- 300+ five-star reviews · VBA accredited plumbers
- One price for the whole job, you approve it before the old unit comes out
Call 1800 571 216: 24/7 · Book online
Licensed and insured · Police checked and first aid verified · Australian owned and operated
Why Melbourne calls OnCall for a replacement
- Open 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
- Charged by the job, not by the hour: the price is agreed before work starts
- All makes and models: gas, electric, continuous flow, heat pump and solar
What customers say about OnCall
"He turned up on time, went above and beyond, showed and explained everything and got the job done … he left the job site spotless."
Nancy Tayba, Google review
Signs your hot water system needs replacing, not repairing
Most hot water systems last between 8 and 15 years, depending on maintenance, water quality and how hard they work. Near the end, the signs tend to stack up:
- Water leaking from the tank itself, often pooling at the base. A leaking tank usually can't be repaired.
- Rust-coloured hot water, a common sign the tank is corroding inside.
- A system more than 10–15 years old, especially one that's never been serviced.
- Several parts failing, or repair bills that keep piling up.
- Temperature that won't hold steady, or a unit that takes far longer to heat than it used to.
One sign on its own doesn't always mean a new unit. A dripping relief valve, for example, is often just the valve. If you're unsure, our repair or replace guide walks through it.
If the tank is leaking right now
Switch off the power to the unit. If you smell gas, isolate the gas at the meter. For a major leak, turn off the water at the meter, and keep the area clear. Then call 1800 571 216 for pre-arrival advice and ETA updates.
We check it can't be repaired before we replace it
Nobody wants to pay for a new system when a part would do. Every replacement starts the same way.
Assess. Your plumber diagnoses the actual fault. If it's a single failed part on a sound tank, we'll say so and quote the repair instead.
Explain. If replacement is the honest answer, we show you why, the leak, the corrosion, the age on the rating plate, and talk through your options for the new unit.
Approve. You get one clear price for the whole job. Nothing is disconnected until you say yes.
Fix. We remove the old unit, install the new one, and test it before we leave.
Like-for-like hot water replacement
Most urgent replacements are like-for-like: the same system type, a similar capacity, going into the same spot. It's usually the quickest way back to hot water, because the gas or power supply and the water connections are already in place.
Like-for-like doesn't have to mean the same brand or the exact same model. We'll ask how many people live in the house and whether you've been running out, then suggest a unit that suits. If you'd rather change system type or move the unit somewhere else, that's a bigger job we'd plan as a hot water system installation rather than rush on the day.
What's included, from old hot water unit removal to final testing
- Safe disconnection. We isolate the water and the power or gas, drain the old tank and disconnect it.
- Old unit removal. We take the old hot water unit out and check the connections and fittings it leaves behind.
- Installation. The new unit goes in and is connected to current standards, with new valves where they're needed.
- Testing. We test every hot tap, the temperature control and the safety valves.
- Commissioning. We check pressure levels and recovery rates so the system performs the way it should.
- A tidy finish. The area is cleaned up and we show you anything you need to know about the new unit.
Same day hot water replacement
We try to fit in same-day replacements across most Melbourne suburbs, and often we can. Whether it happens on the day depends on a few things: whether a suitable unit is available, how tricky the access is, and how busy the day is.
When you call, we'll give you a straight answer on timing. If the right unit has to be ordered, we'll tell you the timeframe up front and leave the old system isolated and safe in the meantime. No vague "sometime this week".
Call 1800 571 216: 24/7 · 300+ five-star reviews · Price approved before work starts
Hot water system replacement cost
We don't publish a set replacement price, because an honest one isn't possible over the phone. Swapping an electric tank in an open laundry is a very different job from replacing a roof-mounted solar system or a gas unit on a third-floor balcony.
We charge by the job, not by the hour. Your plumber assesses the system on site and gives you a clear price for the whole replacement before anything is disconnected.
What moves the price:
- the type and size of system you're replacing, and what's going in
- the brand and model you choose, and what's available
- access, roof-mounted collectors, tight cupboards and apartment balconies take more work
- connections that need bringing up to current standards
- compliance parts, such as a tempering valve to keep bathroom water at a safe temperature
If you're switching to a heat pump or solar system, check our hot water rebates in Victoria guide before you decide. More on pricing in hot water repair cost.
Who we replace hot water systems for
- Homeowners and families who've woken up to a cold shower and need it sorted properly.
- Landlords and property managers. In Victoria, a failed hot water service is treated as an urgent repair for rental properties. Check Consumer Affairs Victoria for the current rules. We can coordinate access with the tenant and keep you updated.
- Strata and owners corporation managers dealing with cupboard and balcony units in apartment blocks.
- Cafés, restaurants and venues where no hot water can stop service.
How it works
- Call or book online. Ring 1800 571 216, day or night, or book online. Tell us your suburb, what kind of system you have, and roughly how old it is.
- Advice and a plumber on the way. We'll tell you what to switch off, dispatch a plumber and send ETA updates.
- On-site check and price. Your plumber confirms whether replacement is needed and gives you a clear price.
- You approve, we replace. The old unit comes out, the new one goes in.
- Tested and explained. We test the system and explain anything worth knowing before we leave.
Hot water replacement questions
Can you replace my hot water system today?
Often, yes. We try to fit in same-day replacements across most Melbourne suburbs. If a suitable unit isn't available on the day, we'll tell you the timeframe up front.
How much does a hot water system replacement cost?
It depends on the system, the access and any compliance parts needed. We charge by the job, not by the hour, and you approve the price on site before work starts.
Will you push me into a replacement I don't need?
No. Your plumber checks whether a repair is realistic before replacement is even raised, and we show you the reasons. A leaking tank is the main exception, because it usually can't be repaired.
Do you take the old unit away?
Yes. Safe disconnection and removal of the old unit is part of every replacement.
Do I have to replace it with the same brand?
No. Like-for-like means the same type of system in the same spot. We work with all makes and models and will suggest a unit that suits your household.
Can I switch from gas to a heat pump when I replace?
Yes, though it's more involved than a straight swap. See our heat pump hot water page for what a conversion involves.
My tenant has no hot water. Can you handle it?
Yes. We attend rental properties for landlords and property managers, coordinate access with the tenant, and report back on what was done.
Old system done? Let's get the new one in.
A licensed OnCall plumber can confirm whether it's really time to replace, price the whole job, and, once you say yes, get your hot water back on.
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.