Electric hot water systems on the Sunshine Coast

Usually the tank has stopped heating or started leaking, and you just want hot water back. Putting the same size tank in the same spot is the simplest swap, because the pipes and power are already there.

Before we fit a new one, it's worth asking whether the old size was right. If the family has grown and the water keeps running out, a bigger tank or a move to the all-day tariff may fix that. If the tank sits inside and has leaked through a ceiling, a safe tray under the new one catches any future leak.

An electric continuous-flow unit is small and often fits inside, under a sink or in a cupboard. It heats water as you use it, with no tank to run out. The catch is power: heating a whole house this way needs a large electrical supply that many homes don't have. They suit a single far-off tap, a studio or a small unit best.

When an electric tank stops heating, the cause is often the element or the thermostat, and both can be replaced without a new tank. A relief valve dripping steadily, or a tempering valve that's stopped mixing the water right, are other common fixes. If the tank itself is leaking from its body, replacing it is the only option.

A service catches the wear before it stops your hot water. On an electric tank, that usually means checking the anode, the sacrificial rod that corrodes so the tank doesn't, and replacing it if it's worn. The relief and tempering valves get tested and the fittings checked for leaks as well.