What do the different hot water options cost installed?
Here is how gas compares with the alternatives, installed on the Gold Coast as of 2026:
| System type | Installed price (2026) | Running cost profile |
|---|---|---|
| Electric storage | $1,300 to $2,400 | Cheapest to buy, dearest to run without solar |
| Gas storage | $1,800 to $3,200 | Moderate purchase, moderate running cost |
| Gas continuous flow | $1,900 to $3,500 | Endless hot water, efficient, compact |
| Heat pump | $2,500 to $4,500 after rebates ($1,000 to $2,500) | Dearest to buy, cheapest to run |
These are genuine installed prices for straightforward changeovers, including the unit, standard valves, connection and certification. They are not a bare unit price with the install sold to you later.
What is included in an installed price?
A proper installed price covers the unit, delivery, removal of the old system, new valves, connection to existing gas, water and power, commissioning, and the compliance paperwork. On a gas system that paperwork is not optional. Gas installation work must be done by a licensed gas fitter, installed to AS/NZS 5601, and covered by a compliance certificate issued to you when the work is done. When you compare quotes, confirm the certificate, old unit disposal, and the tempering or relief valves are included, because a low headline price that excludes them is not a low price.
What makes the price land at the top or bottom of the range?
Like-for-like swaps land at the bottom of the range, and anything that changes the gas, flue or location pushes toward the top. A gas storage unit replacing the same size gas storage unit in the same position is the cheapest possible install. Prices climb when we are switching from storage to continuous flow, which changes the wall mounting, flue and often the gas line sizing, when the existing gas supply pipe is undersized for a high-input continuous flow unit and needs upgrading, when the unit is being relocated, and when valves, mounting or pipework are non-compliant and must be brought up to standard. If you need a new gas point run for the unit, that is $480 to $820 plus compliance as of 2026. We price all of this before work starts, as one fixed figure.
Should I choose gas storage or continuous flow?
Continuous flow suits most Gold Coast households changing over today, but storage still has its place. Continuous flow units heat water only when a tap runs, never run out, and hang on a wall taking almost no space. For a family that staggers showers across the evening they are excellent. Gas storage still makes sense when you want the simplest like-for-like swap at the lowest cost, or where simultaneous heavy draw from multiple bathrooms favours a full tank backed by a burner. One honest note: if your home has rooftop solar or you are open to electric, compare a heat pump before committing, because at $2,500 to $4,500 after rebates and with very low running costs it beats gas on lifetime cost for many homes. We install both, so the recommendation follows your usage rather than our stock.
Who can legally install a gas hot water system in Queensland?
Only a licensed gas fitter can install, relocate or connect a gas hot water system in Queensland, and there is no DIY path. Gas work licensing sits under Queensland's petroleum and gas safety legislation, separate from and additional to a plumbing licence, and the installation must comply with AS/NZS 5601 for gas and AS/NZS 3500.4 for the hot water plumbing, including a tempering valve limiting bathroom delivery to 50 degrees. You must receive a gas compliance certificate for the work. An uncertified gas install is a safety risk, an insurance problem and a legal one. We hold the relevant licences under QBCC licence 15243081 and certify every gas installation we do.
How fast can a failed gas system be replaced?
Same day, in most cases, if you call in the morning. A failed hot water system is the most common urgent job we attend, and for standard gas storage and continuous flow changeovers we can usually supply, install and certify with hot water restored by the evening. As of 2026 an after-hours emergency attendance runs $360 to $560 for the first hour plus the work, so if the system is limping rather than dead, a booked daytime replacement is the cheaper path. Either way, you get a fixed price before we start, not an hourly meter running while you wait for hot water.
No hot water, or a system on its last legs? Call Hills Plumbing & Gas on 0472 657 042. Fixed installed prices, same-day changeovers in most cases, licensed gas fitting and full certification under QBCC licence 15243081. See our hot water systems service.