Supporting Affordable & Social Housing with Efficient Water Heating Solutions
8 July 2026
Affordability is about far more than upfront cost. For most products, you also have to consider operational efficiency, the product life cycle, and how often maintenance and replacement costs will be required.
Water heaters are no exception. It's not uncommon for homeowners to be faced with expensive construction work when replacing ageing systems, alongside higher ongoing maintenance costs and energy usage. Fortunately, advances in product design are making it easier to reduce replacement costs and improve long-term performance without significantly increasing project costs, which is exactly the thinking behind the Rheem® All Pressure range.
Choosing Replacement Cylinders
Many affordable housing projects involve upgrading existing homes, where traditional copper low-pressure hot water cylinders are common. Replacing these systems can introduce hidden costs, from altering pipework and floor penetrations to modifying cupboards, service spaces and surrounding finishes.
Previously, the only way to avoid these additional costs was to replace the old cylinder with an identical model. While this may have suited the project budget in the short term, it often meant replacing like-for-like with the same technology rather than improving system performance.
The Rheem® All Pressure Vitreous Enamel (VE) range was developed to address this challenge. Designed and manufactured in New Zealand, the range enables a like-for-like replacement of many common low-pressure cylinders without requiring cupboard alterations or major plumbing changes. It can also be installed as either a low or mains pressure system, allowing houses to be upgraded to mains pressure, without additional installation costs.
Supporting Future-Proofed Housing
Affordable housing programmes often seek solutions that minimise both upfront construction costs and future upgrade costs. Water heating is an area where this can often be achieved. The Rheem® All Pressure range allows many existing low-pressure systems to be replaced using existing pipework and layouts, while retaining the option to upgrade to mains pressure later through a valving change rather than a cylinder replacement.
For residents, upgrading from low-pressure to mains-pressure hot water can improve day-to-day living through more consistent shower performance, better flow to multiple outlets, and improved usability throughout the home. Delivering these benefits without major construction work can help keep installation costs under control while improving long-term outcomes.
Reducing Long-Term Maintenance Costs
Durability is another important consideration in affordable housing. Vitreous enamel cylinders, like the All Pressure VE, offer improved resistance to a wide range of water conditions and are backed by a longer warranty than traditional copper alternatives. This can help reduce maintenance requirements and provide greater confidence in long-term performance.
The Rheem® range of All Pressure Vitreous Enamel hot water cylinders
