Four faults NSW inspectors commonly find
- The relief valve drain ends in the wrong place. Where the temperature pressure relief line discharges can scald someone or damage the system and the building around it.
- No pressure limiting valve. If incoming pressure calls for one and it's missing, excess pressure may make the relief valve fail or the tank leak.
- Pipes left bare. Hot, cold and relief pipework installed without the insulation the standard requires.
- A tank on a poor base. Inspectors found tanks sitting directly on dirt, poorly supported or leaning off the wall. The standard calls for a level, stable base.
Wollongong details that change the install
Frost at some addresses
Albion Park (Shellharbour Airport) averages 10.0 days a year at 2°C or colder and 1.7 at or below freezing; Bellambi averages none at 2°C or below. The standard behind the NSW note says exposed pipes to and from outdoor heaters in frost-prone areas may need extra insulation.
Soft water
Typical total hardness in Sydney Water's Illawarra Delivery System runs 35 to 43 mg/L, which Sydney Water counts as soft.
Strata approvals
Flats and apartments were 18.5% of Wollongong's occupied homes at the 2021 Census. Under NSW strata rules, installing a heat pump is a minor renovation that needs approval before work starts.
Rules for a new or replacement heater
NSW requires a temperature control device on every replacement water heater, whatever its type or location. That limits the shower, bath, handbasin and bidet to 50°C, while the tank stores water at 60°C or more to keep Legionella down.
Replacing an existing system counts as minor work, so it needs no Notice of Work. A system in a new spot, or a new installation, may be different: ask the plumber whether a notice goes to Building Commission NSW first, as it does for Illawarra work that needs an inspection. Either way, the job ends with a Certificate of Compliance and your copy of it.
For STCs, the Clean Energy Regulator says the system must meet the state's installer licensing requirements, so the installer's licence matters for the certificates too.
Discounts, if you're switching
A heat pump or solar system may attract an Energy Savings Scheme discount through an installer partnered with an Accredited Certificate Provider. The amounts Energy NSW lists are indicative only, a minimum payment applies, and the discount should be visible in the quote. Ask the installer which accredited supplier they work with. Our NSW discounts page has more.
Questions for a Wollongong hot water installer
- Will you test the incoming water pressure and fit a pressure limiting valve if it's needed?
- Where will the relief valve drain line discharge?
- What will the tank stand on, and will the pipework be insulated?
- Is a Notice of Work needed for this job, and when do I get the Certificate of Compliance?
- For a heat pump, how does this model run on our coldest mornings?
What we would do
Use Building Commission NSW's list as your checklist on installation day: a pressure test, a sensible discharge point for the relief line, insulated pipes and a level, stable base. Ask about each one before the quote is accepted, not after. A plumber who installs hot water in the Illawarra every week will have answers ready, and the Certificate of Compliance will say they've met the standard.