Three questions. You get the usual size for each kind of system, what it costs installed in Ipswich, and a plumber who covers your suburb if you want it done.
Ranges from published Australian sizing guides; where they differ, the range covers them. Prices are typical Ipswich installed ranges reviewed 2026-10; see the hot water installation guide
| System | 1–2 people | 3–4 people | 5–6 people | 7 or more | Installed, Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric storage, off-peak tariff | 125–160 L | 250 L | 315 L | 400 L, or two tanks | $1,000–$2,500 |
| Electric storage, any-time tariff | 50–125 L | 125–160 L | 160–250 L | 250 L or more | $1,000–$2,500 |
| Gas storage tank | 90 L | 130–170 L | 170–200 L | 200 L or more | $1,300–$3,500 |
| Gas continuous flow (instant) | 1 bathroom: 12–16 L/min · 2 bathrooms: 20–26 L/min · 3 or more: 26–32 L/min | $1,600–$3,200 | |||
| Heat pump | 150–180 L | 250–300 L | 315–450 L | 450 L or more | $3,600–$5,800 |
| Solar (with booster) | 150–180 L | 250–300 L | 315–450 L | 450 L or more | $3,500–$8,800 |
On an off-peak tariff (Energex Tariff 31 or 33, “controlled load” on the bill) the tank heats mostly overnight, so it has to hold the whole day’s hot water. That is why off-peak tanks are bigger than continuous-tariff ones.
On a continuous (any-time) tariff the tank can reheat during the day, so a smaller one does. Each litre costs more to heat than on off-peak.
Gas tanks reheat quickly, so they are smaller than electric tanks for the same household.
Sized by flow, not volume: how many showers and taps run at the same time. 12 L/min suits one bathroom and up to two people; a busier single-bathroom home wants 16.
The usual rule is about 75 litres per person. Heat pumps earn small-scale technology certificates (STCs) that cut the price; the installer works them out.
Also about 75 litres per person, with an electric or gas booster for cloudy days. STCs apply here too.
Sizing sources: Northeast Plumbing: what size hot water system do I need · Canstar Blue: hot water system sizing guide · Rheem: which size water heater is right for me · SolarQuotes: what size solar hot water system.
On an off-peak electric tariff, about 250 L. On an any-time tariff, 125 to 160 L. A gas storage tank of 130 to 170 L, a heat pump or solar tank of 250 to 300 L, or a gas continuous flow unit of 20 to 26 L/min if there are two bathrooms. The plumber confirms it against your usage before quoting.
About 125 to 160 L on an off-peak electric tariff, 50 to 125 L on an any-time tariff, a 90 L gas tank, a 150 to 180 L heat pump or solar tank, or a 12 to 16 L/min gas continuous flow unit.
On an off-peak tariff (Energex Tariff 31 or 33, “controlled load” on the bill) the tank heats mostly overnight, so it has to hold the whole day’s hot water. That is why off-peak tanks are bigger than continuous-tariff ones.
Sized by flow, not volume: how many showers and taps run at the same time. 12 L/min suits one bathroom and up to two people; a busier single-bathroom home wants 16. Two bathrooms usually need 20 to 26 L/min and three or more 26 to 32 L/min.
A new hot water system in Ipswich, supplied and installed, runs about $1,000 to $2,500 for electric storage (Ipswich suppliers list 250L units from $1,749), $1,300 to $3,500 for gas storage, $1,600 to $3,200 for gas continuous flow, $3,600 to $5,800 for a heat pump before rebates and $3,500 to $8,800 for solar. Brisbane guides put the typical replacement around $2,250. These are indicative ranges, not quotes: the licensed plumber prices the unit, the connections and any electrical or gas work for your home.
No. It shows the size most guides suggest and the typical Ipswich price range (reviewed 2026-10) so you know what to ask about. Your enquiry goes to a licensed local plumber who covers your suburb; they check the site, the gas and power supply and your usage, and quote before any work starts.
A failed element or thermostat is often a repair, not a new system. Tell us the brand, age and what it is doing, and a licensed local plumber will tell you which.