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Hot Water Service
Expert plumbing services you can trust
Hot Water Service
Wangaratta & North East Victoria
Hot Water Systems Wangaratta
Supply, installation, repair and replacement of electric, gas, solar and heat pump hot water systems by licensed local plumbers. Emergency callouts and honest advice on the right system for your home. A Wangaratta family business of 30+ years.
✓ Licensed plumbers & gas fitters ✓ Emergency hot water callouts ✓ 30+ years in Wangaratta
Which hot water system is best for a Wangaratta home?
For most Wangaratta households, the best value system is either a continuous flow gas unit (if you are on natural gas) or a heat pump (if you want the lowest running cost). Electric storage is the cheapest to buy but the most expensive to run, while solar suits homes with good roof access and northern sun.
The right choice comes down to how many people live in the home, whether you have natural gas or only electricity, your roof and yard space, and your budget upfront versus over time. We install all types and will tell you which one actually suits your place, rather than pushing one product. Call O'Briens on (03) 5722 9896.
Key takeaways
- O'Briens supplies, installs, services and repairs electric, gas, solar and heat pump hot water systems.
- Continuous flow gas suits homes on natural gas that never want to run out of hot water.
- Heat pumps use up to three times less energy than standard electric storage, so they are cheapest to run.
- Electric storage is cheapest to buy, dearest to run.
- As a rule of thumb, allow about 50 litres of hot water per person per day when sizing a system.
- A family of four typically needs a 250 to 315 litre storage tank, or a 24 to 26 L/min continuous flow unit.
- Most systems last 10 to 15 years, so plan a replacement before an old unit fails mid-winter.
- We offer emergency hot water callouts across Wangaratta and North East Victoria.
Types of hot water system, compared
There are four main types of hot water system, plus continuous flow as a way of delivering gas or electric. Here is how they stack up for a typical North East home.
| System type | Upfront cost | Running cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric storage | Lowest | Highest | Low upfront budget, or where gas is not available and a heat pump does not fit |
| Gas storage | Low to medium | Medium | Homes on natural gas wanting steady, reliable hot water |
| Gas continuous flow | Medium | Medium | Homes on gas that never want to run out, with limited space (no tank) |
| Heat pump | Medium to high | Lowest | Lowest long-term running cost |
| Solar hot water | High | Very low | Homes with good north-facing roof space and sun |
General guide only. The best fit depends on your gas connection, roof, household size and budget. We assess this on site.
How much does a hot water system cost in 2026?
Installed prices vary with the system type, size, and how straightforward the changeover is. As a guide, these are typical installed ranges in Australia in 2026. Your exact price depends on site conditions, which we confirm in the quote.
| System type | Typical installed cost | Yearly running cost |
|---|---|---|
| Electric storage | $1,000 to $2,500 | $500 to $800 |
| Gas storage | $1,400 to $2,800 | Varies with gas tariff |
| Gas continuous flow | $1,300 to $2,600 | Varies with gas tariff |
| Heat pump | $2,800 to $5,000 before rebates | $150 to $300 |
| Solar hot water | $3,500 to $7,000 before rebates | Very low, varies with boosting |
Indicative national ranges for 2026. Local pricing and your existing plumbing can shift these figures. Heat pump and solar systems may qualify for government rebates that reduce the cost. We give you a firm, upfront quote before any work begins.
Signs your hot water system needs attention
Most hot water systems give warning signs before they fail completely. Call a plumber if you notice any of these:
- No hot water, or it runs out much faster than it used to
- Water that comes out rusty, discoloured or smelly
- Banging, whistling or rumbling noises from the tank
- Water pooling or leaking around the base of the unit
- Fluctuating or lukewarm water temperature
- The pilot light going out repeatedly (gas systems)
- A system that is more than 10 to 12 years old
A leaking tank usually means replacement rather than repair, so it is worth getting onto early before it fails mid-winter.
No hot water? Try this before you call
Gas systems
Check the pilot light is lit and the gas is on. If the pilot will not stay lit, it needs a licensed gas fitter.
Electric systems
Check the switchboard for a tripped breaker, and that the system is switched on. If it keeps tripping, do not reset repeatedly, call us.
Any system
Check the isolation valve and main water are on. If there is water pooling at the base, turn the system off and call us.
If none of these fixes it, or you smell gas or see water leaking, stop and call O'Briens on (03) 5722 9896. We take emergency hot water calls.
