Hot Water Systems in Geelong
Repair, replacement and installation across gas, electric, solar and heat pump. Same team, same phone number, licensed for the electrical work.
- All types repaired and replaced
- Accredited Master Electrician
- Fast replacement on common units
- Based in South Geelong
Fix it if it is worth fixing, replace it if it is not
Most people ring us about hot water on the day it stops. The first job is working out whether you have a repairable fault or a dead cylinder, because that is the difference between a couple of hundred dollars and a replacement.
We work on gas storage, electric storage, continuous flow gas, solar with electric or gas boost, and heat pump systems. We are not tied to one type, so the advice you get is about what suits your household rather than what is in the van.
Electric storage
The most common system in older Geelong homes. Elements and thermostats fail long before the tank does, and both are straightforward repairs.
Gas storage and continuous flow
Continuous flow is efficient and never runs out, but it is sensitive to gas supply and flow rate. Storage is simpler and cheaper to replace.
Solar hot water
Common on Geelong roofs from the 2000s rebate era. Pumps, controllers and boost elements all fail, and the panels usually outlast them.
Heat pump
The most efficient option available and the one most current rebates point at. Worth a dedicated look.
What happens when you call
Hot water is an urgent job for the household, so the process is deliberately short.
Diagnosis first
We test rather than guess. Element, thermostat, valve, thermocouple, controller or cylinder. You get told which, and what it costs to fix.
The honest replacement conversation
If the tank is gone we say so and we do not charge you for a repair attempt that cannot work. If a repair will buy you three more years, that is worth knowing too.
Sizing for the household
A replacement is the moment to correct a system that was always too small, or too big and losing heat standing there. It costs nothing extra to get it right.
Electrical and compliance done properly
Circuits, isolation, tempering valves and relief valve drains all done to standard, with the paperwork issued. We hold Master Electrician accreditation and are registered with Energy Safe Victoria.
From the call to hot water again
1. Call
Tell us the type, roughly the age, and what it is doing. Often we know the likely fault and can bring the part with us.
2. Attend and diagnose
We test the unit, tell you whether it is a repair or a replacement, and give you the price for each where both are options.
3. Repair or replace
Common repairs are done on the spot. Replacements are usually within a day or two, including removal and disposal of the old unit.
4. Certify and hand over
Compliance paperwork issued, tempering valve set, and any rebate application lodged by us rather than left with you.
No hot water this morning?
Ring us. Tell us the type and the age and we will tell you what it is likely to be before anyone drives out.
What hot water work costs
Supplied and installed, including removal of the old unit and the electrical work where it applies.
Element or thermostat repair
$220 to $480
Relief valve replacement
$180 to $350
Electric storage replacement
$1,400 to $2,600
Gas storage replacement
$1,600 to $3,000
Continuous flow gas replacement
$2,000 to $3,600
Heat pump replacement
$3,500 to $6,500
Indicative only and current at the time of writing. Heat pump replacements can attract a substantial discount under the Victorian Energy Upgrades program, which changes the comparison a great deal. Eligibility depends on the existing system and the current program rules, so we check yours before you decide.
Where hot water quotes differ
Like for like or a change of type
Swapping electric for electric in the same spot is the cheapest job there is. Moving from gas to a heat pump means new electrical work, a new location and often new pipework.
Location and access
A unit down a side path is easy. One in a roof space, a cupboard with no clearance, or up a flight of stairs adds labour and sometimes two people.
Bringing the install up to standard
Older installs often lack a tempering valve, a proper relief drain or adequate seismic restraint. We bring it to standard, which is not always in the cheapest quote you hold.
Rebate paperwork
Where a Victorian Energy Upgrades discount applies, it only exists if the job is done and documented by an approved provider. We handle that end of it.
Where we work
Hot water is the job we travel furthest for, because a household without it cannot wait. We cover Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast and out along the highways.
If you are outside the suburbs listed, ring and ask rather than assuming we do not come out.
Areas we cover
- Belmont, Grovedale and Waurn Ponds
- Corio and Lara
- Newtown and Geelong West
- Leopold, Drysdale and Portarlington
- Ocean Grove and Torquay
Hot water questions
If your system has failed today, phone rather than fill in a form. It is much faster.
Related: heat pump hot water systems and VEU rebate applications.
My hot water has stopped. Can it be repaired?
Often, yes. Element and thermostat failures on electric storage units, thermocouples and igniters on gas units, and pressure and temperature relief valves across all types are routine repairs. What is not worth repairing is a tank that has rusted through, because once the cylinder itself is leaking there is nothing to fix. We tell you which one you have before we quote anything.
How long should a hot water system last?
A mains pressure electric or gas storage unit typically gives eight to twelve years, sometimes longer if the sacrificial anode has been replaced along the way. Continuous flow gas units often go fifteen or more. Heat pumps are newer to the mainstream, and the good ones are built around compressors similar to those in air conditioning, so we expect similar service life.
What size do I need?
For storage, roughly 125 to 160 litres for one or two people, 250 to 315 litres for a family of four, and larger again if you have a big bath or several teenagers. Continuous flow is rated by flow rate rather than volume, and the right rating depends on how many outlets you might run at once. Undersizing is the most common complaint we hear about a system someone else installed.
Should I replace gas with electric?
For a lot of Geelong households the numbers now favour a heat pump, particularly if there is solar on the roof or the gas connection exists only for hot water. Removing the last gas appliance also removes the daily supply charge, which is a real number over a year. It is not automatic though, and we will run it on your usage rather than assume.
How quickly can you replace a failed system?
We keep common storage and continuous flow units available and most straightforward replacements are done within a day or two of the call. Heat pumps sometimes involve a lead time on the unit and a rebate application, so if yours is on its last legs it is worth planning rather than waiting for it to fail in the middle of winter.
Get a hot water quote
Tell us the type of system, roughly how old it is and where it sits. A photo of the label on the unit tells us almost everything.
For a straight replacement we can usually give you a firm price without attending.
If it has failed and you have no hot water, call rather than send this. We prioritise those.
Phone (03) 5214 8711
Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm. Weekends by appointment.
Air Conditioning Geelong
Unit 2, 112 Balliang Street
South Geelong VIC 3220