RCM Hot Water
Aerial view of surf breaking along a sandy shoreline

Hot Water Systems Pelican Waters

Replacement, repair and installation of hot water systems in Pelican Waters, from canal-front houses to townhouses.

Pelican Waters homes are large, averaging 3.8 bedrooms, and most are owned outright, so a new tank is something you live with for a long time. RCM Hot Water is a one-person business. Richard Mansell takes your call, comes out and does the job himself, whether it is the hot water repairs Pelican Waters residents need on a tired unit or a planned hot water replacement. He works on heat pump, solar, electric, gas and continuous flow units, and he will tell you if a repair is all your hot water system in Pelican Waters needs. 24-hour emergency call-out, seven days.

  • Hot water only, domestic
  • QBCC, gas & electrical licensed
  • 24-hour emergency call-out, 7 days
  • 12-month workmanship warranty

Pelican Waters was built largely as canal estates on the old Bells Creek wetlands, south-west of Caloundra. With a median age of 55 and only about one home in eight rented, many residents want a hot water system in Pelican Waters that runs quietly for years without fuss.

Richard installs Rheem units and repairs the other common brands, including Solahart, Thermann, Rinnai, Chromagen and Midea. If you are planning ahead rather than waiting for a leak, the compare hot water systems guide shows how each type stacks up for larger hot water systems in Pelican Waters houses. Any new heat pump hot water or electric hot water unit is matched to how many people live in the home.

A Rheem solar hot water system installed by RCM on a tiled Sunshine Coast roof, palm trees behind

Reasons canal-side owners call Richard

When you own the house and plan to stay, the hot water decision is a long one. Richard treats it that way, with no pressure toward one system type and a straight answer about whether your current hot water system in Pelican Waters can be kept going.

  • Warranty on the workmanship. Work Richard installs is backed for 12 months on workmanship, and the unit keeps its own manufacturer's warranty as well. If something Richard fitted plays up in that first year, ring 0415 611 356 and he comes back to sort it out.12 months on workmanship plus manufacturer cover
  • Paperwork lodged with QBCC. Replacing a water heater is regulated plumbing work in Queensland. The licensee lodges a Form 4 with the QBCC within 10 business days, so the job is recorded against your property and easy to show a buyer later.QBCC licence 15045345
  • Sized for bigger houses. With nearly four bedrooms on average, many homes here draw more hot water at once than a small tank can supply. Richard works out how much your household actually uses each day before he suggests a capacity.3.8 bedrooms average (ABS 2021)
  • Gas and solar both considered. If the house already has gas, a gas hot water storage tank or continuous flow unit can be a sensible like-for-like swap. Roof space on a detached house can also suit solar hot water, and Richard will weigh both against a heat pump.No favourite system type

Work on hot water systems in Pelican Waters

Domestic hot water is all RCM does. Each service below applies to the hot water system in Pelican Waters houses, townhouses and the small number of rentals in the suburb.

Canal living and hot water

Aerial view of the Sunshine Coast shoreline, with the beach and suburbs stretching north

Pelican Waters covers 8.4 km² about 7.7 km by road south-west of the Caloundra CBD. Its northern and eastern parts are mostly canal estates built from the wetlands of the Bells Creek estuary, and Bells Creek forms the southern boundary. Census figures for 2021 put the population at 7,393, with half of residents aged 55 or over.

Outdoor units close to tidal water sit in humid, salty air, which wears on fittings and casings. Large houses averaging 3.8 bedrooms often draw hot water in more than one room at once. A hot water system in Pelican Waters that was sized for a smaller household can struggle when the house fills up with visiting family.

With 56.3% of homes owned outright and only 12.6% rented, most owners pay for the system themselves and keep it for its full life. A poor choice shows up for years, in higher power bills or repeat call-outs.

He checks the existing unit, the household's daily use and the spot where a new one would sit. A repair that keeps the tank going gets recommended first. If a hot water replacement is due, he sets out heat pump hot water, solar, gas and electric options with their running-cost trade-offs, so you choose the hot water system in Pelican Waters that suits how you live.

of occupied private dwellings are separate houses
88.0%

of occupied private dwellings are separate houses

ABS 2021 Census QuickStats, Pelican Waters
bedrooms per dwelling on average
3.8

bedrooms per dwelling on average

ABS 2021 Census QuickStats, Pelican Waters
of occupied private dwellings owned outright
56.3%

of occupied private dwellings owned outright

ABS 2021 Census QuickStats, Pelican Waters

Heat pump, anode and burner faults in hot water systems in Pelican Waters

Most calls about a hot water system in Pelican Waters trace back to one of the faults below.

  • Heat pump

    Heat pump running but the water stays cool

    Cause
    A heat pump can lose output from a blocked air filter, a refrigerant leak, a faulty fan or a failed controller. Some units also switch to a backup element, which may itself have burnt out.
    Why it matters
    The house still gets some hot water, so the problem can go unnoticed while power use climbs.
    Our solution
    Richard checks airflow, the fan, controller fault codes and the backup element, then repairs whichever part has failed.
    Prevention
    Keep plants and stored items clear of the unit so it can draw air freely.

