Born Plumbing installs, replaces and repairs gas and electric hot water systems across Canberra and the ACT. Speak directly with Ethan Wyborn, a licensed Canberra plumber and gas fitter with over 10 years’ experience.
Planning a replacement? Our hot water installation cost guide explains what the quote should include. The sizing guide helps you work out the capacity your household needs.
We install, replace and repair hot water systems across Belconnen, Tuggeranong, Queanbeyan and all of Canberra.
Call Ethan on 0423 491 249 to check the earliest visit. Same-day replacement depends on the fault, suitable stock, access and any additional trades needed.
Call Ethan Today.
Gas and electric hot water repairs and replacements.
Hot water installations across Canberra.
The right replacement depends on your existing connections, household demand and budget. Compare the full installed price and likely running costs before choosing.
Gas continuous flow heats water on demand. There is no storage tank to empty, but output is limited by the unit’s capacity, incoming water temperature and available gas supply. Check the outlets you want to run together.
Gas storage may suit a replacement where gas is already connected. Compare the model’s delivery and recovery rate with your household’s use, as well as the cost of moving to an electric option.
Electric storage can be a straightforward replacement for an existing electric tank. Running costs depend on the tariff, heating schedule and whether you can use rooftop solar electricity.
Heat pumps use less electricity than conventional electric storage. Choose a model suited to Canberra winters and check airflow, noise, clearances and reheating performance.
Read our comparison of hot water systems for Canberra, continuous-flow sizing guide and Rinnai and Rheem comparison for more detail.
Colder incoming water needs more heating to reach the same shower temperature. Check a replacement system’s delivery and recovery under winter conditions, especially if the household already runs out of hot water.
If your existing system has recurring faults, arrange an assessment before it fails completely. An older unit may still be repairable; its condition and repair history help determine whether replacement makes sense.
Before accepting a quote, check ACT hot water rebates and loan eligibility. If you’re buying through a retailer, our Bunnings hot water installation guide explains the advertised service and what to confirm for your address.
Age, condition and repair history help determine whether to keep a system or replace it. Read when to repair or replace a hot water system. For water around the unit, our hot water leak guide explains what to report when booking.
Call 0423 491 249 for the earliest available assessment. Describe the fault, your suburb and whether the system still heats.
A same-day replacement may be possible once the fault, suitable stock and access are confirmed. Call Ethan to discuss the job and any plumbing, gas or electrical work it needs.
Ethan is a licensed plumber and gas fitter and can assess the plumbing and gas work. If the installation needs electrical work, that part requires an appropriately licensed electrician. Confirm the trades and inclusions in your quote.
If the property has a suitable gas supply, Ethan can assess the changeover and explain the work and cost. Compare that with the available electric options before deciding.
Can’t see the service you were looking for? Give us a call to discuss your needs.
Call with your suburb, a description of the problem and the model on your system’s label. Ethan can discuss the next step.
Born Plumbing repairs, replaces, installs and services gas and electric hot water systems across Canberra and Queanbeyan. Every job is done by Ethan Wyborn, a licensed plumber and gasfitter, so you deal with the same person from the first call to the finished job.
No hot water, lukewarm water, leaks or a system that keeps tripping. Ethan finds the fault and fixes it on the spot wherever parts allow.
Common jobs
When a water heater has reached the end of its life, we replace it the same day across most of Canberra and take the old unit away.
Common jobs
New systems for renovations, relocations and upgrades, with the plumbing and gas work handled by one licensed tradesperson.
Common jobs
Rheem recommends a major service every five years. It catches worn valves and a used-up anode before they shorten the life of the tank.
Common jobs
These are the symptoms we see most often. Tell us which one you have when you call, so Ethan can bring the likely parts on the first visit.
| What you notice | Common cause | Usually a |
|---|---|---|
| No hot water at all | Tripped circuit, failed element or thermostat, or a gas pilot or ignition fault | Repair |
| Lukewarm or runs out quickly | Thermostat, element, tempering valve, or a tank too small for the household | Repair or upsize |
| Too hot at the shower | Faulty or missing tempering valve | Repair |
| Constant drip or flow from the relief valve drain | Worn relief valve or high water pressure | Repair |
| Water leaking from the tank itself | Corroded inner cylinder | Replacement |
| Error code on a continuous flow unit | Ignition, flow sensor or gas supply fault | Repair |
Water coming from the tank itself usually means replacement. See hot water system leaking: causes, fixes and when to replace.
Most electric and gas systems last 8 to 12 years (how long hot water systems last). For typical prices, see how much it costs to install a hot water system.
| System | Suits | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Electric storage | Homes without gas, or when budget comes first | Lowest upfront cost, highest running cost. Off-peak tariffs help |
| Gas storage | Existing gas homes wanting a straightforward swap | Heats about twice as fast as electric storage |
| Gas continuous flow (instantaneous) | Larger households and tight spaces | No tank and never runs out. Needs gas and power |
The ACT Government puts the yearly running cost of a 300 L tank at about $1,435 for standard electric and $850 for gas, at 2021/22 prices (Everyday Climate Choices).
If you're replacing a gas system, factor in ACT gas policy. New gas network connections are no longer allowed in ACT residential areas, and the ACT Government plans to phase out the gas network by 2045, with some sections possibly closing from the mid-2030s (Region Canberra). A new gas unit typically lasts around 12 years, so Ethan will talk through both gas and electric options before you choose.
Rheem's owner's guide recommends operating the relief valve lever every six months and a major hot water service every five years (Rheem). A service from Born Plumbing covers:
Stored hot water should be kept at 60°C or more to control Legionella, and tempering valves limit water at bathroom taps to 50°C to reduce scalds (Public Health Association of Australia). If your shower runs hotter than that, the tempering valve needs attention.
We cover Belconnen, Gungahlin, the Inner North and Inner South, Woden, Weston Creek, Molonglo, Tuggeranong and Queanbeyan. See our local pages for Belconnen, Tuggeranong and Queanbeyan.
A small amount of water from the relief valve drain line while the tank heats can be normal. A constant flow from the relief valve, or water leaking from the tank itself, needs a plumber.
Both. We do hot water servicing and repairs as well as replacements. If a repair makes more sense than a new system, we'll tell you.
You can if your home already has gas. The ACT plans to phase out the gas network by 2045, with some sections possibly closing from the mid-2030s, so weigh up a new gas unit's expected 12-year life against those dates before you choose.
Stored hot water should be at least 60°C to control Legionella, and water at bathroom taps no hotter than 50°C to reduce the risk of scalds.
Yes. Ethan is licensed in both the ACT and NSW, so we cover Queanbeyan as well as Canberra.
Use these detailed guides to plan your installation, compare offers or understand a fault.
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Ethan Wyborn
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Ethan Wyborn
Compare our Bunnings installation guide and ACT hot water support guide before choosing your replacement.
