Gas hot water, done by licensed gas fitters
We install, service and repair gas hot water right across Perth, both continuous flow (instantaneous) and traditional gas storage, on natural gas or LPG. Our licensed gas fitters handle sizing, flow rates and safe, compliant connections on leading brands including Rheem Stellar, Rinnai Infinity and Bosch Highflow.
Gas remains the default hot water system Perth homeowners choose, and for good reason. Where you already have a mains natural gas line, running costs are competitive, recovery is fast, and continuous flow units in particular deliver hot water indefinitely without a tank sitting there losing heat all day. What separates a good gas install from a mediocre one is not the brand on the box, it is whether the unit was sized on your actual demand and whether the gas line, flueing and clearances were done properly.
Continuous flow versus gas storage
A continuous flow unit heats water as it passes through, so it never runs out and never wastes energy keeping a tank warm overnight. It mounts on a wall, takes up little space, and modern units use electronic ignition rather than a standing pilot. The catch is flow rate, measured in litres per minute. Run two showers and a kitchen tap off a 16 L/min unit and someone notices.
A gas storage system keeps a heated volume ready to go, so it copes better with short bursts of very high simultaneous demand, and it is cheaper upfront. The trade-off is standby loss: the cylinder radiates heat 24 hours a day whether you use the water or not, and once the stored volume runs out you wait for recovery.
We size continuous flow on simultaneous outlets rather than household headcount. As a rough guide, 16 L/min for a one-bathroom home, 20 L/min for a typical two-bathroom family home, and 26 L/min where multiple showers genuinely run at the same time. Perth’s winter inlet temperature also reduces achievable flow, which is why an undersized unit feels fine in February and disappointing in July.
Common gas hot water problems we fix
Pilot light will not stay lit. The single most common gas hot water call we get. Usually a failing thermocouple, sometimes a dirty pilot orifice or a faulty gas control valve. We carry thermocouples on the truck.
No hot water, unit not firing. Could be gas supply, a faulty electronic ignition, a blocked burner, or on LPG simply an empty bottle. Diagnosis first, parts second.
Water hot then cold, then hot again. Classic on undersized continuous flow units, or where a tempering valve is failing. Sometimes it is a partially blocked burner reducing output.
Storage tank leaking. From the PTR valve or a fitting is usually repairable. From the base of the cylinder means the tank has corroded through and needs replacing.
Insects in the burner compartment. More common in Perth than people expect. A regular service clears it before it causes a lockout.
What gas hot water costs in Perth
Installed gas systems generally run from around $900 for a basic gas storage replacement up to $4,500 for a high-flow or twin-unit continuous flow setup. Continuous flow costs more to install than storage because of the gas fitting, flueing and the upgraded gas line some older homes need.
If you are choosing between formats, our guide comparing continuous flow versus gas storage breaks it down properly, and natural gas versus LPG covers which suits your property. For a whole-of-market view, see how to choose the right hot water system, and if your pilot keeps dropping out, start with why a gas pilot light keeps going out.
