For most Perth homes a storage format wins, and a heat pump is the most efficient one you can buy. Continuous flow suits small households and tight spaces. Water heating takes about 25% of a typical household’s energy, according to the Australian Government’s Your Home guide.
Key Takeaways
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First, work out where the water is coming from
Glass-lined steel tanks typically carry a 5 to 10 year warranty, according to YourHome, the Australian Government’s hot water guide, and most leaking tanks we see in Perth are past it. Dry the tank with a towel and watch where the water reappears.
Where the water appears | Most likely cause | What it means |
Top of the tank, at the fittings | Loose joint or worn anode seal | Repairable |
Base of the tank, or a rust trail | Tank corrosion, sediment | Replacement |
Overflow pipe, dripping while heating | Normal valve discharge | Nothing to fix |
Overflow pipe, running constantly | Valve fault or high mains pressure | Repairable |
Leaking from the top fitting
Glass-lined tanks rely on a sacrificial anode to slow rust, and YourHome notes it needs replacing every few years. A tired seal on the anode port is one common top leak. The other is an inlet or outlet joint worked loose by years of heating cycles. Either way the tank is sound, so a plumber can reseal it and you keep the system.
Leaking from the base of the tank
The Water Corporation advises Perth owners to release the pressure valve for a few seconds each month to limit scale inside the tank. Scale and sediment settle at the bottom, trap heat against the steel and speed up rust. Once water weeps from the base, the lining has failed and the wall has corroded through. It can’t be patched.
“Water at the base of a storage tank means the glass lining has failed and the steel has corroded through. It cannot be patched. In Perth these failures cluster in June and July, when cold inlet water works an old tank hardest, so a base leak found in spring is best replaced before winter.” Ecoheat Energy, 2026. |
What to do right now, and when to replace
WA law lets a homeowner do only five basic plumbing jobs, such as changing a shower head, and everything else must be done by a licensed plumber. So make the leak safe: turn the cold inlet valve on the tank clockwise until it stops, switch off the hot water circuit or the gas, then call us on 08 6386 9560. A base leak on a tank over ten years old means replacement, and for most Perth homes that’s the moment to move to a heat pump hot water system. No hot water at all? Our hot water system not working guide covers the power and gas faults.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a leaking hot water system an emergency?
It’s urgent, not usually dangerous. Shut the cold inlet and the power or gas and the leak slows to what’s left in the tank. Water near a switchboard or inside the house is the exception.
Can I still use hot water while the tank is leaking?
A slow drip from a top fitting, yes, until the plumber arrives. A leak from the base, no. Refilling a corroded tank brings the failure forward.
Does a leaking hot water tank need replacing?
Only when the water is coming from the tank body itself. Fittings, valves and gaskets are repairable. Eligible heat pump replacements attract STC rebates in WA.
Found water under your tank?
Send us a photo of the leak and book a licensed technician to confirm repair or replacement. For a new system, start with our sizing guide for Perth homes and the Reclaim heat pump, or contact the Ecoheat Energy team. You’ll speak to a real person, not a call centre.
