Questions we get asked.
Can I install a hot water cylinder myself?
No. Connecting a hot water cylinder is restricted sanitary plumbing work in New Zealand and has to be done by a licensed person. You can buy the cylinder yourself — plenty of people do — but it needs a registered plumber to connect it. An unconsented installation also puts your insurance cover at risk if it leaks.
Do I have to buy the installation from you?
Not at all. We sell cylinders supply only, and you are welcome to use your own plumber. If you would like us to fit it, tick the installation box on any product page and we will quote it separately.
Why is installation not priced on the site?
Because it genuinely varies. The pipework, the electrical supply, how the old cylinder comes out, and whether you are changing type all move the number. We would rather quote your job properly than advertise a figure that changes on the day.
What size cylinder do I need?
As a rough guide: 135 to 180 litres for one or two people, 200 to 250 litres for three or four, and 300 litres or more for five plus. The safest answer is usually the same size you have now, unless you run out of hot water in the evenings. Send us a photo of your current cylinder and we will confirm it.
How do I know what cylinder I currently have?
There is a data plate on the side of it listing the capacity, the pressure rating and the manufacture date. Take a photo of that and send it to us — it is all we need.
What is the difference between low pressure and mains pressure?
Low pressure systems are gravity fed from a header tank in the roof, which is why the flow is gentle. Mains pressure cylinders run at full water pressure. If you are on low pressure and want to convert, it is far cheaper to do it while the cylinder is being replaced than as a separate job later.
Is a heat pump cylinder worth the extra cost?
If you are staying in the house long term, yes — it uses roughly a third of the power of a standard electric cylinder, so the saving builds up over the life of the unit. If you are selling soon or it is a rental, a standard electric cylinder makes more sense. Heat pump units also have to go outside, so they need somewhere to sit.
Where do you deliver?
Across Auckland, on our own truck, with two people to lift it in. We agree a day with you rather than leaving it at the gate. Outside Auckland, give us a call — we can usually arrange something, it just is not automatic.
Can I pick it up instead?
Yes. Bring a vehicle it fits in and someone to help lift it. We will confirm the branch and a time once the order is paid.
When do I pay?
We confirm the price and the delivery day with you first, then invoice. The cylinder is dispatched once payment clears. Every price on the site includes GST and a GST invoice comes with the order.
What if it arrives damaged?
Check it before we leave. If a unit is dented or damaged we take it back and replace it — that is the advantage of us delivering rather than handing it to a freight company.
Who are you?
Hot Water Direct is a trading name of Nexus Plumbing Limited, a registered plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying business working across Auckland. We replace cylinders every week, which is why we buy them on a trade account rather than off a retail shelf.