Updated October 2026
Hastings is the working town of the Western Port side, with the port and industrial area, a solid main street, postwar and 1970s housing through the middle and newer estates on the edges. Unlike the holiday towns, it is a year-round suburb with year-round demand. Mornington Hot Water is a free referral service. We connect you with licensed hot water plumbers who cover Hastings. We are not a plumbing business ourselves, and the referral costs you nothing.
Full-time households, full-time load
Family households use hot water hard and consistently, which is a different kind of wear from a holiday house. Elements and thermostats work every day, sediment builds in the bottom of older tanks, and systems reach the end of their lives on schedule rather than early.
Pipe and tank age splits the suburb. The older streets are full of electric storage tanks, many on controlled-load tariffs and many approaching or past the usual 8 to 12 years. The newer estate housing came with gas storage or continuous flow and is now reaching the age where first replacements start.
Mains gas reaches much of the town, so gas remains a practical option, though a household weighing a new gas connection against a heat pump should get both quoted before committing.
Repair it or replace it
If the tank itself is leaking, it is a replacement. Elements, thermostats and relief valves on a younger tank are often worth fixing, with repairs roughly $150 to $600 depending on the part. See hot water repairs and hot water replacement.
As a guide, electric storage like-for-like swaps run from around $800 to $2,500 installed. Gas storage and continuous flow sit around $1,200 to $3,500, and a heat pump $3,000 to $6,000 before incentives. The cost guide has the full breakdown.
Same-day replacement is often possible for common tank sizes when you get in touch in the morning.
Frequently asked questions
I am a landlord. Can the plumber deal with my tenant?
Yes. Send the request with the tenant's contact details and say you are the owner. The plumber attends, quotes you and reports back.
Our hot water runs out before everyone has showered. Is that a fault?
Sometimes, and sometimes it is capacity. A failing element or sediment build-up reduces usable hot water, and an undersized tank for a growing household does the same. A plumber can tell you which.
Is a heat pump worth it for a full-time family?
Often the strongest case of all, because the savings apply every day of the year rather than a few weeks. Get it quoted against a like-for-like swap.
Nearby, see Bittern and Crib Point.