- 300+ five-star reviews · VBA accredited plumbers
- Charged by the job, not by the hour, you approve the price before any work starts
Call 1800 571 216: 24/7 · Book online
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Smell gas? Do this first
Gas safety comes before hot water.
- Isolate the gas supply at the meter.
- Keep flames, lighters and electrical switches away from the area. Don't turn lights or appliances on or off near the smell.
- Open doors and windows if you can do it safely.
- Call 1800 571 216. We'll talk you through anything else and dispatch a plumber.
If the unit is leaking water, turn off the water at the meter or the cold water valve on the unit, and keep the area clear.
Why Melbourne calls OnCall for gas hot water
- 24 hours, 7 days: including weekends and public holidays
- More than 15 years of emergency plumbing across Melbourne
- 300+ five-star reviews on Google
- VBA accredited, licensed and insured plumbers
- Natural gas and bottled gas systems, all makes and models
- Job-based pricing: one price, approved by you first
What customers say about OnCall
"After countless refusals from other plumbers I managed to get hold of Aiden and he DID NOT DISAPPOINT … In the end he completely solved the issue and even cleaned afterwards."
Tim Dacey, café owner, Google review
"Aiden was very professional and on time to the job. Got it done and dusted faster than I expected."
Eren, Google review
Pilot light keeps going out
This is the classic gas storage fault. You relight the pilot, it holds for a while, then the water goes cold again. The usual causes:
- A worn thermocouple. This small sensor tells the gas valve the pilot is lit. When it weakens, the valve shuts the gas off even though the flame looks fine. It's the most common cause, and usually a straightforward part to replace.
- A dirty or partly blocked pilot. A weak, lazy flame doesn't heat the thermocouple properly.
- Wind and draughts. Outdoor units in exposed spots can get blown out on gusty days.
- Flue or ventilation problems. If combustion gases can't escape properly, safety controls can shut the unit down.
- A faulty gas control valve. Less common, but it happens on older units.
Relighting once by following the instructions on the unit's label is reasonable. If it keeps going out, stop relighting and call. A pilot that won't stay lit is telling you something.
Gas hot water not igniting
If the burner won't fire at all, a few quick checks can save you a callout:
- Is the gas on? Check whether the stove or another gas appliance works. If none do, the issue may be the gas supply, not the hot water unit.
- Bottled gas? Check the cylinder hasn't run empty and the valve is open.
- Does the unit need power? Continuous flow units and some storage units use electronic ignition. If the power's off or the outlet has tripped, they won't light.
- Any error code? On a continuous flow unit, write it down before you call. Our continuous flow repairs page explains more.
If those all check out, the fault is likely in the ignition, burner, gas control or safety devices. That's a job for us.
How we fix gas hot water: assess, explain, approve, fix
Assess. Your plumber checks the burner, ignition, gas control and safety controls, the flue, and the tank and valves. We find the cause, not just the symptom.
Explain. You'll hear what's failed, why, and whether it's likely to happen again, in plain English.
Approve. You get a clear price for the job and your options. Nothing happens until you say yes.
Fix. We repair the fault, relight and test the system, check the flue is clearing properly, and test every hot tap and the safety valves before we leave.
Gas hot water system repairs we carry out
- Thermocouple and pilot assembly faults
- Ignition and burner problems
- Gas control valve faults
- Flue and ventilation issues on the unit
- Dripping or faulty relief valves
- Tempering valve replacement for water that's too hot or fluctuating
- Sacrificial anode replacement on storage tanks
- Leaks from fittings, valves and connections
- Gas storage hot water repair on natural gas and bottled gas units
If we find a gas problem beyond the hot water unit, we'll tell you straight and make it safe.
Call 1800 571 216: 24/7 · 300+ five-star reviews · Price approved before work starts
Gas hot water replacement
Sometimes repair isn't the right call. If the tank itself is leaking, it's rusting through, or the system is more than 10–15 years old with parts failing one after another, a new unit is usually better value. We'll show you the evidence and let you decide.
If it comes to that, see our hot water system replacement page. And if you're considering moving off gas, our heat pump hot water page covers what a conversion involves.
Pricing: what to expect
We charge by the job, not by the hour. A thermocouple and a gas control valve are very different jobs, so your plumber assesses the unit on site and gives you a clear price before starting.
What moves the price:
- the part that's failed, and whether it's in stock
- the system type, brand and age
- access, apartment balconies, tight cupboards and awkward side passages take more work
- whether the flue or connections need attention
No work starts without your approval. See hot water repair cost for more.
How it works
- Call or book online. Ring 1800 571 216 any time, or book online. Tell us your suburb and what the unit's doing.
- Safety advice first. If there's a gas smell or a leak, we'll talk you through isolating it.
- On-site diagnosis. Your plumber finds the fault and gives you your options and a clear price.
- You approve, we fix. Once you say yes, we repair, relight and test the system.
- Know what's next. If anything else needs attention, we'll tell you plainly.
Gas hot water questions
Why does my pilot light keep going out?
The most common cause is a worn thermocouple. Draughts, a dirty pilot, flue problems or a faulty gas control valve can also do it.
Is it safe to relight my pilot light myself?
Relighting once by following the instructions on the unit is generally fine. If you smell gas, or it keeps going out, stop and call a licensed plumber.
What should I do if I smell gas near my hot water system?
Isolate the gas at the meter, keep flames and switches away, ventilate if it's safe, and call 1800 571 216.
Do you repair bottled gas hot water systems?
Yes. We repair gas hot water systems running on natural gas and bottled gas.
Can you repair my gas hot water system today?
Often, yes. We try to fit in same-day repairs across most Melbourne suburbs. If a thermocouple, gas valve or other part needs ordering, you'll know the timeframe before we leave.
How much does a gas hot water repair cost?
It depends on the fault, the part and the access. We charge by the job and you approve the price on site before work starts.
Should I repair or replace my gas hot water system?
If it's a single failed part on a sound tank, repair usually makes sense. A leaking tank, or a system over 10–15 years old with repeated faults, is usually better replaced. Our repair or replace guide goes into more detail.
Do you work on gas continuous flow units too?
Yes. See continuous flow hot water repairs.
Gas hot water gone cold? Let's get it lit again.
Whatever the brand and whatever the hour, a licensed OnCall plumber can diagnose it, price it, and, once you say yes, fix it.
Call 1800 571 216: 24/7 · Book online
300+ five-star reviews · VBA accredited · Price approved before work starts
What happens next: we'll confirm your details, give you pre-arrival advice if you need it, and send a plumber. You'll get ETA updates on the way.