Hot Water Cylinders Wellington — Same-Day Replacement
Cold shower this morning? Tank dripping into the garage? Southern stocks every common cylinder size and brand for same-day replacement if you call before 10am (subject to stock). 40+ years, around 29,000 jobs across Wellington, the Hutt Valley, Porirua and the Kapiti Coast.
Internal or external, electric, gas, solar or heat pump — and our in-house electricians handle the wiring side, so it’s one team, one quote, one job. Call 0800 484 353.
Types of Hot Water Heaters We Install
- Electric hot water cylinders — the standard for most Wellington homes. Reliable, well understood, parts everywhere.
- Gas hot water cylinders — faster recovery than electric, useful where there’s already a gas connection.
- Gas continuous-flow water heaters (Rinnai Infinity) — endless hot water, no tank, wall-mount external.
- Heat pump water heaters — Rinnai HydraHeat etc. Highest efficiency, lowest running cost.
- Solar hot water cylinders — stainless steel or copper tank paired with roof collectors.
- External cylinders — frees up internal floor space.
- Underbench & remote-sink cylinders — useful for outbuildings and granny flats.
Mains Pressure vs Low Pressure vs Smart Tanks
- Mains (high) pressure — same pressure at the hot tap as your cold mains. Better shower flow, more tapware compatibility, faster delivery. Uses more water than low-pressure systems.
- Low pressure — gravity-fed from a header tank or pressure-reduced into the cylinder. Lower flow rates but uses less water; may suit older homes where pipework can’t handle mains pressure.
- Smart tanks — heat water on demand just before use, reducing standing-loss and energy waste. Best fit for households with predictable hot water usage windows.
Converting from low to mains pressure usually means new tempering valves, possibly new tapware, and re-routing the cold-feed line. We’ll quote the full picture, not just the cylinder swap. See low shower pressure if your existing system is underperforming.
7 Things to Know Before Replacing Your Cylinder
- Tank size — matched to household size. Too small means cold showers; too big means heating water you don’t use.
- Element size — controls recovery time after a heavy draw. 2kW for low pressure, 3kW or more for mains.
- Electrical wiring — ripple control, cable spec, CoC. Our in-house electricians handle this.
- Valve replacement — TPR, expansion control, tempering valves all need to be checked / renewed.
- Tank quality & warranty — stainless tanks last longer than enamel; warranties range from 5 to 15 years.
- Visible appearance — affects resale, especially for external cylinders.
- High-pressure conversion — increases hot water consumption; budget for higher monthly water/power.
No Hot Water? Here’s What’s Usually Wrong
Electric cylinder issues: faulty element, failed thermostat, blown fuse, broken supply cable, faulty switch, ripple control failure at the meter board, faulty tempering valve, or a leak somewhere on the system.
Gas cylinder / continuous flow issues: pilot light out, gas supply interrupted, electronic ignition battery flat, control panel switched off, surge protector tripped after a power event. For continuous flow units, a power reset clears most issues.
If you’ve checked the basics and still no hot water, see our no hot water Wellington page or call 0800 484 353.
Leaking Cylinder? Replacement Options
Once the tank itself starts leaking, that’s the cylinder telling you it’s done — no patch is going to give you another year. Replace it before the floor or the ceiling below pays the price. While we’re there, options to think about:
- Like-for-like swap (cheapest, fastest)
- Change energy source — electric to gas, electric to heat pump
- Convert from low to mains pressure
- Move to continuous flow and reclaim the cupboard
- Add solar collectors to the existing tank
- Increase capacity if the household has grown
Gas vs Heat Pump Hot Water?
Increasingly we’re being asked which to install. The numbers:
- Capital cost — gas continuous-flow is the cheaper install (a few thousand). Heat pumps cost more upfront.
- Running cost — gas energy runs about 17 cents per unit of useful heat; heat pumps run about 7 cents at a coefficient of performance (COP) of 4.
- Lifespan — both around 12-15 years with regular service.
- Reliability — gas continuous-flow is mechanically simpler; heat pumps have a refrigerant circuit that needs servicing.
For a 4-person household, the running-cost gap typically pays back the heat pump premium in 5-7 years, and the gap is widening as gas prices rise.
Why Buy Hot Water Cylinders From Southern?
You can buy a cylinder online for a few hundred dollars less. The question is who installs it, who guarantees it, and who you call at 6am on a Saturday when something fails.
- 40+ years in Wellington — same family-owned business since 1982
- Operators in Wellington, Porirua, Kapiti and the Hutt Valley
- Master Plumbers member — covers your deposit, protects against substandard work
- Certifying plumber and gasfitter on staff — we self-certify our own work
- SuperGold discount — mention it when you book
- We service every brand we install and the competitor’s brand if you’ve inherited one
- 24/7 response, every day of the year
- Your Job On Time, or It’s Free
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes — if you call before 10am and we have your size in stock. We carry common sizes (135L, 180L, 225L, 270L) on the van or at the depot. Call 0800 484 353 first thing.
