If it's leaking or stone cold
Turn the water off at the unit
Use the cold water valve on the hot water system. Unitywater says you can turn off the stop tap at the meter, but to make sure that won't damage appliances such as the hot water system first.
Switch off the power or gas
Turn an electric unit off at the switchboard. For gas, turn the unit's gas off if it's safe to reach.
Read the label
Note the brand, model and the date it was made. It tells the plumber what parts to bring.
Book a hot water specialist
Ask for a straight answer on repair or replace before any quote for a new system.
The Sunshine Coast details that matter
Soft water, according to Unitywater
Unitywater says Sunshine Coast and Noosa water is generally soft, under 100 mg/L. It notes hard water can scale up hot water pipes and fittings, and that soft water may lead to more pipe corrosion depending on pH and other factors. Its advice: leave water-using appliances on factory settings.
Cooler July mornings than you'd think
Sunshine Coast Airport's July mean minimum is 9.7°C, and it has dropped to -0.7°C. A heat pump works from the outside air, so ask how the model you're quoted handles a cold dawn.
Sun for solar
The airport averages 24.1 MJ per square metre of solar exposure a day in January and 12.0 in June, from records going back to 1990.
Owners make the call
73.1% of occupied homes in the Sunshine Coast council area were separate houses at the 2021 Census, and 33.9% were owned outright. Renting? The system is the landlord's, so report the fault to them or the agent.
Queensland's rules for a new system
Whatever type you choose, Queensland wants a temperature control device fitted when a hot water system goes in, replacement or not. That's a tempering valve or similar, which keeps bathroom water from scalding.
Water in the tank has to reach at least 60°C, the temperature Queensland gives for stopping Legionella growing. If you want the thermostat changed, Queensland Health says that's a job for a licensed electrician, not a DIY tweak.
Choosing a heat pump or solar? Only a hot water installer endorsed by the QBCC for solar and heat pump work may fit it. Replacing a water heater in an existing home is also notifiable work, so the plumber must register it with the QBCC, and you should receive a copy within 20 business days of registration.
Bringing the price down
Heat pumps under 425 L and solar water heaters under 700 L can earn small-scale technology certificates, provided the model is on the register. Owners often sign the right to create them over to an agent in return for a discount. The scheme runs until 2030.
We haven't found a current state rebate in Queensland for these systems. Check our Queensland rebates page in case that changes.
Ask before you agree to a new system
- What exactly has failed, and can that part be replaced?
- If it's a heat pump, how does this model cope on a 9.7°C July morning?
- Are you endorsed by the QBCC for solar and heat pump installation?
- Is the STC discount shown separately on the quote?
- Which temperature control device are you fitting, and will you register the job?
What we would do
Shut the system down at the unit's own valve and switch, then get it looked at by someone who repairs hot water every week. A failed thermostat or valve shouldn't turn into a new tank. If it does need replacing, use the wait to compare at least two types, check the installer's endorsement if it's solar or a heat pump, and make sure the quote names the temperature control device and the STC discount. On the Sunshine Coast all four types are on the table, so choose for your household, not for a rule.