Updated October 2026
North Curl Curl sits up on the headland between Curl Curl and Dee Why, and on the eastern streets the wind off the ocean carries salt straight onto the side of the house. That matters if your hot water system lives outside. Beaches Hot Water is a free referral service. We connect you with licensed hot water plumbers who cover North Curl Curl. We are not a plumbing business ourselves, and the referral costs you nothing.
Wind, salt and the external tank
Many family homes here have their tank or heat pump on an outside wall or a slab beside the house. On the exposed side of the headland, salt settles on casings, valves and fittings, and they often corrode faster than on a sheltered street further inland on the Northern Beaches. A few simple things help:
- Check the sacrificial anode around year five. It is the part designed to corrode first, and replacing it can add years to a tank.
- At replacement time, ask whether the new unit can sit on a more sheltered wall, out of direct spray.
- For a heat pump, ask about fin coatings and placement, because salt build-up on the coil cuts efficiency.
Storage tanks typically last 8 to 12 years. On a windy, salty wall, plan for the lower end of that range.
Repair or replace
A younger tank with a failed element, thermostat or relief valve is usually worth fixing, and hot water repairs roughly cost $150 to $600 depending on the part. A tank that is leaking from the cylinder cannot be repaired. Once water is pooling under it, replacement is the only option.
For family homes with an old electric tank, this is a good moment to look at a heat pump. Heat pumps cost around $3,000 to $6,000 installed before incentives, and federal STCs and the NSW Energy Savings Scheme can cut thousands off. The installer quotes you the net figure. Like-for-like electric storage swaps run from around $800 to $2,500 installed, and gas storage or continuous flow from around $1,200 to $3,500. Mains gas availability varies street by street, and the plumber confirms it. These are guides only. The plumber's quote is the price that counts.
Same-day replacement is often possible for common tank sizes if you send the request in the morning.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my outdoor tank look so rusty already?
Salt air on the headland is hard on external metalwork. Surface rust on the casing is cosmetic at first, but rust around the base or fittings, or rusty water from the hot tap, is worth getting a licensed plumber to check.
Will a heat pump cope with the wind on the headland?
Yes, heat pumps run in coastal conditions across the Northern Beaches. Placement matters more than wind. A sheltered spot with good airflow and some distance from bedroom windows is the usual aim.