Hot Water Systems
Repair, replace, upgrade. Electric, gas, heat pump and solar. Anode rod servicing. Real advice on what suits your house.
Diagnose, repair, or replace
Hot water systems are the second biggest energy user in most homes and the appliance most likely to fail with zero warning. When yours goes, you find out at 6:30am in the shower. I get it.
First call is always to see if it can be repaired. Element failure, thermostat fault, anode rod corrosion, sediment build-up, all repairable. If the tank itself has rusted through, replacement is the only real option, but I’ll tell you straight rather than fix-and-pray.
Which system suits you
Four common types in the Hunter:
- Electric storage: cheapest to install, dearest to run unless you’re on off-peak. Lifespan 8 to 12 years.
- Gas storage / continuous flow: mid-range install, mid-range running cost. Lifespan 10 to 15 years.
- Heat pump: dearest to install, cheapest to run. Solar PV makes them effectively free. Lifespan 10 to 15 years.
- Solar thermal with gas/electric boost: high install cost, very low running. Best fit for big families and sunny rooflines.
The hot water sizing tool will give you a rough idea of capacity and running cost across the four options. Real recommendation comes after I’ve seen your house.
Servicing
An anode rod replacement every five years roughly doubles the lifespan of a storage tank. Most people never know it’s a thing. I’ll check yours on any hot water callout, and if it’s due I can swap it on the spot for $180 to $240 depending on tank type.
Need this fixed today?
Ring directly. If I can be there same-day I’ll tell you straight. If I can’t, I’ll tell you who can.
Call 0455 092 178 Send a message insteadNewcastle, Maitland, the Hunter Valley, Port Stephens. Check your suburb →
Honest answers.
Most likely sediment in the bottom of the tank, taking up volume that used to be hot water. Sometimes it’s a partially failed lower element on a dual-element electric unit. A flush and an element check will tell us which. See the running-out hot water guide for the four common culprits.
Depends on your roof, your gas connection, your power bill structure, and how many people live there. Heat pumps win on running cost most of the time in the Hunter climate. Solar wins if you’ve got north-facing roof space already and the budget. Gas wins if you’ve already got it connected and you don’t want to spend $4k upfront. Use the sizing tool for ballpark numbers.
For like-for-like electric tank replacements, usually yes. I keep the common sizes on the truck. For gas and heat pump units I need to order and that’s typically 2 to 5 business days depending on the model. I’ll tell you exactly what I’ve got on the truck when you call.
Yes. NSW Energy Savings Scheme covers heat pump and solar replacements with significant rebates if you’re upgrading from electric. The rebate is applied at the point of sale and reduces the price you pay, not something you claim back later. I’ll quote you the post-rebate price upfront so you can compare apples to apples.