Question 1

Is electric storage hot water still worth installing in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Only in specific cases: (1) like-for-like emergency replacement when you need hot water back today and don't want to wait for heat-pump install; (2) tightly constrained budgets where the $1.5K–$2.2K upfront cost beats the $3K+ heat-pump even net of rebates; (3) homes already running on rooftop solar PV with significant export, where the electric element is essentially powered by free daytime sun. For everyone else in 2026, heat-pump is the better long-term call — runs at one-third the cost of electric storage.

Question 2

How much does an electric hot water system cost installed?

Accepted Answer

Electric storage 125L $1,500–$1,800 installed (Rheem, Dux, Aquamax). 250L $1,700–$2,000. 315L $1,900–$2,200. 400L $2,100–$2,500. Most South East Melbourne homes need 250–315L for a 3–4 person family on off-peak. Single-element or twin-element variants — twin gives faster boost recovery for high-use periods. Like-for-like swaps take 2–3 hours.

Question 3

Off-peak (Tariff 31) or continuous (Tariff 11) for electric hot water?

Accepted Answer

Off-peak is cheaper — typically 12–15c/kWh vs 25–30c/kWh continuous in Victoria. Off-peak only heats overnight, so you need a tank large enough to last 24 hours (usually a step up in size: 315L if you'd otherwise install 250L). Continuous heats anytime, smaller tank works, but you pay full daytime rates. For most off-peak-connected Berwick / Cranbourne / Narre Warren homes we go off-peak with a 315L tank. Confirm your meter has the off-peak supply before assuming — older homes sometimes don't.

Question 4

Can I convert electric to heat-pump and keep the same plumbing?

Accepted Answer

Yes — this is now the most common upgrade we do across the South East. The existing electric storage tank gets removed, the heat-pump replaces it in roughly the same footprint (integrated unit) or with the compressor placed nearby (split system). Existing water plumbing reused. Electrical: most heat-pumps run on the same 10A single-phase circuit as the old electric storage, though some larger split-systems want a 15A circuit. Switchboard tidy-up if needed. Conversion takes 4–6 hours. Net cost with rebates often only $1K–$2K more than a like-for-like electric replacement — and the running cost saving pays for itself in 3–5 years.

Question 5

Which electric hot water brands do you install?

Accepted Answer

Rheem Optima / Stellar (250–400L) — Australian-made, sacrificial anode, 7-year cylinder warranty. The default Australian electric storage choice. Dux Proflo (135–315L) — Australian-made, slightly cheaper than Rheem, good track record. Aquamax (160–400L) — also Australian-made, twin-element variants available for faster recovery. We avoid the cheaper imported units — they look the same but the cylinder steel is thinner and the anode is undersized. Cylinder life on the cheap ones is often half the Australian-made equivalents.

Question 6

Should I replace the anode in my existing electric tank?

Accepted Answer

If your existing electric tank is 5–10 years old and otherwise sound, yes — replacing the anode rod is the single most effective thing you can do to extend the cylinder's life. The anode is sacrificial: it corrodes preferentially so the cylinder doesn't. Once the anode is depleted (5–7 years typical), the cylinder starts rusting from the inside out. We can replace anodes on most tanks for $250–$400 if there's clearance above the tank to extract the old rod. If the tank is already leaking water, it's too late — replace the tank.

Question 7

How long do electric hot water tanks last?

Accepted Answer

10–15 years for an Australian-made tank that's had its anode replaced once around year 6. 8–12 years if the anode was never replaced. 5–8 years for cheap imported tanks. Telltale signs of impending failure: rusty water at the tap when the hot has been off for a while, water around the base of the tank (cylinder leak, not relief valve), longer recovery times, popping or banging noises from the tank (sediment build-up). Once the cylinder itself leaks, it can't be repaired — replace it.

Electric hot water in Berwick & the South East.

Brand & tank sizing.

Sizing by household and tariff.

The heat-pump conversion path.

Standards & warranties.

Electric hot water — or the heat-pump alternative.