Last Update: 28 October 2025
Installing a new hot water heater might seem like a straightforward DIY project to save money, but it's a task fraught with potential hazards and costly mistakes if not handled by a professional.
From selecting the correct size and ensuring proper installation location with adequate venting to avoiding risks like burning heating elements and using the wrong materials, the complexities are significant. Without the expertise of a licensed plumber, you risk not only damaging the new unit but also creating dangerous situations and incurring expensive plumbing headaches. It's crucial to rely on qualified professionals for water heater installation to ensure safety, compliance, and long-term functionality.
Thinking of installing a new hot water heater in your house? Here are some reasons you need to hire a professional for installation, repair and maintenance.
A working water heater is one of those home comforts you don’t realise you rely on—until it’s gone. But when it comes toinstalling a new hot water system, things can get a bit tricky. Sure, some homeowners might be tempted to tackle the installation themselves to save a few bucks, but without the proper expertise and tools, it can quickly turn hazardous.
Putting in a water heater isn’t something you can just dabble in; it demands expertise and the right gear. It’s not like hanging a picture frame—you need to know your stuff.
More often than not, DIY attempts at installing electric water heaters cause more problems than they solve. Let’s dive into why it’s essential to leave this task to a professional plumber rather than tackling it yourself.
Reasons To Avoid Installing A Water Heater Yourself
1. Choosing A Wrong-Sized Heater
You need to know the capacity of a water heater tochoose the correctsizefor your family. If you install a small system, you’ll continuously run out of hot water, putting excessive pressure on the water heater.
The water heater size will vary depending on your household’s water usage. Usually,electric water heatersranging between 182 and 284 litres work well for a family of three to four people. On the other hand, a 151-litregas water heatercan be enough if your household’s water usage is low.
However, picking the right size can be tricky without a professional plumber’s guidance. Even with hours of research, you could still end up with a water heater that doesn’t fit your needs perfectly.
2. Issues With The Location Of the Installation
Unfortunately, a water heater can’t be plonked down anywhere you fancy. Without a solid understanding of building codes and legal regulations, you could run into trouble—especially if you’re not a pro. If you want to install your water heater, it’s crucial to consult with a licensed plumbing company to ensure that you’re following all the necessary regulations and safety measures.
When installing a gas water heater, proper venting is a must. A licensed technician from WP Plumbing understands exactly how to ventilate the space to keep homeowners safe by ensuring toxic gases like carbon monoxide are expelled. Plus, a pro knows how to secure the unit properly, avoiding any hazards.
Are you trying to install a water heater in tricky spots like an attic or basement? That job isbest left to the pros, especially when dealing with a hefty unit weighing upwards of 55 kilograms. If you want to install or move a water heater weighing 55 and 70 kilograms, you cannot do it alone and must hire someone to help maintain safety. It’s always best to install water heaters from a licensed and experienced plumbing company to guarantee that the job is done correctly and safely.
3. No Plumbing Permit
You must contact aprofessional plumber in Australia to install a water heater. Even though you don’t need a specialised permit for the installation, your plumber must submit a notifiable work form to theVictorian Building Authority (VBA). The notifiable work form includes installing, removing and replacing a water heater in any existing property or building extensions.
Without a solid grasp of how tankless water heaters work,making mistakes could easilylead to costly plumbing headaches. You need a licensed plumber to register the notifiable work form and complete the job correctly and efficiently.
4. Risks Of Burning Heating Elements
Water heater elements are meant to work only when submerged in water. If they heat up while the heater is dry, they can melt, a problem known as dry-frying. Many DIY folks don’t know about this risk and might forget to cut the power during installation.
If the water heater is dry and the water heater power is turned on, the copper heating elements can heat up and start melting. Once the copper elements are dry-fried, the system will fail within seconds or after a few uses. Hence, hiring professional help is best to avoid dry-frying risks during installation.
5. Wrong Material Selection
Many DIY plumbers choose flexible plastic PEX tubes to install the water heater and connect it to the main water supply to avoid the complicated soldering process. But, they don’t understand that theflexibility of these PEX tubescan be a huge liability.
These tubes aren’t very sturdy, and as water runs through them, they tend to flex and bend, just like a garden hose. They also expand and contract with the change in temperatures, causing the PEX pipes to move constantly, leading to their wearing.
Additionally, unlike copper pipes, PEX tubes are vulnerable to rodent damage and UV rays. So, the best course of action is to hire a professional plumber who can apply accurate soldering techniques to install durable copper pipes for the water heater.
You Need A Qualified Plumber!
Installing a water heater isn’t exactly a weekend DIY project. This is one task where amateur plumbing skills just won’t cut it. You need the extensive knowledge oflicensed professionalswith years of experience and exactly what they do. If you need awater heater installed in Melbourne, pleasespeak to our team!
It’s likely to falter when you don’t understand how water heaters work. Always contact your local plumber to take care of the entire process to avoid any plumbing damage; it’s better to be safe than sorry.
With that, it’s time for us to sign off. Until next time!
Published by: Pascal Harb28 October 2025