (switch in meter box, generally marked ‘HOT WATER’ or ‘HWS’ etc). Check the electrical tariff to which the hot water system is connected. If is on off peak, remember heating hours are restricted. (Tariff Table). Is the fuse for the booster still intact? Does the electric or gas meter speed up when the booster switch is turned ON?
-
NEW HOME – Is the system installed in a new home? If so, there may be a problem external to the water heater. Check with your builder first.
If a Ground Mounted Solar, Please check the following:
-
NO SOLAR – Check the power outlet to the controller is turn ON and is plugged properly into the outlet. Check to ensure that shading from trees is not excessive and is not covering the collectors for all or part of the day. Insufficient light due to cloudy/overcast weather and low solar contribution during winter months may require you to use your booster (back up electric) switch more often.
-
LEAKING – If HOT water is leaking from PTR valve (from overflow pipe) it is normal for this valve to pass through a small quantity of water as the water is heated. However, if it discharges more than a bucket within a 24hr period, there may be another problem. If is continuously dribbling, gently raise the lever on the relief valve for a few seconds. This may dislodge any foreign matter / particles which may clear the fault.
-
If COLD - water is leaking from expansion valve (this valve is located in the cold water line to the water heater), it is normal for this valve to discharge anywhere from 5-10litres of water per day. As the cold water heats up in the tank, the water expands and therefore discharges from the cold water expansion valve.
-
WATER CONSUMPTION – Have you used more hot water than normal?
-
BOOSTER SWITCH TURNED ON - Is the booster switch turned ON (switch in meter box, generally marked ‘HOT WATER’ or ‘HWS’ etc). Check the electrical tariff to which the hot water system is connected. If is on off peak, remember heating hours are restricted. (Tariff Table). Is the fuse for the booster still intact? Does the electric or gas meter speed up when the booster switch is turned ON?
-
NEW HOME – Is the system installed in a new home? If so, there may be a problem external to the water heater. Check with your builder first.
OPERATING GUIDELINES
The general performance and energy savings that you can expect to obtain from your solar hot water heater will depend upon a number of factors, such as water usage patterns, daily temperatures, available solar energy and the cost and type of purchased energy being utilized.
Your solar system is designed to utilize a combination of solar energy and purchased energy, operating simultaneously, to maintain a minimum operating temperature of 60 degrees.
During winter and overcast / cloudy weather we recommend that you turn your booster switch ON to ensure you won’t run out of hot water. During the winter months, we suggest that you leave the booster switch off during the day and turn on only a couple hours prior to showering (hot water usage) to maximize solar contribution. During winter the human body generally prefers hot water above 40 degrees to bathe in, so boosting is essential for comfort. Only have the booster on overnight or in the morning if your water usage during the morning is likely to be reasonably heavy.
| TARIFF | Units (kWh) per month* |
Minimum Payment |
Remarks |
| Tariff 11 Domestic Light & Power | All Consumption Service Fee per Metering point per month | Not Applicable | This is your electricity tariff for general domestic use of light and power in domestic homes, flats and units. Tariff 11 may also be used for quick recovery continuous supply of electric hot water systems with electric booster elements. Typical customers find their consumption on this tariff varies with seasonal heating and cooling requirements which may explain unexpected energy consumption |
| Tariff 31 Super Economy Plan | All Consumption | Minimum montly payment of Approx $12 per Quarter | The super economy plan is the cheapest tariff available for water heating and other permanently connected applicable equipment, This is because the electricity supply is available only at low electricity-demand periods, such as night. Electricity supply is made available for a minimum of eight hours per day at times which are at ORIGIN's discretion, generally between the hours of 10pm and 7am. On some days electricity supply may not be turned off at all. This tariff is about 63 per cent cheaper than your normal domestic tariff and is exclusively available for electric storage size less than 250 litres may not meet your daily hot water needs if connected to tariff 31. A minimum monthly payment applies. |
| Tariff 33 Economy Plan | All Consumption | Minimum Montly Payment of Approx $12 per Quarter | The Economy Plan can be applied to suitably sized electric storage water heaters, solar electric water heaters, heat pump water heaters. This tariff is up to 44 percent cheaper than your normal domestic tariff. Electricity supply is available for at least 18hrs per day and is switched via load control equipment supplied and maintained by Energex/Origins discretion. On some days electricity supply may not be turned off at all. A minimum monthly payment applies. |
Dux, Vulcan, Rheem, Aquamax Electric Hot Water systems
If experiencing faults with the hot water system, please check the following items below before making a service call:
-
NO HOT WATER - Check that the isolating switch (generally found in the switch board), often marked "Hot Water', 'HWS' or 'Water Heater' etc is in the ON. Check the electricity supply as to which the hot water system is connected. If connected to an off-peak heating hours are restricted. (see tariff Table). Also check to ensure the fuse at the switchboard.
