Hot water can swallow 25 % of a home’s energy bill. Pick the wrong heater, and you will bleed cash every day. At Whywait Plumbing, we cut through jargon, show real numbers, and help you act now.
Quick Snapshot: Gold Coast Hot Water Systems 2025
⚡ Electric storage
🔥 Gas storage
🚿Gas instantaneous
🌬 Heat‑pump
☀️ Solar
$900 ‑ $1800
$1100 ‑ $2400
$1000 ‑ $2200
$2400 ‑ $4000
$3500 ‑ $6500
$800 – $1000
$650 – $950
$550 – $850
$260 – $500
$100 – $400
Off‑peak power
Natural‑gas streets
Endless hot water
eco minded homes
long term saving
*Average retail prices and energy costs for a four‑person Gold Coast household, sourced from CHOICE 2025 hot‑water review.
The costs above are a guide only from Choice and the up-front costs are not realistic in our opinion for compliance requirements in Queensland.
Why upgrade Gold Coast Hot Water Systems in 2025
📈 State rebate: Up to $1 000 back for solar or heat‑pump units via Queensland’s Climate Smart scheme. Funds run out fast.
💰 Federal STCs: Slash hundreds at purchase. We handle the paperwork.
🔇 New tech: Heat‑pumps today run quieter and use 60 % less power than 2019 units.
⏳ Delay costs you: Every month of old‑tank wastage is money lost forever.
Simple running‑cost calculator
Formula: Annual cost = (Daily energy use × Tariff) × 365
1️⃣ Daily use: 10 kWh (40 L × 0.25 kWh/L)
2️⃣ Tariff: 27 ¢/kWh (Tariff 11)
3️⃣ Annual cost: 10 × 0.27 × 365 ≈ $985.50
Try it: Swap in your unit’s daily kWh or MJ and your exact tariff.
Gold Coast running‑cost example
🌬 Heat‑pump on PV
⚡ Electric storage peak
⚡ Electric storage off‑peak
🚿 Gas instant
900 kWh
3500 kWh
3500 kWh @ 9.8c
16 GJ @ $35/GJ
$0‑$280 (PV solar dependent)
$1085
$343
$560
*Tariff 11 = 31 ¢/kWh, off‑peak = 9.8 ¢/kWh, gas = $35/GJ. Figures are indicative.
Cold‑shower regret — facts you can't ignore
🥶 Cold‑shock kick‑in: Water under 30 °C spikes heart rate and ramps metabolism by 25 %.
🌡 Comfort zone: The sweet‑spot is 37‑38 °C; cooler showers feel uncomfortable for most people.
⚡ Controlled‑load risk: Economy tariff switch‑offs can leave tanks powerless for hours, gifting you an icy wake‑up.
📞 Gold Coast reality: “No hot water” is our #1 winter emergency call – our aim is to fix it the same day because no one should shiver in the shower at 6 am.
System deep dive summary
🌬 Heat‑pump – Works like a reverse fridge. Loves Gold Coast humidity. Pair with PV roof panels for cents per day running costs. With heat pumps you definitely get what you pay for so beware of cheap units.
⚡ Electric storage – Cheapest to install, expensive to run on peak tariff. Off‑peak plus timer helps, but you need a larger tank. Pair with PV roof panels to dramatically reduce daily running costs.
🚿 Gas continuous‑flow – Compact. Hot water never ends. Needs a six‑star model for savings. LPG refills can kill the maths.
🔥 Gas storage – Heats fast. Best to use natural gas if available. Suitable for high shower demand.
☀️ Solar thermal – Black roof tubes warm water for free. A backup electric element boosts heating on cloudy days. If the roof already hosts PV panels, a heat‑pump plus PV wins hands down for running costs.
Five questions to nail the choice
❓ People now and in three years? Plan 50 L per person daily.
❓ Morning or night showers? Tariff timing affects bills.
❓ Have rooftop solar PV? If yes, lean electric or heat‑pump.
❓ Switchboard capacity? Instant electric may need a three‑phase supply.
❓ Outdoor space? Heat‑pumps and gas units vent outside and require space to operate.
Ready to choose?
🛒 Browse our hot‑water systems here. Compare features, sizes and prices in one scroll.
🤔 Still unsure? Call us. In two minutes, we’ll match the perfect unit to your home and budget.
💷 Transparent pricing. Listed costs cover standard external installs (internal for instant electric). Non‑standard or internal storage installs may need extra labour; we tell you upfront.
Incentives you can claim in 2025
🟢 Queensland Climate Smart Energy Savers: $800‑$1 000 back on eligible heat‑pump and solar units.
🟡 Federal STCs: Cut $700‑$1 500 off heat‑pump or solar price at checkout.
🔵 Whywait Plumbing loyalty credit: Book by 30 September for a $150 Taqua water filter tap installation voucher.
We care because we live here too. Let's keep hot water bills fair for every Gold Coast home.
Rebates and paperwork made easy
📝 We do the forms: STC assignment, state rebate claims, council approvals.
🏃 Zero hassle: You relax while we slice the red tape.
