Hot Water Plumber Sydney: Repair or Replacement
No hot water? We aim to have it back the same day where we can. Pink Plumbing repairs and replaces gas, electric, heat pump and solar hot water systems across Sydney from our base in Earlwood. Call 1300 111 007, seven days. We tell you honestly on the phone what stock we can get same day, what it will cost, and whether your system is worth fixing at all.
Founded 2017 · No call-out fee in business hours · After-hours emergencies · NSW Licence 311287C · Lifetime labour guarantee
Get the price for your job
Takes 60 seconds. Tell us the job and we call you back with a fixed price, or send a photo through the Instant Quote tool.
- No call-out fee in business hours
- Fixed price before any work starts
- Lifetime Labour Guarantee on every job
Nick or Julie aim to call you back within 30 minutes, 7am to 6pm seven days.
We use these details to price your job and contact you about it. Nothing else.
No call-out fee in business hours · Licensed 311287C · Lifetime Labour Guarantee
Repair or replace? How we make the call
We do not sell you a new tank when a part will do, and we do not keep patching a tank that is about to let go. Here is how we decide.
- Age. Most storage tanks last 8 to 12 years. Past ten, a repair buys time, not a fresh start.
- Tank corrosion. Rust streaks, a weeping seam or water pooling under the cylinder means the tank has failed. There is no repair for a corroded tank.
- Relief valve. A relief valve that drips constantly is a cheap, common fix. We replace the valve, not the system.
- Element or thermostat. On electric storage, a straightforward repair if the tank is sound.
- Pilot or ignition. Gas units that will not light usually have a thermocouple, igniter or gas valve fault. Usually repairable, and we carry common parts.
If a repair is poor value against a new unit, we say so. The choice stays with you.
For taps, toilets and everyday jobs, see our general plumbing page.
Emergency: no hot water right now
A tank leaking into the unit below, or the smell of gas near the heater, are reasons to call now. Our emergency plumbers are available after hours across Sydney. If you smell gas, turn it off at the meter, leave the area and call us.
The system types, explained plainly
Gas storage. A tank heated by a gas burner. Fast recovery, and often the quickest same-day swap. Downsides: rising gas prices and heat lost from the tank while it sits.
Gas continuous flow. Heats water as you use it, so you never run out and there is no tank to corrode. Compact and wall mounted, good for terraces. Downsides: needs adequate gas supply and water pressure, and several showers at once can stretch a small unit.
Electric storage. Cheapest to buy, easy to repair, and often the only option in units with no gas. Downsides: highest running cost on a standard tariff, though off-peak and rooftop solar help.
Heat pump. Pulls heat from the air using a fraction of the power of an electric tank. Excellent in Sydney's mild climate and the main path to lower bills, especially with solar panels. Downsides: higher upfront cost, some compressor noise, and it needs an outdoor spot with airflow. Ask us what rebates currently apply.
Solar. Roof collectors with a boosted tank. Very low running costs in sun. Downsides: highest install cost, needs the right roof, and the booster runs through cloudy stretches. For many homes a heat pump now delivers similar savings with less on the roof.
Sizing: households and strata blocks
Size matters more than brand. Undersized means cold showers by the third person; oversized means heating water nobody uses. For houses we size on people, bathrooms and whether showers run at once. For continuous flow, on litres per minute across the outlets you use together.
Strata is different. Some blocks run a unit in each apartment, others a central plant. We advise committees on both, including whether to move a central system to heat pump and what that means for plant room space, noise and access.
Same-day replacement: the honest version
Most standard electric and gas storage swaps can be done the day you call, provided we can get the unit. We tell you honestly on the phone what stock we can get same day. Common sizes are usually available; a specific heat pump or large continuous flow unit may take a day or two. If so, we say it up front and, where possible, arrange a temporary fix.
Compliance, and what happens on the day
Gas connections are done by our licensed gas fitters with a compliance certificate issued on completion. Every new system gets a tempering valve where required, so bathroom taps run at a safe temperature. We install to the manufacturer's instructions and Australian Standards, which protects your warranty.
On the day, we confirm system, size and price; isolate, drain and remove the old unit; fit the new system, tempering valve, relief valve and any pipework; fill, test and set the temperature; then show you how it works, hand over the paperwork and leave the area clean. Most straight swaps take two to four hours. Changing fuel type or relocating the unit takes longer, and we tell you that when we quote.
Pricing
No call-out fee in business hours. After-hours, weekend and emergency call-outs carry a call-out fee, always quoted upfront before we dispatch a plumber.
