About hot water in Little Mountain
Little Mountain sits west of Caloundra's beaches, with 1990s and 2000s family homes alongside newer estates.
If your Little Mountain home was built in the last 15 years or so, it may have come with a builder-installed heat pump, solar or gas continuous flow system. Once these pass their warranty period, faults like error codes, noisy fans and lukewarm water become more common. Many of these faults can be repaired, so it's worth having the system tested before you replace it.
Recent hot water work in Little Mountain
Electric hot water system replacement in Little Mountain
This Little Mountain homeowner called us when their hot water system failed. The unit was more than 10 years old. We talked through repairing versus replacing, and with a system past 10 years old, replacement was the clear recommendation.
The new electric storage system was installed outdoors on a new base, with fresh valves, insulated pipework and a new copper relief drain running from the valve down into the floor waste beside the tank.
The old unit was removed, the new system was tested at the taps, and the compliance paperwork was lodged with the QBCC. Like every install we do, it's covered by our lifetime workmanship warranty.
Thermann hot water replacement on a rainwater tank home in Little Mountain
When the old hot water system at this Little Mountain property stopped working, it had already passed the 10-year mark. At that age a repair rarely makes sense, because the tank itself is near the end of its life, so we recommended a replacement rather than spending money on parts.
This home runs on rainwater with a pressure pump, so we installed a new Thermann electric storage system with insulated lines and new valves. Homes on tank water also benefit from regular anode checks to protect the new tank.
We took the old system away, checked the temperature at the taps and lodged the QBCC compliance. The work is backed by our lifetime workmanship warranty.
Hot water replacement at a weatherboard home in Little Mountain
The existing hot water system at this Little Mountain home had failed, and it was more than 10 years old. With a tank that old, another repair would probably only have bought a short extension, so replacing it was the better-value option.
We installed a new electric storage system on a raised base against the weatherboards, with new valves, a tempering valve on the hot line, insulated pipework and a copper relief drain routed neatly down to ground level.
Once the new system was running, we tested it at the taps, removed the old unit and lodged the compliance with the QBCC. The homeowner is covered by our lifetime workmanship warranty.
Hot water services in Little Mountain
We handle hot water replacement, repairs, urgent call-outs and servicing in Little Mountain, with a fixed price before any work starts.
- Hot water replacementLike-for-like changeovers, often the same day, or an upgrade to heat pump, solar or gas. Old unit removed and compliance lodged.
- Hot water repairsNo hot water, lukewarm water, a dripping relief valve or an error code. Diagnosed on site and fixed at a price agreed first.
- Emergency hot waterNo hot water or a tank leaking now. Fast response, with same-day replacement on most systems.
- Servicing and maintenanceInspections, valve and anode checks, and maintenance that helps your system last longer.
Systems to consider: Replacing a builder-installed heat pump like for like keeps the existing plumbing and power connections, which keeps the job quick and the cost down. Compare heat pump hot water, solar hot water, continuous flow and instantaneous, or read which system suits a Sunshine Coast home.
Common hot water problems and what they mean
Every property is different, but these faults are common in newer homes, depending on the system's age, where it's installed and the water supply.
- Heat pump showing an error codeCommon on builder-installed heat pumps coming out of warranty. Many are repairable.
- Lukewarm showersA failing tempering valve or a heat pump running on reduced capacity is the usual cause.
- Solar booster running all the timeA faulty controller or timer setting can push up power bills.
No hot water in Little Mountain right now?
Check these first. They can save you a call-out.
Electric system?
Check the hot water circuit or safety switch at the switchboard hasn't tripped. If it trips again, leave it off.
Gas system?
Check the gas is on at the meter, or that the LPG bottle isn't empty.
Leaking or burst?
Turn off the cold water valve going into the unit, then turn off its power or gas.
Hot water questions from Little Mountain
Do you service Little Mountain, and is there a call-out fee?
Yes. We cover Little Mountain 4551, along with neighbouring Caloundra West, Aroona and Meridan Plains. There's no call-out fee and no travel surcharge, and you get a fixed price before any work starts. Call 0422 698 311 to check our next available time.
What size hot water system does a typical Little Mountain home need?
Little Mountain has a lot of larger homes: about 53% have four or more bedrooms (2021 Census). As a rough guide, a busy household in a four or five bedroom home usually needs a 315 litre or larger electric or heat pump tank, or a gas continuous flow unit of around 26 litres a minute or more if two showers run at once. Off-peak electric tanks need to be bigger, because they heat only once or twice a day. We confirm the right size when we quote.
Which type of hot water system works best in Little Mountain?
For the larger homes common in Little Mountain, a big heat pump or a high-flow gas continuous flow unit keeps up with several bathrooms. The median age in Little Mountain was 44 at the 2021 Census, so simple controls and safe, tempered bathroom temperatures matter in many homes. Replacing a builder-installed heat pump like for like keeps the existing plumbing and power connections, which keeps the job quick and the cost down. Eligible heat pump and solar models also attract STC incentives that reduce the upfront price.
Have you done hot water work in Little Mountain recently?
Yes. Recent jobs in Little Mountain include a electric hot water system replacement, a Thermann hot water replacement on a rainwater tank home and a hot water replacement at a weatherboard home. Each one was tested before we left and covered by our lifetime workmanship warranty. You can see the photos and write-ups on this page.
How much does a new hot water system cost in Little Mountain?
New hot water systems in Little Mountain start from $1,700 supply and install. The price depends mainly on the system you choose. For Little Mountain homes we also allow for the bigger tank or higher-flow unit that larger homes need. You get a fixed price before any work starts, with no call-out fee and no travel surcharge, and every install has our lifetime workmanship warranty. With about 53% of Little Mountain homes having four or more bedrooms (2021 Census), many need a larger system, which costs more than a standard 250 litre tank.
Figures in these answers are from the 2021 Census, via GDP suburb profile. Sizes are a rough guide; we confirm the right system when we quote.