Hot water, the Melbourne way
Three in ten homes are rented
At the 2021 Census, 30.2% of Greater Melbourne's occupied homes were rented. Rentals get their own hot water standard from 1 March 2027, so owning or renting changes the answer below.
Hardness is low
South East Water's tap water averaged 18 mg/L total hardness in 2024-25; Yarra Valley Water's sampling areas averaged 10 to 43 mg/L in 2025-26. The guideline that limits scale in hot water systems is 200 mg/L. Not sure which company is yours? See our Melbourne page.
Brown water from the hot tap
Yarra Valley Water names hot water services, with old galvanised pipes, among the usual causes of discoloured water from household plumbing. Brown from the hot taps only? Look at the hot water system first.
Cool winter mornings
Moorabbin Airport's average July minimum is 6.3°C, and Olympic Park's is 7.6°C. A heat pump draws its heat from the outside air, which is worth remembering when you choose one.
The 2027 gas rule, in plain words
Solar Victoria says existing homes must upgrade gas hot water systems to an efficient electric alternative, like a heat pump, from 1 March 2027 "as they reach end-of-life". The trigger is your gas system wearing out, not the date.
Repairs are still allowed: gas systems "can still be repaired if they break down". Gas heating for owner occupiers, gas cooking in existing homes and LPG are unchanged.
We haven't found the regulation itself, or an official definition of end of life, so check current rules before you buy. Our guide to the rule has every official statement so far, and our hot water page compares the system types.
What applies to your home
| What the rule means | Help with the cost | |
|---|---|---|
| You own and live in it; the gas unit works | Nothing has to change. Repair it while it's worth repairing. | Switching early? Solar Homes may apply once the old system is at least 3 years old |
| You own and live in it; the gas unit has died | From 1 March 2027, the replacement must be efficient electric, such as a heat pump. Check current rules. | Solar Homes if you qualify, plus VEU discounts and STCs on eligible models |
| It's a rental | From 1 March 2027, a system that permanently fails and can't be repaired must be replaced with an efficient heat pump or electric-boosted solar water heater. Some rentals are exempt. | VEU: Consumer Affairs Victoria says every upgrade under the rental standards is eligible for a discount. Not Solar Homes |
Solar Homes and VEU, without the sales pitch
Solar Homes is Solar Victoria's rebate on eligible heat pump and solar hot water: 50% of the purchase price, up to $1,000, or up to $1,400 for products under its locally made incentive. It's worked out after other discounts come off.
You must own and live in the home, the property must be worth under $3 million, and all owners' combined household taxable income must be less than $150,000 a year (it was $210,000 until 1 July 2026). The old system must be at least 3 years old, and you need an authorised retailer and an eligible product. If your system breaks down or is unsafe, you can replace it before Solar Victoria confirms you're eligible.
Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) gives a discount through accredited businesses, not a rebate, and the amount depends on the product and the install. VEU rules require a minimum payment for certain upgrades, so an offer that says you'll pay nothing is a warning sign. Doorknocking and cold calls about VEU upgrades are banned. More on our Victorian rebates page.
When the hot water dies on a Melbourne morning
Shut it down safely
If it's leaking, close the cold water valve to the unit. Then switch off its power at the switchboard, or its gas, if that's safe.
Photograph the label
Brand, model and date. The age matters for the Solar Homes rule on systems at least 3 years old.
Get a repair-or-replace answer
A hot water specialist can tell you if it's a part or the tank. If a gas unit can be repaired, that's still allowed.
If it's finished, check eligibility before you sign
Read Solar Victoria's conditions yourself, then confirm the retailer is authorised and the model is eligible.
Questions to ask a Melbourne hot water plumber
- Can this system be repaired, or is it truly at the end of its life?
- Are you an authorised Solar Homes retailer, and is this model eligible?
- Which discounts are already in this price, and what is my minimum payment?
- How does this heat pump perform on a cold winter morning?
- Does this replacement need a tempering valve in Victoria, and will I get a compliance certificate?
What we would do
If your gas unit works, leave it alone and use the time to plan. If it has died, get a hot water specialist to confirm it can't be repaired before you commit. Then read Solar Victoria's conditions yourself and ask for one written quote with the full price, each discount and what you pay. In a rental, the landlord chooses the system, but from 1 March 2027 the standard limits what it can be.