    Signs to watch for

    • Fan running for long periods
    • Higher power bill than usual
    Heat pump hot water problems
  • Leaks

    Water pooling under the tank

    Cause
    A tank's sacrificial anode rod corrodes so the cylinder does not, and once the rod is gone, rust attacks the steel wall. Eventually water seeps through the lining and gathers under the tank.
    Why it matters
    A leaking cylinder cannot be patched, and the water can damage flooring or the slab edge.
    Our solution
    Richard confirms the leak comes from the cylinder rather than a fitting, isolates the tank and quotes a hot water replacement.
    Prevention
    Have the anode inspected every few years where the unit allows it.

    Signs to watch for

    • Rust-coloured water at the tap
    • Puddle or damp patch under the tank
    Hot water anode replacement
  • Gas

    Gas unit refusing to light

    Cause
    On gas storage and continuous flow units, a faulty igniter, flame sensor, thermocouple or gas valve can stop the burner lighting. Strong wind can also blow out the pilot on older storage models.
    Why it matters
    Without the burner there is no hot water, and repeated failed ignition should be looked at by a licensed gasfitter.
    Our solution
    Richard tests the ignition parts and gas pressure, then replaces the faulty component.
    Prevention
    Keep the area around the flue clear and book a service if the unit is slow to light.

    Signs to watch for

    • Clicking with no flame
    • Error code on the controller
    Gas hot water systems

Other suburbs near Pelican Waters

Pelican Waters is the southern Sunshine Coast area on RCM's list, and hot water systems in Pelican Waters sit alongside work in the suburbs below. Richard also travels to Caloundra, Kawana and the hinterland towns, offering the same hot water installation, repairs and emergency hot water help as for any hot water system in Pelican Waters.

See the full service area

Google Reviews

Reviews published on RCM’s Google listing, reproduced with the names as they appear there.

Write a review

  • Paul Donovan

    Solar hot water repair

    5 out of 5
    Richard (RCM Hot Water) was superb in his tenacious problem-solving in which the solution was far from obvious and ultimately required ruling-out several potential problems to restore our solar hot water system to full working order. I would most definitely use his cheerful services again... and again...

These are reproduced from RCM’s Google reviews with the names as published. This is a selection rather than the full set. Read them all on Google

Licensed, qualified and local

Frequently asked questions

It depends on how many people live there and how they use hot water, not just the bedroom count. A household of four or five usually needs a larger storage tank or a heat pump hot water unit sized to match, while a couple in a big house may need far less. Richard asks about showers, baths and appliances before recommending a size, and the hot water system sizes guide explains the basics.

Sometimes. If the tank is well past its expected life, a planned replacement lets you choose the system type and the timing instead of taking what is available on the day it leaks. If it is younger and only one part has worn, a repair makes more sense. Richard will look at your hot water system in Pelican Waters and tell you honestly which applies.

It can, but placement deserves thought. Heat pumps run a fan and compressor, and on closely spaced canal blocks the sound carries over water and fences. Richard looks for a spot with good airflow away from bedroom windows, and where possible sets the unit to run during daytime hours. Quieter models and timer settings can also help keep the peace with next door.

Yes, provided gas can be supplied to the house. Changing fuel type means extra supply work, such as running a gas line or upgrading the meter, so Richard prices that part first before the job goes ahead. Some owners find a heat pump a simpler switch because it only needs power. He will set out both options for your hot water system in Pelican Waters.

From Loch Lamerough to canal estates

About Pelican Waters. Explorer William Landsborough acquired land here in 1881, naming it Loch Lamerough, and died there in 1886. In 1946 Roy Henzell bought about 960 hectares of the area. Henzell's agency began the canal estate in 1989, shaping waterways from the Bells Creek wetlands, and the suburb was officially named and bounded on 8 December 1995. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses the population rose from 6,277 to 7,393. Caloundra City Private School on Pelican Waters Boulevard and Pelican Waters Shopping Village serve the suburb today, and RCM Hot Water services the hot water systems in Pelican Waters homes built since the canals went in.

Business
RCM Hot Water (Richard Craig Mansell)
Phone
0415 611 356
Enquiries
Via the contact page
Hours
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year
Licences
QBCC 15045345, gas work L93578, restricted electrical 158711
Service area
Servicing Pelican Waters across the Sunshine Coast
Website
rcmhotwater.com.au

Mobile hot water service, no street address published, domestic work only.

RCM Hot Water on Google for the listing, opening hours and reviews.

Weighing up new hot water systems in Pelican Waters for a big family home?

Book a repair, plan a hot water replacement or ask about heat pump hot water. Ring 0415 611 356.

RCM works across Sunshine Coast and the hinterland. See the full Sunshine Coast service area for where we work regularly and where we travel on different terms.