Question 1

Instantaneous (continuous) or storage gas - what's right for my Berwick home?

Accepted Answer

Instantaneous (continuous flow) heats only the water you draw, so you never run out - best for households running 2-3+ simultaneous showers or where the existing storage tank keeps emptying. Storage gas keeps a tank hot 24/7, recovers slowly between draws, but the upfront cost is lower and the gas supply doesn't need to be upgraded. Most 3-4 person Berwick homes are well-served by a 26L/min Rinnai Infinity or Bosch Highflow instantaneous. Storage suits a 1-2 person home or where gas line size or pressure won't support instantaneous.

Question 2

How do I size a gas instantaneous unit?

Accepted Answer

By peak simultaneous outlet demand, measured in litres per minute (L/min). One shower at full flow draws around 8-10 L/min; a dishwasher 6 L/min; kitchen tap 5 L/min. So: 16 L/min suits 1-2 outlets at once, 20 L/min suits 2-3 outlets, 26 L/min comfortably handles 3+ outlets including a household running showers and dishwasher together. Bigger doesn't cost much more and prevents the lukewarm-shower problem when someone else turns a tap on.

Question 3

Which gas hot water brands do you install?

Accepted Answer

Rinnai Infinity (instantaneous, 16/20/26/32 L/min) - the most-installed unit in Australia, parts everywhere, reliable. Bosch Highflow (instantaneous) - German engineering, great in hard-water areas, slightly quieter combustion. Rheem Stellar / Metro (storage, 135-360L) - Australian-made storage tanks, robust, easy to service. Rinnai HotFlo (storage). We install the units we trust to repair in 10 years - these are them.

Question 4

What's installed for gas hot water in Berwick - natural gas or LPG?

Accepted Answer

Almost all reticulated suburbs (Berwick, Cranbourne, Narre Warren, Hampton Park, Endeavour Hills, Officer, Pakenham) are on natural gas. Acreage and semi-rural blocks toward Beaconsfield Upper, Harkaway and the Bunyip end of Cardinia run on LPG cylinders. Every model we install has a natural-gas SKU and an LPG SKU - they're not interchangeable, the injectors and burner are different. Confirming your gas type is the first thing we check on site.

Question 5

Do you handle the gas line, flue and electrical work?

Accepted Answer

Yes - all in-house. Licensed gasfitter for the gas line and flue (AS 5601), licensed plumber for the water connections (AS 3500.4), licensed electrician for the 240V supply and isolation. Most like-for-like replacements use the existing gas line and flue. Changing from storage to instantaneous usually needs a new flue penetration and sometimes a gas line upsize. We check, we quote it accurately, no surprises.

Question 6

How long do gas units last in South East Melbourne?

Accepted Answer

Gas storage tanks: 10-12 years typically. The cylinder rusts from the inside out - the anode rod that's meant to prevent it depletes after 5-7 years and most homeowners never replace it. Once the tank itself leaks, replacement is the only option. Gas instantaneous units: 15-20 years, sometimes 25, because there's no storage cylinder to fail. Heat exchanger and electronic board are the most common failure points, both replaceable.

Question 7

Should I replace gas with heat-pump in 2026?

Accepted Answer

For most South East Melbourne owner-occupiers, yes - the maths now favours heat-pump. A 280L heat-pump runs about 70% cheaper than gas at current Victorian energy prices, qualifies for the $1,000 Solar Victoria rebate plus STCs (net cost ~$3K-$4.5K), and aligns with Victoria's gas-out direction. Gas instantaneous still wins where you have a strong existing gas line and don't want a noisy outdoor compressor - we'll be honest about which suits your home.

Gas hot water in Berwick & the South East.

Brand & model comparison.

Instantaneous (continuous flow).

Storage gas.

Sizing by household.

What we do on site - honest.

Standards we work to.

Gas hot water quote - usually within 24 hours.