Mr. Clog Plumbing
Solar Hot Water Repairs, Replacement & Installation Sydney
Solar hot water gone lukewarm, a booster that won't kick in, or a leak on the roof? We repair gas and electric boosted solar systems, replace them when they're done, and install new ones.
No surprise bills: $0 call-out and a fixed price before any work starts.
Our guarantee: 12 months on our workmanship, in writing. What it covers
About This Service
A solar hot water system has more parts than a standard tank: collectors on the roof, the pipes between the roof and the tank, the storage tank itself, and a gas or electric booster that heats the water when the sun can't. On split systems, where the tank sits on the ground, there's also a pump and a controller that move water up to the collectors and back. When the hot water goes lukewarm, the job is working out which of those has failed. We repair solar hot water systems with gas or electric boosting, replace the ones that have reached the end of their life, with solar or with a gas or electric system if you'd rather, and install new solar systems. You get a fixed price before we start, and 12 months on our workmanship. Gas boosters are worked on by our licensed gas fitters.
What’s Included
- Solar hot water repairs
- Gas and electric boosted systems
- Roof-mounted and split systems
- Boosters, valves and tank faults
- Leaks at the collectors and roof pipes
- Replacement and new installations
- Fixed price quoted before we start
- 12 months on our workmanship
Fixed price quoted before we start. $0 call-out fee.
Ready to book?
(02) 9139 8945 — available 24/7Two Kinds of Solar Hot Water
Tank on the roof
The tank sits on the roof directly above the collectors, and hot water rises into it on its own. There's no pump, but every repair to the tank or booster is a job on the roof.
Tank on the ground (split system)
The collectors are on the roof and the tank is on the ground, often where an old tank used to be. A small pump and a controller move water between them, so a pump or controller fault can stop the solar side working while the booster carries on.
Gas or electric boost
Electric boosted systems have an element in the tank, usually on a timer or off-peak circuit. Gas boosted systems usually have a gas unit after the tank that tops the water up to temperature on its way to the taps.
Common Solar Hot Water Faults
In general terms, these are the faults that turn up most often on solar systems.
Lukewarm water on cloudy days
If the water is fine in sunny weather but lukewarm when it's overcast, the solar side is working and the booster probably isn't. On electric boost that can be the element, the thermostat or the timer; on gas boost, the booster unit itself.
Lukewarm water even in full sun
On a split system, a pump or controller that has stopped means the collectors aren't sending heat down to the tank. On any system, a leak or air in the roof pipes can do the same.
Water dripping off the roof
A leak at a collector, a fitting on the roof pipes, or the tank on a roof-mounted system. It's worth fixing before it wets the roof space or the ceiling.
Relief valve running
Solar systems can get very hot on a sunny day, and the relief valve lets some water go as it heats. A valve that runs constantly, or never stops dripping, is worn or is dealing with pressure that's too high.
Water from the tank itself
As with any storage tank, a leak from the tank body rather than a fitting usually means the tank has failed and the system needs replacing.
Repair, Replace or Switch
When a repair makes sense
A booster element or thermostat, a relief valve, a pump or controller, or a leaking fitting: these are parts, and a system that is otherwise sound can keep going.
When it's time to replace
A leaking tank, collectors that are leaking or damaged, or an older system that keeps needing work. We give you a fixed price for the replacement before anything starts.
Replacing with something else
You don't have to replace solar with solar. We can install a gas or electric storage system or a continuous flow unit instead, with the roof collectors taken down.
Hot water at the taps
Water in a solar tank can be much hotter than is safe at a bathroom tap, so a tempering valve limits the temperature to the bathrooms. If yours is worn, we replace it.
How It Works
Our Process
Find the fault
Booster, collectors, pump and controller, valves or tank, checked in turn.
Fixed price
A price for the repair, or for the replacement options if it's done.
Repair or replace
The failed part fixed, or the system replaced and connected.
Test
Booster run, water checked hot at the tap, joints checked for leaks.
Related Pages
Common Questions
FAQs
Do you repair solar hot water systems?
Yes. We repair gas and electric boosted solar hot water systems, both the roof-mounted kind and split systems with the tank on the ground.
Why is my solar hot water only lukewarm?
If it's lukewarm on cloudy days but fine in the sun, the booster is the likely cause. If it's lukewarm even in full sun, the solar side isn't delivering heat, which on a split system is often the pump or controller. We find which before quoting the repair.
Can you replace my solar hot water with a gas or electric system?
Yes. We can replace a solar system with a gas or electric storage system or a continuous flow unit, and take the collectors off the roof.
Water is dripping from the solar panels on my roof. What should I do?
Don't go up on the roof. If it's leaking steadily, turn off the cold water valve at the tank, or at the meter if you can't find it, and call us. A leak at a collector or roof fitting is usually a repair; a leak from the tank itself means replacement.
Do you work on gas boosted solar systems?
Yes. Work on the gas booster is done by our licensed gas fitters. If you ever smell gas near it, get everyone outside, leave switches alone and call Jemena on 131 909 for natural gas in Sydney, or 000, from outside, then a licensed gas fitter.
How much does a solar hot water repair cost?
It depends on which part has failed. We give you a fixed price before we start, with a $0 call-out fee.
What Sydney Customers Say
We recently used Mr Clog Plumbing for our granny flat in Guildford and couldn't be happier with the service. Everything was handled professionally from start to finish, with great communication and workmanship…
Absolute legend. Turned up on time, sorted the problem quickly and didn’t charge a fortune. Super easy to deal with and cleaned up after the job too. Will definitely be using him again and would happily recomme…
Turned up on time and honest service, couldn’t ask for much more.
Get a Quote for Solar Hot Water
Prefer not to call? Send a few details and we’ll come back to you with an upfront fixed price.
Ready to Book?
Call now for fast, reliable service — $0 call-out fee, available 24/7.