What size hot water system do I need?
Sizing depends on how many people are in the home and when you use hot water most, not just floor area. The industry rule of thumb is about 50 litres of hot water per person per day. Storage systems are rated in litres; continuous flow units are rated by flow rate. As a general starting point:
| Household | Electric storage | Gas storage | Heat pump |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 people | 125 to 160 L (or 250 L off-peak) | 90 to 135 L | 160 to 200 L |
| 3 to 4 people | 250 to 315 L | 135 to 170 L | 270 to 315 L |
| 5+ people | 315 to 400 L | 170 L and up | 315 L and up |
General guide based on around 50 litres per person per day. Off-peak electric systems need a larger tank because they only heat overnight. Continuous flow gas is sized on flow rate instead: roughly 16 to 20 L/min for 1 to 2 people, 24 to 26 L/min for a family of four, and up to 32 L/min where three outlets may run at once. We size to your actual peak demand on site.
Why choose O'Briens
- Family-owned in Wangaratta for over 30 years
- Licensed plumbers and gas fitters in-house
- VBA #44800 · REC #28927 · ARC #AU05289
- We install all system types, so the advice is not tied to one product
- Emergency and after-hours hot water callouts
- Upfront, no-obligation quotes
- Residential and commercial
- Showroom at 17-19 Muntz Street, Wangaratta
Hot water brands we work with
We supply, install and repair the major hot water brands sold in Australia, across gas, electric, solar and heat pump:
RheemRinnaiDuxBoschAquaMAXVulcanStiebel EltronReclaim EnergySandenSolahartChromagenThermann
[REPLACE: trim this list to the brands O'Briens actually supplies and services, and add any not shown. Listing brands you genuinely stock is a strong signal for search and AI assistants; listing ones you do not can mislead customers.]
Areas we service
Based in Wangaratta, we supply and install hot water systems across North East Victoria:
WangarattaBenallaOxleyMilawaMyrtlefordBeechworthYarrawongaRutherglenChilternKing ValleyGlenrowanMoyhu
Hot water systems FAQs
Which hot water system is cheapest to run?
A heat pump is generally the cheapest to run, at roughly $150 to $300 a year, using up to three times less energy than a standard electric storage system, which typically costs $500 to $800 a year. Solar is also very cheap to run once installed.
How much does a new hot water system cost to install?
As a 2026 guide: electric storage runs about $1,000 to $2,500 installed, gas storage $1,400 to $2,800, gas continuous flow $1,300 to $2,600, heat pumps $2,800 to $5,000 before rebates, and solar $3,500 to $7,000 before rebates. The final price depends on the system, size and how straightforward the changeover is. We quote upfront with no obligation.
What size hot water system do I need?
Allow about 50 litres of hot water per person per day. A family of four generally needs a 250 to 315 litre electric storage tank, 135 to 170 litres of gas storage, a 270 to 315 litre heat pump, or a 24 to 26 L/min continuous flow unit. We size to your actual peak demand on site.
How long does a hot water system last?
Most storage systems last around 10 to 15 years, and continuous flow units often longer with servicing. If yours is over 10 years old and showing problems, it is usually worth planning a replacement before it fails mid-winter.
Do you offer emergency hot water repairs?
Yes. We take emergency and after-hours calls when a hot water system fails or leaks, across Wangaratta and the North East. Call (03) 5722 9896.
Can I replace a gas hot water system with a heat pump?
Yes, and it is one of the most common upgrades right now because of the running cost savings. We assess your electrical supply, the location and the space required, then recommend the right size unit for your household.
My hot water system is leaking, what should I do?
Turn the system off and turn off the water supply to it, then call us. A leaking tank usually means the system needs replacing rather than repairing, so it is best not to leave it running.
Do you service commercial hot water systems?
Yes. We install, service and repair hot water systems for commercial properties alongside our residential work, plus general commercial plumbing.
Need a hot water system in Wangaratta?
New install, replacement, repair or an upgrade, talk to the licensed local team that has looked after the North East for over 30 years.
WE ALSO SERVICE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES!
COMMERCIAL SERVICES
- Evaporative Cooling Installation, Service and Repairs
- High Pressure Jetter Blockage Clearing
- Hot Water Systems Installation, Service and Repairs
- General Commercial Plumbing