Born Plumbing installs, replaces and repairs gas and electric hot water systems across Canberra and the ACT. Every job is handled by Ethan Wyborn — a licensed Canberra plumber and gas fitter with over 10 years experience. You deal with the same person from quote to completion.
If your system has failed, Born Plumbing offers same-day replacement across most of Canberra. No hot water is not something you should have to wait days for.
Call Ethan Today.
Years expertise in all areas of hot water systems & repairs.
Hot water installations across Canberra.
Canberra winters are cold. Overnight temperatures regularly drop below zero between June and August. Your hot water system works harder in winter than it does anywhere else in Australia’s major metro areas. A system that is borderline on capacity or showing signs of age will often fail during the coldest months — which is when you least want to be without it.
If your system is over 10 years old, it is worth getting it assessed before winter rather than waiting for it to fail on a -5C morning.
Most electric and gas systems last between 8 and 12 years. If your system is over 10 years old and starting to show problems — inconsistent temperature, small leaks, rust in the water — replacement is usually more cost-effective than repair.
Yes. Call 0423 491 249. Same-day service is available across most of Canberra for urgent hot water failures.
In most cases, yes. Ethan carries stock of the most common units and can replace a failed system same-day for most gas and electric installations.
No. Ethan is a licensed plumber and gas fitter. He handles the full scope of gas hot water installation without needing to bring in a separate tradesperson.
Yes, if your property has a gas connection. Ethan can advise on what the changeover involves and whether it makes sense for your situation.
Can’t see the service you were looking for? Give us a call to discuss your needs.
Can’t see the service you were looking for? Give us a call to discuss your needs.
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.
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