Hot water in Angaston
Town, hills and the farms to the east
Angaston sits against the Barossa Range, a little higher than the valley floor and often a little colder. Craig repairs and replaces hot water across town and out on the farms towards Eden Valley, where plenty of homes run on rainwater, bottled gas and solar.
No hot water right now? Ring 0499 319 297.
Two kinds of Angaston hot water job
In town
Stone, marble and old outbuildingsMany of the older houses near Murray Street were built in local stone and added to over the years. The hot water unit often lives in an outbuilding or a back porch, a long way from the bathroom, and it’s frequently been there a long time.
Craig works out whether to replace it where it is or move it closer to where the water is used, and he plans any new pipe so as little stone as possible gets drilled.
Out on the farms
Tanks, bottles and shed roofsEast of town the mains thin out. Rainwater feeds the house through a pressure pump, the gas comes in bottles and solar panels sit on the shed roof. All three affect what hot water system makes sense.
A repair here can mean the pump, the regulator or the booster as much as the heater itself, so Craig checks the whole chain.
Choosing a system for the colder side of the valley
Cold winter nights and long distances between bottle deliveries change the trade-offs a little.
| System | Why it can suit Angaston | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Gas continuous flow | Heats as you go, so a cold night doesn’t leave you short. Works on natural gas or LPG. | LPG use goes up in winter, and the unit needs a power point for its controls. |
| Gas storage | A simple swap where the old tank was gas. | A tank outside loses more heat on cold nights. |
| Heat pump | Usually the cheapest to run, and better again off your own solar. | Choose a model rated for cold climates, and set it to run in the warmer part of the day. |
| Solar | Strong through a Barossa summer, with plenty of roof on most farm properties. | The booster does much more of the work in winter. |
| Smart electric | Can heat from your own solar panels on a timer. | South Australia’s rules limit straight electric replacements in many homes. Craig checks yours. |
“Great price and came out quickly for us, even came out on a weekend to make sure we could have hot water as soon as possible.”
No hot water on a property off the mains?
Before you ring, three quick checks. They often find the answer, and if they don’t, they help Craig bring the right parts.
Is there any water at all?
If the cold taps are weak or dry too, it’s the tank or the pressure pump, not the heater. Check the pump has power.
Is the gas on?
Look at the LPG bottles. An empty bottle with no automatic changeover is often the whole problem.
Solar? Check the booster
Lukewarm water after a run of grey days usually points to the booster, not the panels.
Then ring
Call 0499 319 297 and say what you found. If you smell gas, leave the area and call 000 first if there is immediate danger.
Angaston hot water questions
Do you service hot water on the farms out towards Eden Valley?
Yes. The farms along the Eden Valley Road are covered, and so are Springton and Eden Valley themselves. Tank water, LPG and solar set-ups are all part of the work.
We have solar panels on the shed. Is a heat pump worth it?
Often, yes. A heat pump set to run in the middle of the day can use your own solar power, which brings the running cost down again. Craig can tell you whether the shed panels can reach the house supply, which is a job for your electrician.
Our solar hot water is lukewarm in winter. Is it broken?
Not always. In winter a solar system leans on its gas or electric booster. If the booster isn’t working, the water stays lukewarm. Craig checks the panels, the pipework, the tank and the booster, and repairs solar hot water when it’s worth fixing.
Can a new hot water unit go into an old stone house without a mess?
Craig plans the pipe route first, using the existing holes and runs where he can, so as little stone as possible gets drilled. You’ll know the plan and the price before he starts.
Do I need a licensed plumber to replace a hot water system?
Yes. In South Australia a water heater has to be installed by a licensed plumber, with a Certificate of Compliance. Gas units also need a licensed gas fitter. Craig is both, LIC PGE341299.
How far is Angaston from your base?
About 35 minutes. Our base in Williamstown SA 5351 is around 33 km away by road, through Tanunda or Nuriootpa.
More hot water around the Barossa
Hot water nearby
Same plumber, same number- Nuriootpa West across the valley floor.
- Tanunda The middle of the valley.
- Barossa-wide Every town we cover, with drive times.
- Gawler Gawler and its suburbs.
Related pages
Read next- Plumber Angaston Old pipe, stormwater and bathrooms in Angaston.
- Hot water repairs and installs Every system type, repair or replace.
- Heat pump hot water Pros and cons on cold nights.
- Rainwater tanks and pumps The pump that feeds your hot water.
Hot water playing up in Angaston?
Ring Craig on 0499 319 297, or email a photo of the unit’s label to hello@piperplumbing.au for a quote on a new one.