A like-for-like swap is a 2 to 4 hour job
If your new system is the same fuel type, roughly the same size and going in the same spot, the work is straightforward. We isolate the water and power or gas, drain the old tank, swap it out, connect the new unit with new valves, fill it, test it and commission it. On a clear run that is 2 to 4 hours of on-site work, and you will have hot water again the same evening, sometimes within an hour or two of us leaving depending on the system's recovery time.
The reason we say 2 to 4 hours rather than promising the low end is that we do not know what we will find until the old unit comes out. Corroded unions, seized isolation valves and hidden non-compliance all live behind the tank you have not looked at in a decade.
Fuel switches take a day, sometimes two
Changing fuel type means new infrastructure, not just a new tank. Electric to heat pump is usually the quickest switch because the plumbing largely stays put, though the unit may need a new position with airflow clearance. Electric to gas needs a gas line run and a licensed gas fitter to connect and commission it. Gas storage to continuous flow means relocating the unit to a wall, resizing the gas line in many cases, and running new pipework. Any of these can push the job to a full day, and two days where trenching, electrical work or a switchboard upgrade is involved.
Typical Gold Coast timelines and installed costs
| Installation type | Typical on-site time | Typical installed cost |
|---|---|---|
| Electric storage, like-for-like | 2 to 4 hours | $1,300 to $2,400 |
| Gas storage, like-for-like | 2 to 4 hours | $1,800 to $3,200 |
| Gas continuous flow, replacing continuous flow | 2 to 5 hours | $1,900 to $3,500 |
| Gas storage to continuous flow | Half day to full day | $1,900 to $3,500 |
| Electric storage to heat pump | Half day to full day | $2,500 to $4,500 after rebates |
| Electric to gas (new gas run) | 1 to 2 days | Quote on inspection |
Heat pump rebates of $1,000 to $2,500 apply through current federal and Queensland schemes as of 2026, and we confirm what is claimable at quote time because schemes change.
Same-day replacement is realistic if you call before lunch
Most of our hot water replacements on the Gold Coast are booked and finished the same day. The practical cutoff is stock and daylight. If you call in the morning we can usually confirm the right unit is available from our suppliers, quote a fixed price, and have hot water running by dinner. Call late in the afternoon and it may be first thing next morning instead. We give you an honest ETA on the call rather than a slogan.
What slows an installation down
The delays are almost never the tank itself. In order of how often we strike them: seized or missing isolation valves that need replacing before we can even start, no tempering valve on older installations which we must fit to hand the system back compliant, rotten or undersized tank stands and trays, tight access such as tanks in roof spaces or narrow side paths, and switchboard or gas supply limitations that need an electrician or a gas line upgrade. None of these are padding. They are the difference between a system that passes and one that does not.
The paperwork is part of the job, not an extra
Hot water installation is regulated plumbing work in Queensland. It must be done by a licensed plumber, and gas connections by a licensed gas fitter. You should receive the compliance paperwork for the work performed, and the installation must meet AS/NZS 3500 and the manufacturer's requirements or your warranty is at risk. We are QBCC licensed (licence 15243081) and we handle the certification as part of the fixed price.
How to make your install faster
Three things genuinely help. Know your current system's fuel type, size in litres and location before you call, a photo of the unit and its nameplate is perfect. Clear access to the unit, the meter box and the water main. And decide early whether you want like-for-like or an upgrade, because the moment the conversation becomes a fuel switch, same day usually becomes next day.
Need hot water back today? Call Hills Plumbing & Gas on 0472 657 042. We are a Gold Coast owner-operator team, QBCC licensed (licence 15243081), rated 5.0 stars from 27 Google reviews, and we quote a fixed price and an honest ETA on the call. See full options and pricing at our hot water systems page.
Sources: Queensland Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018; AS/NZS 3500.4; QBCC licensing requirements for plumbing and gas work.