Hot water systems in Maitland, Newcastle and the Hunter
Electric storage, heat pump, solar and gas, including the latest energy saving technology.
We offer and provide maintenance on a wide range of hot water options, and we fix and replace hot water systems for homes from our base in Thornton.
Call 0474 659 574 Book hot water
- Open 24 hours, 7 days
- 5.0 on Google from 37 reviews (September 2026)
- Company plumbing licence 488039C, fully insured
No hot water: what to check first
A few of these are quick fixes you can do yourself. If none of them brings the hot water back, call us.
Electric storage
Look for a tripped hot water breaker in the switchboard. On an off-peak tariff the tank only heats in set hours, so a run of long showers can empty it until the next heating period.
Gas
See whether the cooktop or another gas appliance lights. On bottled gas, check the bottle isn't empty. If you can smell gas, turn it off at the meter or bottle if it's safe to, then call.
Heat pump and solar
A heat pump runs on power, so check its breaker. A solar unit leans on its gas or electric booster through cloudy spells and cold winter nights, so check the booster's power or gas as well.
Water around the unit
A little water from the relief valve drain while the tank heats can be normal. A steady run, or a puddle at the base, is not: switch the unit off, close the cold valve into it and ring us.
Still cold after that? Call 0474 659 574. We're open 24 hours, 7 days.
Electric storage, heat pump, solar and gas
These are the four hot water options we work on. Each heats water a different way, which decides where the unit can go, what it connects to and what it costs to run.
Electric storage A tank kept hot and ready by an electric element.- Needs
- Room for the tank and a power circuit, on an off-peak tariff if you choose
- Buy and run
- The cheapest to buy and install, and generally dearer to run
Heat pump Pulls heat out of the outside air and moves it into the tank.- Needs
- An outdoor spot with space and airflow, and a model made for your winters
- Buy and run
- Dearer to buy, cheap to run: about 30% of the energy of a conventional electric system
- Solar Collectors on the roof heat the water, with a gas or electric booster for dull days.
- Needs
- Roof space that gets the sun, and a tank on the roof or on the ground
- Buy and run
- Expensive to buy and install, with the booster using gas or electricity when the sun can't keep up
Gas A gas burner heats the water, either as you use it or in a tank.- Needs
- A mains or bottled gas supply, and clearance around the flue
- Types
- Continuous flow, the most common kind, with no tank to run dry. Gas storage keeps a tank hot.
Replacing like for like, or changing type
Like for like is the simplest swap, because the new unit uses the same supply and often the same spot. Changing type is where the energy saving is, and it usually means changing what the unit connects to: a power circuit for a heat pump, a gas line for gas, roof space for solar collectors.
Heat pumps in winter
Not every heat pump model is designed for places that regularly drop below 5°C in winter. A heat pump takes its heat from the air around it, so the model has to suit the spot it will sit in, and the coldest mornings it will see there.
The number on the sticker
Our sticker on your hot water system? Same number, day or night.
It's the round Country to Coast sticker with our phone number on it, like the one on this gas storage unit. If the unit it's on stops heating or starts leaking, the number to ring is already on it: 0474 659 574, any hour, any day.
Google review
4pm on a Friday arvo Tim was more than happy to quickly come to my rescue with a hot water system problem! He was friendly and committed to getting my hot water back on before the weekend. Super grateful! Great service ☺️
What a hot water replacement involves
Choose the unit
Type and size to suit the household, where it will sit, and what it will connect to.
Take the old one out
Power or gas off, cold water off, the tank drained and the old unit disconnected.
Set the new one down
On a level, stable base that won't hold water, or on proper wall brackets.
Connect the water
Cold in and hot out, a relief valve drain run to a safe spot, a pressure limiting valve where the mains pressure is high, and insulation on the pipes.
Fit the tempering valve
So the hot water reaching the bathroom comes out at a safe temperature.
Fill, heat and check
Fill the tank with a hot tap open to push the air out, turn the power or gas back on, then check every joint and the water temperature at the taps.
Hot water systems
- Systems
- Electric storage, heat pump, solar, gas
- Work
- Maintenance, fixing and replacing
- Also
- TMV testing
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, 7 days
- Phone
- 0474 659 574
Booking a replacement? Tell us the type of unit you have now, the size on its label, where it sits, and whether you want the same again or a change.
Tempering valves and scald protection
In NSW, replacing a hot water heater means fitting a temperature control device: a tempering valve or a thermostatic mixing valve (TMV). That applies whatever type of heater goes in and wherever it goes, including a like for like swap. The NSW Government's advice for homes with children is a tempering valve that delivers hot water to the bathroom at 50°C.
There are exceptions, such as some factory pre-set units, but not in aged care, early childhood centres, schools or health care buildings. TMV testing is one of the services on our list.
Renovating the bathroom? When every fixture in an existing bathroom is replaced and the hot water has no temperature control device, the new outlets need tempering. Plan it with the plumbing for the renovation.
Four more things a hot water install has to get right
The relief drain
It releases hot water and steam, so it has to end where that can't hurt anyone or become a nuisance.
Water pressure
High mains pressure strains the tank and valves. The inlet pressure is tested and a limiting valve fitted where it's needed.
Pipe insulation
Bare pipes lose heat on the way to the tap. The inlet, outlet and relief pipes get lagged.
A solid base
A full tank is heavy. It sits on a level, stable base that won't pond water, not on bare ground.
Hot water systems on our jobs
Common questions
Which hot water system is cheapest to run?
Heat pumps use about 30% of the energy of a conventional electric system, but they cost more to buy and install. Electric storage is the cheapest to buy and generally dearer to run. The best fit depends on what your house is connected to now, where a new unit can go and how much hot water the household uses.
Can I swap my electric tank for a heat pump?
Often, yes, if there's an outdoor spot with room and airflow for it. Tell us what you have now and where it sits, and we'll talk through whether a heat pump suits the spot.
Do I need a tempering valve if I'm only replacing the old unit?
In NSW, usually yes. Replacing a hot water heater, even with the same type, calls for a temperature control device, with a few exceptions such as some factory pre-set units in homes.
Why is water dripping from the pipe at the top of my tank?
That's usually the relief valve drain. Water expands as it heats, so a small amount can come out during heating. If it runs steadily or never stops, switch the unit off and call us.
Do you work on solar hot water?
Yes. Solar is one of our four hot water options, along with electric storage, heat pump and gas.
Who do I call when the hot water dies at night?
Ring 0474 659 574, the same number that's on our sticker. We're open 24 hours, 7 days.
Related plumbing
Gas fitting
Gas lines for cooktops, outdoor kitchens and gas hot water.
Gas fittingBathroom renovations
The plumbing side of a new bathroom, including hot water to the new outlets.
Bathroom renovations24/7 emergency services
Burst pipes, leaking units and no hot water, any hour.
EmergenciesHot water from our base in Thornton to Maitland, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Raymond Terrace, Tea Gardens and the Hunter Valley.
- Hot water systems, energy.gov.au, Australian Government.
- Installation requirements of temperature control devices, Building Commission NSW.
- Heat pump installations for plumbing, NSW Government.
- Keeping kids safe, NSW Government.