Hot water in Glenelg
If your hot water has stopped, is leaking, or is simply getting old, call the Glenelg line on (08) 7184 0141. Adelaide Hot Water Solutions passes your details to an independent local plumber or gasfitter who looks at the job and gives you a written quote. The quote is free and there is no obligation to go ahead.
Glenelg and the beachside suburbs around it have one of the most varied mixes of housing in Adelaide, and the hot water systems follow. A job in a bungalow a few streets back from Jetty Road is very different from one in a third-floor apartment facing the water.
The homes and what is in them
Villas and bungalows. Older detached homes often have a gas storage tank or continuous flow unit on an outside wall, or an electric tank in the laundry. Many have been renovated more than once, so pipework can be a mix of eras. Tell the plumber if the bathroom or laundry has moved since the heater went in.
Blocks of flats. Mid-century walk-up flats commonly have small electric tanks in a cupboard or on a balcony, sometimes gas units on a common wall. Space is tight, and access for the installer can be the deciding factor in which replacement is practical.
Townhouses and apartments. Newer buildings may have continuous flow gas units, heat pumps or electric tanks, and in larger buildings sometimes a shared central system. Check whether your system belongs to your unit or to the building before you call; if it is shared, the strata manager is the first contact.
Things that come up near the coast
Salt and corrosion. Sea air is hard on metal. Outdoor heaters, valves, screws and covers close to the foreshore tend to corrode faster than the same units further inland. When choosing a replacement, ask whether the manufacturer has any guidance for coastal installations and whether the position can be shielded from the prevailing breeze.
Strata approval. For flats and apartments, the owners' corporation usually needs to approve changes to external units or work on common property. Get the approval in writing before the job is booked, and share any building rules with the contractor.
The SA water heater requirements. If an electric tank fails, South Australia's rules may require a low-emission replacement, but there are provisions for some dwellings where that is not practical. The plumber should check the current requirements for your home and explain the options.
Common Glenelg jobs
- Like-for-like gas storage or continuous flow replacements on houses.
- Electric tank failures in flats, with a check on what the rules allow.
- Heat pumps in place of electric tanks where there is outdoor space.
- Relief valve, tempering valve and thermostat repairs.
- Corroded outdoor fittings replaced before they fail.
For planning prices, see the Adelaide price guide. For help choosing a system, read gas vs heat pump vs solar.
What to have ready when you call
The brand and model from the label, the approximate age, where the unit sits, whether you are in a house or a strata building, and what the problem is. Photos of the unit, the label and the surrounding space help the contractor give you a firmer idea of cost before they visit.