A continuous flow (also called instantaneous) gas water heater has no storage tank. When you open a hot tap, water runs through a heat exchanger, the burner fires, and hot water comes out for as long as you need it. No more last person in the shower getting the cold end of the cylinder. Plenty of Auckland homeowners still call this a califont, the old Kiwi name for a gas instantaneous water heater. Whether you need a califont repaired, replaced or put in for the first time, we handle it.
We install, replace and maintain continuous flow units across Auckland on both reticulated natural gas and LPG bottles. Every installation is done by a certifying gasfitter, sized properly for your household, and handed over with the gas certification you are legally required to have.
Pricing: quotes are free, and every job gets a fixed price before we start, so there are no surprises on the invoice.
Califont Jobs We Handle Across Auckland
- Califont replacement
- Gas califont repairs
- Infinity hot water systems
- Instant gas hot water
- Electric to gas conversions
- Continuous flow servicing
Is continuous flow right for your home?
It suits most households, but not every one. If you have no gas supply and do not want LPG, heat pump hot water may suit you better. It works well when:
- Several people shower back to back and the cylinder keeps running out
- You want the cylinder cupboard back for storage or a bigger laundry
- Natural gas is already at the street, or you are happy to run LPG bottles
- The unit can be mounted on an outside wall close to the main bathroom
- You are replacing an old gas storage cylinder and want lower standing losses
Sizing: the part most installs get wrong
Continuous flow units are rated by how many litres per minute they can heat. A small unit might run one shower comfortably; a large one can run two showers and a kitchen tap at once. Undersize it and the water goes lukewarm when two outlets run together.
The gas supply has to match. A bigger unit needs more gas, which can mean extra gas fitting: a larger pipe from the meter, a bigger regulator or a different LPG bottle arrangement. We check the meter, pipe size and run length before we quote so the unit gets the gas it needs on a cold winter morning, not just on paper.
How It Works
Installation, repairs and servicing
A typical installation includes mounting the unit, connecting gas, cold and hot water, fitting isolation valves, setting the delivery temperature, and testing gas pressure and combustion. Where a unit is replacing a storage cylinder, we remove the old tank and cap off what is no longer needed.
For hot water repairs, we start with the error code on the controller. Common faults include ignition failures, flame sensing faults, blocked inlet filters, frozen or damaged pipework on exposed walls, and scaled heat exchangers. Many are fixed on the first visit.
What affects the cost
We provide a free quote once we know your setup. The main cost drivers are the size of the unit, whether you are on natural gas or LPG, how far the unit is from the meter or bottles, whether the gas pipe needs upsizing, how much hot water pipework needs to be rerouted, and whether temperature controllers are wanted in the bathroom or kitchen.
Auckland conditions
Reticulated natural gas runs through much of urban Auckland, but plenty of streets, especially in newer subdivisions and rural areas like Rodney and Franklin, rely on LPG. Coastal suburbs need units mounted with corrosion in mind. And while Watercare says Auckland's water is generally soft, its groundwater sources range from soft to moderately hard, with areas like Waiuku at the harder end, which matters for heat exchanger scaling over the years.
Why Choose Cheeky's Plumbers for Califont
Sized for your busiest morning
We size the unit on how many showers and taps run at once in your house, so the water stays hot when two outlets are on together.
Gas supply checked first
Meter, pipe size, run length and LPG bottle arrangement are checked before we quote, so the unit gets the gas it needs on a cold winter morning.
Certified by a gasfitter
Every installation is done by a certifying gasfitter and handed over with a Gas Certificate of Compliance.
Flushing matched to your water
Most Auckland supply is soft, so a yearly descale is often unnecessary. We set a flushing schedule to suit your water source and check groundwater-fed and rural supplies more often.
Califont FAQs
Does continuous flow hot water run out?
No, it heats water as it flows, so it keeps going as long as the unit is sized for the number of outlets you run at once.
Can I have continuous flow hot water on LPG?
Yes. Many Auckland homes without reticulated gas run continuous flow units on LPG bottles. We size the bottles and regulator to suit.
Why does my continuous flow water go cold mid-shower?
Common causes are a unit that is too small for the demand, low gas supply, a blocked filter, or very low flow at the tap. We check each one.
Do continuous flow units need servicing?
Yes. A periodic service checks combustion, cleans filters and checks for scale. How often depends on your water source and usage.
Can you replace my old gas cylinder with continuous flow?
Usually yes, and we can often reuse the existing gas supply if it is big enough for the new unit.
Do I get a gas certificate?
Yes. All gasfitting we do comes with the certification required by law.
Califont Across Auckland
Our califont team works in every Auckland suburb. Find your local plumbers:
Califont Guides
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