Gas Hot Water Systems
Continuous flow and gas storage units for homes on ATCO mains gas or bottled LPG.
Learn more →The three kinds of installation
Almost every quote falls into one of three categories, and the difference between them is most of the difference in price.
Like-for-like, same position. Same fuel, similar capacity, existing base or wall bracket, existing connections. This is the cheapest and fastest job and it is what most emergency replacements look like.
Relocation. The unit moves — off a front elevation, out of a cramped alcove, away from a bedroom wall. New water lines, possibly new electrical or gas runs, sometimes a new slab or bracket. Add real cost.
Fuel changeover. Electric to gas, gas to heat pump, tank to solar. This involves decommissioning one supply and establishing another, and it frequently uncovers work that was invisible when quoting from the driveway.
The cost guide puts ranges against all three, drawn from the pricing the business has published rather than national figures.
What happens on the day
The unit is isolated at the water, and at the electrical isolation switch or gas cock. The old cylinder is drained — on a 315 litre tank that alone takes a while, and the discharge has to go somewhere sensible. The old unit comes out, the base or bracket is checked and corrected if it has rusted or shifted, and the new unit goes in.
Then the parts nobody thinks about: the cold water expansion control valve, the pressure and temperature relief valve with its drain line, the tempering valve for bathroom outlets, and correct trade waste for the relief discharge. The system is filled, purged, pressure tested and commissioned, and on a gas unit the gas fitter checks combustion and flue clearances.
Old unit out, site swept, warranty paperwork and the Notice of Completion handed over.
What makes a Mandurah job cost more
A few things come up repeatedly across the Peel region:
- Corroded bases. Coastal streets in Silver Sands, Halls Head and Madora Bay rust out steel stands and brackets. If the base is gone, it gets replaced before the new unit sits on it.
- Old copper. Pre-1980s houses in central Mandurah and Coodanup sometimes have inlet pipework that will not take a modern fitting cleanly.
- Tight side setbacks. Newer estate homes in Meadow Springs and Lakelands have narrow side yards. Continuous flow units fit; large heat pumps needing airflow clearance sometimes do not.
- Missing tempering valves. Very common on installations over about twenty years old.
- Limestone and scale. Scale build-up on the outlet side can mean replacing more pipework than expected.
Choosing the unit before you book
If the system type is still open, read the comparison pages for gas, electric, solar and heat pump, or work through the selection guide, which starts from household size and fuel availability rather than brand.
If your existing system has failed and you need it dealt with now, the repairs page covers what to check and how to isolate a leaking tank. We install across the whole Mandurah service area.
Call (08) 9516 1934 for a free installation quote.
More services
Explore our other services
Electric Hot Water Systems
Storage tanks and instantaneous electric units, plus element and thermostat repairs.
Learn more →Solar Hot Water Systems
Roof-mounted, split and evacuated tube solar with gas or electric boosting.
Learn more →Heat Pump Hot Water Systems
Air-source heat pumps suited to Mandurah's mild winters, standalone or retrofitted.
Learn more →Hot Water Repairs
No hot water, leaking tanks, pilot light faults and tempering valve failures.
Learn more →
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
How long does a hot water system replacement take?
A like-for-like replacement in the same position is usually three to five hours, and you have hot water again the same afternoon. Moving the unit, running a new gas point or converting from electric to gas turns it into a full day. Solar installations involving roof work commonly run to a day or more depending on the roof.
Do I need a licensed plumber to install a hot water system in WA?
Yes. Water heater installation is regulated plumbing work in Western Australia and must be carried out by a licensed plumbing contractor, with a Notice of Completion lodged. Gas connection work must be done by a licensed gas fitter. Doing it yourself, or letting an unlicensed handyman do it, can void the manufacturer warranty and your home insurance.
Is a tempering valve compulsory?
On residential installations in Western Australia, water delivered to bathroom and ensuite outlets must not exceed 50°C, which in practice means a tempering valve. If your old system predates that requirement, the valve is an added item on the new install. It is not optional and it is not a way for a quote to be padded.
Do you take the old unit away?
Removal and disposal of the old system is normally part of the job, and should be listed on the quote. Old cylinders are heavy and steel-bodied, so if a quote is unusually cheap it is worth confirming that removal is included rather than left in your side yard.
Free, no-obligation