Gas Hot Water Systems — Repair & Installation

Gas is still the way most people go for heating water around Perth, and honestly it's not hard to understand why. The stuff heats up fast, running costs come in lower than your standard electric tank, plus if you've got a continuous flow unit you won't cop that freezing cold blast halfway through a shower. Whether you're connected to the ATCO mains gas or running off LPG bottles, it's definitely worth a look.

We've got plumbers and gasfitters based in Canning Vale but we actually service and install gas hot water systems right across the south-east suburbs. Let's get into how the things actually work and what you should be thinking about.

Continuous flow vs storage

Gas hot water systems mostly fall into two categories, and which one works for you really comes down to how your household uses water.

Continuous flow (instantaneous)

Also called tankless, and they're pretty compact. Water gets heated on demand as it flows through the unit — no tank sitting around taking up room. You won't run out of hot water even when everyone decides to shower one after another. You're only paying to heat water you actually use, which cuts down on standing losses. They're a favourite with bigger families or homes where space is tight. You can set the exact temperature you want on a digital controller too, which is handy.

Storage tank

A gas storage system heats up a tank of water and keeps it hot until you need it. Delivers good strong flow at first, which works well if your household tends to use a bunch of hot water at the same time. The downside is it loses some heat while it's just sitting there, and on a really busy morning the tank can empty out before it reheats. Storage units usually have a lower upfront price compared with continuous flow models.

If you're weighing up gas against electric or solar, we put together a comparison of electric vs gas vs solar hot water that looks at running costs side by side.

Running costs and efficiency

In WA, natural gas is generally cheaper for producing heat than electricity is, so gas hot water tends to cost less to run than a standard electric tank. That's especially true in bigger households where usage is high. Continuous flow units are even more efficient because they don't have that standing heat loss you get with any tank. Modern systems come with solid star ratings and they make a noticeable difference to your quarterly bill, which is always welcome.

One thing though — homes running on LPG bottles instead of mains natural gas will pay more per unit, and that can shift the numbers. We always take your actual gas supply into account when we're making a recommendation.

Natural gas and ATCO

Perth suburbs mostly run on natural gas through the ATCO distribution network. If your street is connected, there'll be a gas meter at your place and a mains supply running to your appliances. Where mains gas doesn't reach, LPG bottles fill in.

Any work on gas lines, connections or appliances has to be done by a licensed gasfitter in Western Australia. This isn't just bureaucracy — it's a genuine safety thing. Getting gas work wrong can lead to leaks and carbon monoxide exposure, and that's serious. Our team holds full gasfitting licences, so your installation is safe, compliant and backed by warranty. We also do new gas plumbing and fitting if you need a gas point added or an appliance connected up.

Common gas hot water faults

Gas systems are pretty reliable but things do go wrong from time to time. The faults we see most often are:

• A pilot light or ignition that won't stay lit
• Water that's lukewarm rather than hot
• A faulty thermocouple or gas valve
• Sooting or a yellow flame, which can signal incomplete combustion
• Leaking connections or a corroded storage tank
• Error codes on a continuous flow unit's display

Most of these are fairly straightforward repairs. If you ever smell gas though, that's an emergency — don't touch any electrical switches and follow the steps in our guide on what to do about a gas leak.

Brands we install

We work with the gas hot water brands that are well known and trusted across WA — Rinnai, Rheem, Bosch, Dux and Vulcan. Rinnai and Bosch tend to be the popular picks for continuous flow, while Rheem and Vulcan have solid storage ranges. We'll size a reliable unit to your household instead of pushing any particular brand on you.

Sizing your gas system

Continuous flow units are rated by flow rate, measured in litres per minute, so we match the unit to how many hot water outlets your home might run at the same time. A family where two showers and the kitchen tap could all be going at once needs a higher flow rate. For storage tanks, it's about capacity against household size. Either way, getting the sizing right means you've got reliable hot water without paying for capacity you'll never touch.

Servicing keeps gas systems safe and efficient

Like anything that burns fuel, a gas hot water system benefits from a service now and then. Over time burners pick up dust and soot, valves wear down, and the combustion can drift from where it should be. A service looks at the burner and flame, tests the safety valves, checks connections for leaks, and makes sure the unit is venting properly. This keeps your running costs down and extends the life of the system. More importantly it makes sure everything is burning cleanly and safely. Carbon monoxide from a gas appliance that hasn't been maintained is a real hazard, so it's not a corner worth cutting.

We can fit gas hot water servicing into your general maintenance plumbing schedule, which is one less thing for you to remember. And because our team holds both plumbing and gasfitting licences, we handle the whole system in a single visit — no need to bring in separate trades.

Whether your gas hot water has stopped working or you're ready to put in a new continuous flow unit, our licensed Canning Vale plumbers and gasfitters can help. Give us a call or request a quote for honest advice and upfront pricing before any work kicks off.

Frequently asked questions