Hot Water Repairs and Replacement in the Blue Mountains

Signs your hot water system needs attention

• Water that stays lukewarm or runs out after a few minutes
• Rusty or brown hot water, but clear cold water
• Water dripping from the relief valve pipe all the time, not just occasionally
• Pooling water or rust streaks around the base of the tank
• A gas unit that will not stay lit, or an electric unit that trips the switchboard
• Banging or rumbling noises when the unit heats

If you can see water leaking from the tank itself (not the pipes or valves), the tank has usually failed. Turn off the water and power or gas to the unit and call us. A rusted-through tank cannot be repaired.

Repair or replace?

Many faults are small jobs. A failed thermostat, heating element, gas thermocouple or relief valve is a small job on a unit that is otherwise sound.

Replacement makes sense when the tank is leaking, the unit is near the end of its life (storage tanks often last around ten years, sometimes more), or repairs are starting to add up. We look at the unit, the age on the compliance plate and the repair cost, then tell you which way we would go.

You get the numbers before any work starts. If a repair is not worth it, we say so.

Which type suits a Mountains home?

The Mountains are colder than Sydney for much of the year, and the difference between Glenbrook and Blackheath is large. That changes what works well.

• Electric storage: simple to buy, dearer to run. A solid choice for small households and holiday cottages.
• Gas storage or continuous flow: common where mains gas or LPG bottles are available. Continuous flow units give endless hot water and take less room. Gas work is always done by a licensed gasfitter.
• Heat pump: low running cost because it moves heat rather than making it. Output drops in very cold air, so placement and model matter in the upper Mountains. Ask about current NSW incentives, which change from time to time.
• Solar hot water: works well on open, sunny roofs. Many Mountains blocks are shaded by gums and sit in valleys, so check the winter sun on your roof before you commit.

Cold climate details that matter up here

Pipes that run through roof spaces, subfloors and outside walls can freeze on cold nights. A unit that sits outside a weatherboard wall needs lagged pipes and a protected relief valve line.

Tempering valves keep hot water at a safe temperature at the tap, while the tank itself stays hot enough to prevent bacteria growth. If your bathroom water is scalding or only ever warm, the valve may need service or replacement.

Older cottages often have small or awkward hot water spaces. We measure up before quoting so the new unit actually fits through the door, and we plan how the old one comes out.

What happens on the day

• We confirm the unit type, size and location, and talk you through the price before work starts
• We isolate water and power or gas, and drain the old unit
• We fit the new unit with new valves and connections where needed, and test everything
• We take the old unit away
• We lodge the paperwork a licensed plumber must provide for this work in NSW

If your hot water has failed completely, tell us when you call and we will talk through the options.

Where we work

We service hot water systems in Katoomba, Springwood, Blaxland, Leura, Wentworth Falls, Glenbrook, Blackheath, Lawson and the towns between.