Gas Hot Water Systems
Continuous flow and gas storage units for homes on ATCO mains gas or bottled LPG.
Learn more →Why solar suits this stretch of coast
Mandurah sits in one of the better solar zones in the country, with long dry summers and mild, bright winters. A correctly sized solar hot water system can cut the energy used for water heating substantially, and water heating is typically the largest or second-largest energy load in an Australian home.
The catch is upfront cost. Solar is the most expensive hot water system to buy and install, and the payback depends on what it replaces. Replacing an old electric storage tank, the numbers work well. Replacing an efficient gas continuous flow unit, the payback stretches out a long way.
The three configurations
Thermosiphon (roof-mounted)
Collectors and tank both on the roof. Hot water rises into the tank without a pump, which means fewer moving parts and no pump to fail. Cheapest to install, but the roof has to carry 300-plus litres of water plus the tank, and the whole assembly is visible from the street.
Split system
Collectors on the roof, tank on the ground. A small circulating pump and controller move heat between them. Better for tile roofs with limited load capacity, better looking, and easier to service — but the pump and controller are extra components with a service life.
Evacuated tube
Glass tubes under vacuum, each with its own absorber. They perform better in diffuse light and cold mornings than flat panels, and individual tubes can be replaced if one breaks. They cost more and, on an exposed coastal roof, hail and debris are worth thinking about.
Boosting is either electric (an element in the tank) or gas (an inline continuous flow unit). Gas boosting suits homes already on the ATCO network — see gas hot water for how that side works.
Roof aspect is the real constraint
Collectors want to face north with as little shading as possible. A great many Meadow Springs and Madora Bay homes are ideal: modern estate roofs, clear northern aspect, no mature trees. Older Greenfields and Coodanup blocks with tall gums to the north are harder, and canal homes in Erskine and Wannanup sometimes have the pitch wrong.
We will tell you if your roof is not a good candidate rather than selling you a system that will lean on its booster all year. In those cases a heat pump usually delivers similar running costs with none of the roof work.
Service and repair
Solar systems need more attention than a sealed tank. Frost and pressure valves, pump operation on split systems, controller settings, sacrificial anodes and fixings all have a maintenance interval. Near the water, add fixings and frame corrosion to that list. We service and repair Apricus, Rheem Solar, Edwards and Beasley systems, and we can replace a failed booster element without touching the collectors.
Install pricing is in the cost guide, and the installation page covers what a changeover day looks like. If you are still deciding, work through the system selection guide or call (08) 9516 1934.
More services
Explore our other services
Electric Hot Water Systems
Storage tanks and instantaneous electric units, plus element and thermostat repairs.
Learn more →Heat Pump Hot Water Systems
Air-source heat pumps suited to Mandurah's mild winters, standalone or retrofitted.
Learn more →Hot Water System Installation
Like-for-like swaps, relocations and fuel changeovers by licensed WA tradespeople.
Learn more →Hot Water Repairs
No hot water, leaking tanks, pilot light faults and tempering valve failures.
Learn more →
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Does solar hot water actually work through a Mandurah winter?
It works, but not alone. Mandurah winters are mild and reasonably bright, so a well-sized system still contributes most of the heat on clear days. On a run of grey, wet July days the booster carries the load. Every domestic solar hot water system sold in WA includes electric or gas boosting for exactly that reason.
Roof-mounted or split system?
Roof-mounted puts the tank on the roof beside the collectors, which is cheaper to install and needs no pump, but it is heavy, visible, and exposed. A split system keeps the tank at ground level and circulates fluid to roof collectors with a small pump. Split costs more and adds a pump to maintain, but it suits tile roofs that will not carry the load and anyone who dislikes the look.
How does salt air affect solar hot water near the coast?
Badly, if the system is not specified for it. Frames, fixings and flashings on a Halls Head or Madora Bay roof sit in constant salt-laden westerly wind. Stainless or properly coated mounting hardware and regular inspection of fixings matter far more here than they do ten kilometres inland. Ask specifically about coastal-rated components before you sign.
Are there rebates for solar hot water in Western Australia?
The federal small-scale renewable energy scheme creates certificates for eligible solar and heat pump hot water systems, and installers normally apply that value as an upfront discount rather than a rebate you claim later. The amount depends on the model, the zone and the certificate market, so ask for the price both before and after the discount in writing.
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