-
IF TWIN ELEMENT SYSTEM - The Twing element hot water systems must have power available to the top heating unit circuit at all times for the hot water system to operate as designed.
-
USAGE - Ensure that your family isn't using more hot water than think?
-
TPR Valve (Temperature Relief) LEAKING - It is normal for this valve to discharge a small quantity of water whilst heating. However, if it discharges more than 10 litres of water a day, there may be another problem. If it is continously running, try raising or turning the leaver/knob gently on the PTR valve for a few seconds and release. This may dislodge any foreign matter which may be in the line. If it continues, please contact us for a service call.
-
COLD WATER LEAKING - water is leaking from expansion valve (this valve is located in the cold water line to the water heater), it is normal for this valve to discharge anywhere from 5-10litres of water per day. As the cold water heats up in the tank, the water expands and therefore discharges from the cold water expansion valve.
Saxon Electric Hot Water System
- NO HOT WATER - Check that the isolating switch (generally found in the switch board), often marked "Hot Water', 'HWS' or 'Water Heater' etc is in the ON. Check the electricity supply as to which the hot water system is connected. If connected to an off-peak heating hours are restricted. (see tariff Table). Also check to ensure the fuse at the switchboard.
- EXPERIENCING NO HOT WATER OR HOT WATER FOR A MINUTE AND THEN GOES COLD - It is possible that the water level is below desired level. To top up the level of water, lift the pressure relief valve lever against the spring pressure until you see water come from the overflow pipe. This valve is recommended to be topped up every six months
- PTR (Pressure Temperature Relief) VALVE LEAKING - It is normal for this valve to discharge a small quantity of water whilst heating. However, if it discharges more than 10 litres of water a day, there may be another problem. If it is continously running, try raising or turning the leaver/knob gently on the PTR valve for a few seconds and release. This may dislodge any foreign matter which may be in the line. If it continues, please contact us for a service call.
- STEAMING - This could mean the unit is boiling. Best to call serviceman, either adjust thermostat down or thermostat may need replacing.
-
NO HOT WATER - PILOT LIGHT - Check the the pilot light is igniting and burning. Relight the pilot light according to the instruction on the inside of the access cover. If the pilot is not lighting isn't igniting, check that there is gas to the water heater. Check that the isolating valve on the gas line is turned 'ON'. Furthermore, check to see if there is gas being supplied to the rest of the house? If there is more than one gas appliance to check to see it is lighting. If there is no gas, call the gas supply company. ELECTRONIC IGNITION - Check that power cord is plugged into the wall and check fuse in meterbox.
- LEAKING - It is normal for the hot water temperature relief valve to discharge a small quantity of water whilst heating. However, if it discharges more than 10 litres of water a day, there may be another problem. If it is continously running, try raising or turning the leaver/knob gently on the PTR valve for a few seconds and release. This may dislodge any foreign matter which may be in the line. If it continues, please contact us for a service call.
- PILOT LIGHT WON'T IGNITE - Is ther gas to the water heater? Check to make sure that the isolating valve on the gas line is turned 'On'. Is there a normal gas supply to the remainder of the house? If you have other gas appliances in the house, try lighting it. If no gas, call the gas supplier.
RHEEM (310 Series) TROUBLE SHOOTING TIPS
