John Nighingale — Professional Plumber at Plumb It Right
Perth Hot Water Systems Explained: Heat Pump, Solar, Gas or Electric?
Key Takeaways
- •A heat pump is the best all-round pick for a Perth home with no gas connection or a roof that can't take solar panels.
- •Solar hot water suits sunny, unshaded roofs, but it still needs a gas or electric booster for cloudy days.
- •Gas instantaneous never runs out of hot water, but any gas work must be done by a licensed gas fitter in WA.
- •Electric storage has the lowest upfront cost and the highest running cost of the five types here.
- •Get a fixed quote for the replacement before you decide, because the cheapest unit on the shelf is rarely the cheapest over ten years.
Your hot water system has died, or it’s about to, and you’re staring at four different technologies with four different sales pitches. Every type works, but each one suits a different house, roof and budget.
This guide ranks the five common options for Perth homes so you can narrow the choice before anyone comes to quote.
What Is a Hot Water System, and What Gets Confused?
Two things that look similar often work in completely different ways.
A hot water system heats water and delivers it to your taps, shower and appliances. There are two basic designs. Storage systems keep a tank of heated water ready, and instantaneous systems heat water only as you use it.
The energy source is a separate choice: electricity, gas, the sun, or heat drawn from the surrounding air. People often mix up a heat pump with a solar system. A heat pump runs on electricity and pulls heat from the air, so it works day or night. Solar hot water collects heat from the sun and usually relies on a booster. Our hot water systems page covers the full range we supply and install.
The right system depends on your gas access, roof, household size and upfront budget. Rankings below are general guides. A plumber looking at your property can confirm what actually fits.
1. Heat Pump, Best for Low Running Costs Without Gas
A heat pump uses a small amount of electricity to move heat from outside air into the water tank. Because it moves heat rather than creating it with a resistance element, it uses far less electricity than a standard electric storage unit for the same amount of hot water.
Perth’s mild climate suits this well. The outdoor unit needs clear airflow and makes some operating noise, so placement matters, especially near bedroom windows or a neighbour’s fence. The upfront price is higher than a basic electric storage tank, and that is the real drawback. If you want to see how the running costs add up, read our related guide, How Much Does a Heat Pump Hot Water System Cost to Run in Perth? Our heat pump page lists what we install.
Best suited for: Households with no gas connection that want lower power bills and have room outside for the unit. Not ideal if you need the cheapest possible purchase today or have no suitable outdoor spot.
2. Solar Hot Water, Best for Sunny Roofs and Long-Term Savings
Solar hot water uses roof-mounted collectors to heat water, with a tank on the roof or at ground level. On a clear day the sun does most of the work, and on overcast days a gas or electric booster fills the gap.
Roof orientation, shading and space decide whether it works. A shaded or south-facing roof wastes the investment. Rebates and incentives change over time, so check what applies before you buy. We cover that in Solar Hot Water in Perth: Is It Worth It and What Rebates Are Available? See also our solar hot water page.
Best suited for: Owners of homes with an unshaded, north-facing roof who plan to stay put for years. Skip it if your roof is shaded or you may sell soon, because the payback is slow and the roof hardware is the most involved to install.
3. Gas Instantaneous, Best for Large Households and Never Running Out
A gas instantaneous unit heats water as it flows, so there’s no tank to empty. A family of five running back-to-back showers gets the same temperature on the last as on the first. With no storage tank, there is also no energy spent keeping water hot while nobody is home.
You need a gas connection, and gas appliance installation and repair is licensed work only. DIY gas work is not permitted in Western Australia. Running costs depend on gas prices, which you can’t control. Details are on our gas instantaneous page.
Best suited for: Larger families and homes already connected to mains gas that want unlimited hot water. A poor fit if you have no gas or are trying to move off gas.
4. Gas Storage, Best for Simple Replacement of an Existing Gas Tank
Gas storage heats and holds a tank of water, so hot water is on hand at any time, even during a power outage on many models. It uses the same gas supply and tank footprint that many Perth homes already have, which often keeps a like-for-like swap straightforward.
The drawbacks are standby heat loss from keeping the tank warm and a finite supply. Once the tank is drained, you wait for it to recover. For a direct comparison of the two gas options, see our related guide, Gas Storage vs Gas Instantaneous Hot Water: Which Is Right for Your Perth Home?
Best suited for: Homes replacing an existing gas storage unit that want minimal disruption. Look elsewhere if you have a large household with heavy back-to-back demand.
