Updated October 2026
Merricks is vineyard and grazing country inland from the Western Port coast, a sparse scatter of rural properties, cellar doors and farmhouses on large blocks. There is no township, and services are what each property provides. Mornington Hot Water is a free referral service. We connect you with licensed hot water plumbers who cover Merricks. We are not a plumbing business ourselves, and the referral costs you nothing.
Rural supply, rural scale
Mains gas does not reach out here, so hot water runs on bottled LPG, electric storage or a heat pump. LPG works fine but costs more per litre of hot water than mains gas, and for a household using a lot of it, hot water is typically the biggest single draw on the bottle.
Scale is the other local factor. Farmhouses, guest accommodation and cellar door facilities put different loads on hot water than a suburban house, and sizing needs to reflect actual peak use rather than a rule of thumb. A property that hosts functions or guests should say so at quote stage.
Space works in your favour. Heat pumps have all the room and airflow they need, and roofs with a clear north aspect can suit solar well, which is worth checking rather than assuming the canopy rules it out.
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 detail.
Same-day replacement is sometimes possible for common sizes, and an early request helps given the travel.
Frequently asked questions
We run guest accommodation. Does that change the system?
It changes the sizing and sometimes the compliance requirements. Tell the plumber what the property is used for so the system suits the real peak load.
Is LPG or electric cheaper for hot water?
A heat pump usually beats both on running cost. Standard electric storage on a full-rate tariff is generally the dearest.
Can multiple buildings share one system?
Sometimes, though long pipe runs cost heat and time. A plumber can advise whether one unit or two makes more sense for your layout.
Nearby, see Merricks North and Merricks Beach.