Hot water repairs, the Perth picture
Relief valves top the list
Water Corporation lists hot water systems among five household leak hotspots worth checking first, and says the culprit is usually the relief valve.
A monthly habit for scale
Water Corporation's advice is to release the system's pressure valves for a few seconds each month to stop scale building up. Its metro water meets the national hardness guideline.
Gas repairs need a GF licence
Gas parts are gasfitting work. A WA gas fitter carries a yellow licence card showing what work they may do, a number starting with GF, and an expiry date.
Visible leaks don't get an allowance
Water Corporation's leak allowance is for hidden leaks only. A dripping valve or a leaking appliance doesn't qualify; a cracked pipe inside a wall or under paving might.
What you're seeing, and who to call
| Where to look first | Who to call | |
|---|---|---|
| No hot water from a gas unit | The pilot, ignition or gas supply | A licensed gas fitter who repairs water heaters |
| No hot water from an electric unit | The element, thermostat or power to the unit | A plumber who specialises in hot water repairs |
| Water running from the relief valve drain | The valve itself, or the pressure behind it | A hot water plumber; don't block or cap the drain |
| Water pooling or rust at the base | The tank | A hot water plumber, who can say whether it can be saved |
| Meter turning with every tap off | A hidden leak, possibly on a hot pipe | A leak detection plumber |
The WA rules for a repair
Only a licensed plumber or permit holder may work on a water heater in WA. The homeowner list is short, and water heaters aren't on it; nor are thermostatic mixing taps.
Because a repair is minor work, the plumber keeps a record of it instead of issuing a certificate. If the job turns into a replacement, that changes: a new water heater is major work, with a notice before and a certificate after.
Gas repairs follow the gasfitting rules. Servicing doesn't need a Notice of Completion, but other gasfitting work does, and the fitter must give you a copy within 48 hours. If it doesn't arrive, ask the fitter first, then the gas supplier or Building and Energy.
Whichever trade comes, the licence or permit number should be on the quote and on the invoice.
Warning signs on a repair call
- No licence or permit number on the quote or the invoice.
- Gas work by someone who can't show a gasfitting licence card.
- A full replacement pushed before anyone has found the failed part.
- Being told a new system needs no certificate. In WA it's major work.
What we would do
Before the plumber arrives, note what the system is doing, when it started and where any water is coming from, and photograph the label. If water is pooling, turn off the cold supply to the unit and its power or gas, if that's safe. Ask the plumber to name the faulty part and price the repair against a replacement, in writing. If gas is involved, look at the licence card before work starts. A licence-checked plumber who specialises in hot water repairs will expect that.