When a hot water system fails, the priority is getting hot water back. It's still worth knowing what a proper replacement includes in Queensland, because some of it is a legal requirement and most of it is invisible once the job is done. Use this as a checklist when you compare quotes.
Everything here applies across Queensland, and it's what we work to on every Gold Coast hot water replacement.
1. A licensed plumber, and a licensed gas fitter or electrician where needed
Installing a water heater is regulated plumbing work in Queensland and must be done by a licensed plumber. Connecting a gas unit is gas work, which needs a gas work licence. Wiring an electric or heat pump unit is electrical work, which needs the appropriate electrical licence. You can check a plumber's licence on the QBCC licence search.
2. The right size and type for your household
A like-for-like swap is quickest, but only if the old unit suited you. If you were running out of hot water, the replacement should be sized up. If you're on a night-only off-peak tariff, you need a larger electric tank than on an all-day controlled-load tariff. If you have rooftop solar, a heat pump on a daytime timer may make more sense than another electric tank.
3. Safe temperatures: 60°C stored, 50°C at the bathroom
Water heaters store water at 60°C or more to control Legionella bacteria. That's hot enough to scald quickly, so when a water heater is installed or replaced, hot water to bathroom outlets such as showers, basins and baths must be limited to 50°C. This is normally done with a tempering valve, or with a continuous-flow unit set to deliver no more than 50°C where that's permitted. Ask whether the quote includes it.
4. New valves where they're needed
A new tank comes with a new relief valve. Depending on your water pressure and the system, the installation may also need a pressure-limiting valve, an expansion control valve and isolation valves, so the unit runs within the manufacturer's limits and your warranty stays valid. Reusing old valves to save a few dollars is a false economy.
5. The job is notified to QBCC
Replacing a water heater is notifiable work in Queensland. The licensed plumber must lodge a notice with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission within 10 business days of finishing the work, and you should receive a copy. Keep it with your property records. It shows the work was done by a licensed plumber and recorded properly, which can matter for insurance and when you sell.
6. A gas compliance certificate for gas units
For a gas water heater, the gas fitter also gives you a compliance certificate once the gas installation has been tested. Your gas supply should be checked for capacity too: a large continuous-flow unit can need more gas than the old system did.
7. STCs applied properly on heat pumps and solar
Eligible heat pump and solar water heaters attract Small-scale Technology Certificates under the federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. They're normally taken off the price, and the quote should show the discount. Their value depends on the system and your postcode, and reduces each year until the scheme ends in 2030. The Queensland government's own hot water rebate has closed, so be cautious about any offer still quoting it.
8. Removal of the old unit and a tidy finish
The old unit should be drained, disconnected and taken away. Check that the quote includes removal and disposal, and that the new unit sits on a proper base with its relief valve drain line running to a safe, visible discharge point.
Speed things up
Send a photo of your current unit's label (brand, model and litres) and tell us how many people live in the home and which electricity tariff you're on. It usually lets a like-for-like replacement be quoted without a separate visit.
Need help on the Gold Coast?
Tensor Plumbing is a licensed plumber and gas fitter based in Parkwood, servicing Gold Coast suburbs within about 30 minutes. See hot water replacement on the Gold Coast, heat pump hot water, solar hot water, gas continuous-flow hot water and electric hot water repairs, or find your suburb. When you're ready, request a quote online and attach a photo or two.
Related reading: Hot Water Relief Valve Leaking? Causes & When to Call a Plumber and Solar Hot Water Not Heating? Common Causes on the Gold Coast.
General information only
This article is general information about hot water system replacement in Queensland. It is not a substitute for a site-specific inspection by a licensed plumber, and what can be found or confirmed on any property depends on site conditions and accessible evidence.