5. Electric Storage, Best for the Lowest Upfront Cost
Electric storage is the simplest system: an insulated tank with a heating element. It has the lowest purchase and installation cost of the five and suits homes with no gas and nowhere to put a heat pump unit.
It has the highest running cost, because it heats with a resistance element. Running the tank dry can also burn out the element, so a plumber should check the setup if the tank has been drained. We go deeper in Electric Storage Hot Water Systems: Pros, Cons and When They Still Make Sense, and you can browse the electric storage range directly.
Best suited for: Rentals, units and tight budgets where low purchase cost matters more than power bills. Poor value for a large family staying long term, because running costs add up every year.
If your system is leaking from the tank, repair is not an option. See Signs Your Hot Water System Needs Replacing and What to Do Next to check before you pay for a repair.
How Were These Hot Water Systems Ranked?
Rankings are earned on the criteria below, not on which system we sell the most of. Plumb It Right installs several of these types, so we scored each option on what a Perth homeowner actually experiences. We have not quoted dollar prices, because they change with brand, capacity and installation.
Running cost
How much energy the system uses to deliver the same hot water. This drives the bill you pay every quarter.
Upfront cost
Relative purchase and installation cost, from lowest to highest. It decides what you pay on day one.
Hot water supply
Whether the system can run out during heavy use. It matters most for large households.
Site requirements
What you need on site, such as a gas connection, outdoor space or roof area. A system you can't fit is no use.
Licensed work needed
Whether the install involves gas work, which requires a licensed gas fitter in WA. This affects who can legally do the job.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Option | Best for | Running cost | Upfront cost | Site requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Heat pump | Households with no gas connection that want lower power bills and have room outside for the unit. | Low | High | Outdoor space with airflow |
| 2. Solar hot water | Owners of homes with an unshaded, north-facing roof who plan to stay put for years. | Low | High | Sunny roof area, plus a booster |
| 3. Gas instantaneous | Larger families and homes already connected to mains gas that want unlimited hot water. | Medium (depends on gas prices) | Medium | Gas connection |
| 4. Gas storage | Homes replacing an existing gas storage unit that want minimal disruption. | Medium to high | Medium | Gas connection and tank space |
| 5. Electric storage | Rentals, units and tight budgets where low purchase cost matters more than power bills. | High | Lowest | Power supply and tank space |
Which Hot Water System Fits Your Situation?
Match your own circumstances to the rows below. If you sit between two, call John on 0408 012 993 and describe the house.
| If you are… | Look for | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| You have no gas connection and want lower power bills | Low running cost and room for an outdoor unit | 1. Heat pump |
| Your roof faces north with no shading and you're staying long term | Roof space and a booster | 2. Solar hot water |
| You have a big household and mains gas | Hot water that doesn't run out | 3. Gas instantaneous |
| You're replacing an existing gas tank and want a quick swap | Same footprint and gas connection | 4. Gas storage |
| You're on a tight budget or the property is a rental | The lowest purchase and install cost | 5. Electric storage |
Hot Water System Questions Perth Homeowners Ask
Straight answers before you commit to a system.
Which hot water system is cheapest to run in Perth?
Heat pump and solar systems have the lowest running costs of the five here, because they draw most of their energy from air or sunlight. Electric storage costs the most to run. Exact savings depend on your household size and tariff.
Can I install a gas hot water system myself?
No. Gas work requires a licensed gas fitter, and DIY gas work is illegal in Western Australia. The same applies to repairs on a gas hot water unit.
Should I repair or replace my hot water system?
A newer unit with one failed component is usually worth repairing. A leaking tank cannot be repaired and needs replacing. Replacement is also a good moment to switch to a more efficient type.
Do you charge a callout fee for hot water quotes and repairs?
No. Plumb It Right uses fixed pricing with no callout fee, so you know the cost before work starts. We service homes and businesses from Mandurah to Lancelin.
Ready to Choose the Right Hot Water System?
Call or text John on 0408 012 993 and describe your home. You’ll get a fixed price with no callout fee before any work starts.
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Related articles
- ›How Much Does a Heat Pump Hot Water System Cost to Run in Perth?
- ›Solar Hot Water in Perth: Is It Worth It and What Rebates Are Available?
- ›Gas Storage vs Gas Instantaneous Hot Water: Which Is Right for Your Perth Home?
- ›Electric Storage Hot Water Systems: Pros, Cons and When They Still Make Sense
- ›Signs Your Hot Water System Needs Replacing and What to Do Next
John Nighingale
Professional Plumber · Plumb It Right
John Nightingale has 38+ years’ experience of working in the plumbing industry in Perth Western Australia and previously in the United Kingdom.
