Hot water in Como
Updated October 2026
Como is one of the Shire's oldest pockets, a village of weatherboard and brick cottages stepping down to the Georges River, with the heritage pub and the old bridge setting the tone. Shire Hot Water is a free referral service. We connect you with the licensed hot water plumbers we work with, we do not do the work ourselves.
Older cottages, older plumbing
Como's housing stock is genuinely old by Shire standards, and the hot water systems reflect it. Electric storage tanks dominate, often sitting where the last three tanks sat, on a side wall or under the house on a sloping block. Riverside humidity and still, damp air add a moderate corrosion load, gentler than ocean salt but enough to age external fittings and casings ahead of schedule.
The calls plumbers get from Como: tanks rusting out around the 10 to 12 year mark, rusty or discoloured hot water from a cylinder on the way out, failed elements, and pipework problems where new tanks meet very old copper or galvanised lines. On the older cottages, the pipe runs can be as tired as the tank.
Repair or replace
A leaking tank is a replacement, once the cylinder splits there is nothing to repair. Discoloured hot water usually means the tank is corroding inside and a replacement quote is the honest next step. Elements, thermostats and valves on younger tanks are straightforward repairs. See hot water repairs and hot water replacement.
What it costs in 2226
Budget from around $800 to $2,500 installed for electric storage, more for gas, continuous flow and heat pumps. Sloping Como blocks and tight under-house access can add labour, so photos with your quote request get you a sharper price. If your street has gas, continuous flow is an option, otherwise electric or a heat pump are the paths. Heat pump incentives can cut thousands off, and the installer quotes the net figure.
Same-day replacement is realistic, Como is minutes from Jannali and Sutherland where common tank sizes are stocked.
Frequently asked questions
My hot water comes out brownish. What does that mean?
On an older tank it usually means the cylinder is corroding from the inside, the anode is long gone and the steel is next. It is the classic warning before a leak. Get a replacement quote now rather than after the floor gets wet.
Does river air shorten system life in Como?
Moderately. It is not ocean-front corrosion, but damp air off the Georges River ages external units faster than a dry inland wall would. A sheltered mounting spot and an anode check at year five both help.
Can plumbers handle the old pipework in Como cottages?
Yes, it is routine for anyone working this suburb and neighbouring Bonnet Bay and Jannali. Expect the quote to flag any old fittings that should be renewed while the tank is off.