One page for every kind of hot water job
Complete Hot Water Perth arranges five types of hot water work across the Perth metro: installation and replacement, repairs, servicing, gas systems, and heat pump and solar systems. Each job is quoted and carried out by an independent local contractor who holds the licence the work needs, whether that is plumbing, gas fitting or electrical. Use the links above to jump to the section you need.
Installation and replacement
Most installation work in Perth is replacement: a unit has failed or is close to it, and the household wants hot water back without fuss. The first question is whether to go like-for-like or change system.
Like-for-like means the same fuel and similar size in the same position. The existing water, gas or power connections usually suit, which keeps the job short. It is the sensible default when the old system worked well for the household and there is no time to plan.
Changing system takes more planning but can lower running costs for years. Typical changes in Perth include an old electric tank to a heat pump, a gas storage tank to a continuous flow unit, or adding solar to a north-facing roof. The contractor looks at where the new unit can go, what power or gas supply it needs, and whether the existing pipework is suitable.
On the day, the old unit is drained and disconnected, the new one is positioned and connected, and valves are fitted or replaced as needed. The contractor then fills, purges air, fires or powers it up and checks temperature at the outlets. Before they leave, ask them to show you the isolation valve, the relief valve and the switch or gas control, and to leave the manual.
Older Perth homes sometimes need extra work at changeover: corroded copper or galvanised fittings near the unit, a cramped indoor cupboard that no longer meets flue requirements for gas, or a tank sitting on a crumbling base. Those items should be priced on the quote rather than discovered halfway through.
Hot water repairs
A cold shower does not always mean a new system. Plenty of faults come down to a single part:
- Electric storage: heating element, thermostat, over-temperature cut-out, or the circuit that feeds them.
- Gas storage: pilot assembly, thermocouple, gas control valve or burner issues, sometimes a blocked flue.
- Continuous flow: ignition, flame sensor, flow sensor, fan or a scaled heat exchanger.
- Any storage tank: relief valve, tempering valve, or non-return valve.
- Solar and heat pump: booster element, controller, circulation pump, fan or refrigerant-side faults.
A good repair visit starts with diagnosis and an honest view on whether the part is worth replacing for the age of the unit. A leaking cylinder is the exception: once the tank itself is weeping, repair is not an option. If the unit is still under the manufacturer's warranty, contact the manufacturer first with the model, serial number and installation date, because third-party repairs can complicate a claim.
Servicing and maintenance
Hot water systems last longer when they are checked occasionally, and in parts of Perth where the water leaves scale that matters more. A typical service covers:
- operating and checking the relief valve, and replacing it if it sticks or drips constantly
- inspecting the sacrificial anode in a storage tank and replacing it before it is used up
- flushing sediment from the bottom of the tank
- checking the tempering valve delivers the right temperature
- on gas units, checking the burner, flue and safety controls
- on solar, checking collectors, connections and booster settings.
The owner can do one part safely: easing the relief valve lever gently, about every six months, to let a little water through and confirm it reseats. Everything else is for a licensed tradesperson.
Gas hot water
ATCO operates the natural gas distribution network across most of the Perth metro, while some properties beyond the network rely on bottled LPG. Gas hot water comes in two main forms.
Gas storage keeps a tank of water hot and recovers quickly, which suits larger households. External models are common on Perth homes; internal models need a flue.
Gas continuous flow heats water only when a tap opens. It never runs out of hot water, but it must be sized to the household's peak flow: two showers and a washing machine at once demand more than one shower. It also needs enough gas supply at the meter, which the gas fitter checks.
All gas connection work in WA must be done by a gas fitter holding the right permit from Building and Energy. If you smell gas, turn the supply off at the meter if it is safe to do so, keep away from ignition sources and call the gas network's emergency line.
Heat pump and solar hot water
A heat pump works like a reverse air conditioner, moving heat from the outside air into the water. In Perth's mild climate it uses much less electricity than an element tank. Placement matters: the unit needs free airflow and should sit away from bedroom windows, because the fan and compressor make some noise. Many owners set it to run during the day when the air is warmest, and to soak up rooftop solar power if they have panels.
Solar hot water uses collectors on the roof to heat water, with an electric or gas booster for cloudy spells. It needs an unshaded north-facing roof area that can carry the weight of the system.
Both types usually qualify for small-scale technology certificates under the federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, run by the Clean Energy Regulator. The installer normally takes the certificate value off the price. The quote should show that discount as a separate line, so you can compare like with like.