You get an upfront fixed price before we start, and you only pay for the work we do. If something on site changes the job, we stop and talk to you first. Interest-free payment through Payright is available for larger replacements. Ask us what rebates currently apply; the programs change, so we check at quote time rather than guess.
For full prices and what changes them, see the hot water system price guide.
Landlords, property managers and strata
NSW tenancy law treats no hot water as an urgent repair. We work with property managers and strata committees to get tenants hot water fast, with written quotes, photos and compliance certificates for your file, and one number that actually answers.
Why Sydney calls Pink Plumbing for hot water
Founded in 2017 by Nick, a Sydney plumber with nearly 20 years on the tools. Four plumbers, 40+ years of combined experience, and every job done or supervised by a licensed plumber. NSW licence 311287C, fully insured. Lifetime Labour Guarantee on every job. 160+ five-star Google reviews, and we do not ask people to leave them. Based in Earlwood, covering the Inner West, St George, the Eastern Suburbs and the Sutherland Shire, plus greater Sydney for larger jobs.
Call the hot water plumber Sydney trusts
Call 1300 111 007, after hours too for emergencies, or email info@pinkplumbing.com.au. Tell us what you have and what it is doing. We will tell you what we can fix, what we can replace today, and exactly what it will cost before anyone picks up a tool.
Areas we cover
Based in Earlwood, working across the Inner West, St George, the Sutherland Shire, the Eastern Suburbs and the North Shore.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does a hot water repair cost?
Hot water from $218 inc GST, confirmed on site. Replacement of a whole unit is quoted as a fixed price for your unit type and position before any work starts. No call-out fee in business hours.
No hot water this morning, what can I check before I call?
Electric: check the hot water circuit breaker at the switchboard and, on an off-peak tariff, whether the boost has been used. Gas: check that other gas appliances are working and that the pilot or ignition has not gone out. A small drip from the relief valve is normal; a steady stream or water pooling under the tank is not. Then call 1300 111 007 with the make, model and age of the unit and we tell you what we can do today.
Should I repair or replace my hot water system?
Most storage units last around 8 to 12 years. A failed element, thermostat, valve or igniter is usually a repair. A tank that is leaking is a replacement, because the steel has rusted through. We tell you honestly which one you are looking at, and the price for each, before anything is touched.
How long does a replacement take?
Where a like-for-like unit is in stock, the swap is usually done in one visit, and we aim to have your hot water back the same day where we can. We tell you the real timing when you call.
Gas or heat pump: which should I choose?
If you have rooftop solar or want the lowest running costs, a heat pump is hard to beat in Sydney. If you need the fastest, lowest-cost swap and already have gas, gas is still a sound choice. Ask us what rebates currently apply.
Why is my hot water system leaking?
A small drip from the relief valve is normal; a constant one means the valve needs replacing. Water from the base or seams means the tank has corroded and needs replacing. Either way, do not ignore it.
What is a tempering valve and does it need replacing?
A tempering valve limits the hot water at bathroom taps to a safe temperature. The common recommendation is to check it and replace it around every five years, and we check it as part of the free plumbing health check that comes with every job.
Do you install hot water systems in units and apartments?
Yes. We handle individual unit replacements, including tight cupboard and balcony installs, and central plant for whole blocks through strata committees.
Which hot water brands do you work on?
Rheem, Rinnai, Dux, Bosch, Vulcan, Aquamax and the other common Australian brands, gas, electric and heat pump. We repair what can be repaired and replace what cannot.
Do you charge a call-out fee?
No call-out fee in business hours. After-hours, weekend and emergency call-outs carry a call-out fee, always quoted upfront before we dispatch a plumber.
Do you attend emergencies after hours?
Yes, every night from 6pm to 7am. Call 1300 111 007 and the on-call plumber answers, tells you whether we can get to you tonight, and quotes the after-hours call-out fee before we dispatch. We aim to be on site within 60 minutes for emergencies in the Inner West, St George and the Shire.
Which areas do you cover?
From our Earlwood base we cover the Inner West, St George, the Sutherland Shire, the Eastern Suburbs and the North Shore, and greater Sydney for larger jobs. Tell us your suburb and we tell you the real travel time.
Get your hot water sorted
Upfront fixed price before any work starts. You only pay for the work we do. Call 1300 111 007 or send a photo through the Instant Quote tool.
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No call-out fee in business hours · Licensed 311287C · Lifetime Labour Guarantee
Payright available - get it done now, pay it off over time.