Hot Water Systems in Forest Hill
The 3131 postcode, covering Forest Hill, Brentford Square and Nunawading and surrounding areas, is home to around 9,267 households. With many households already generating their own clean solar power, many are now looking at how they can make their entire home energy system more efficient, with hot water heating often the logical next step.
With hot water roughly accounting for a quarter of the average home's energy use, switching to an energy-efficient hot water system is one of the biggest opportunities for savings. Across Forest Hill and the 3131 area, 757 homeowners have already switched from older electric storage and gas hot water systems to solar hot water or air-source heat pump systems that draw on clean, renewable power while also claiming the hot water rebates to reduce their hot water heater system cost. These highly-efficient systems not only help cut energy bills but also reduce carbon emissions and improve overall energy independence.
With Forest Hill's climate delivering an average of 4.1 kWh/m² per day, conditions are ideal for hot water systems and hybrid heat pump systems that harness both sunlight and ambient air temperature to heat water efficiently all year round. When paired with existing rooftop solar power or solar batteries, the result is hot water that costs far less to run and is powered by clean, self-generated energy.
Hot Water Ranking
Postcode 3131
101st
State Wide
401st
Australia Wide
Hot Water Installation Forest Hill
Estimated daily energy to heat household water, comparing a resistive electric element with a high-efficiency heat pump. Demand shifts month-to-month using local climate patterns.
Energy Efficient Hot Water & Solar Power Forest Hill
* Data from the Bureau of Meteorology. Closest station: N/A.
Solar Powered Hot WaterForest Hill
Illustrates how a typical 6.6 kW rooftop solar system can offset the daytime energy demand of a COP 5 heat pump hot water unit.
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Heat Pump Hot Water Systems for Forest Hill
Compare heat pump hot water systems suitable for Forest Hill's climate. These energy-efficient systems are designed to work in local temperature conditions and can significantly reduce your hot water energy costs.
Community Hot Water Statistics - Forest Hill, 3131
Hot Water Demographics - Forest Hill
Based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census (ABS), Forest Hill has around 9,267 private dwellings, home to approximately 21,908 people. With an average household size of 2.5 people, and around 50 litres of hot water used per person each day in Australia, Forest Hill households use approximately 125 litres of hot water daily, equating to a massive 1.2 million litres of hot water used across the suburb every single day.
Other census insights reinforce Forest Hill's suitability for energy-saving improvements like energy-efficient or solar-powered hot water. The Forest Hill community is home to 2,051 couple families with children and 303 one-parent families, meaning a large proportion of households face substantial hot water demand. With 2,918 homes owned with a mortgage and 3,012 owned outright, many residents also have the homeownership and growing equity that make switching to efficient hot water systems a practical way to lower expenses.
Forest Hill is converting hot water demand to efficient systems faster than many peers, with 8.2% of dwellings already upgraded.
Hot water systems in Forest Hill
Across Forest Hill, more households are switching to energy efficient hot water systems – from a modern electric hot water system through to a solar hot water system or heat pump hot water system. With an average household size of around 2.5 people and more than 8,600 dwellings in the 3131 postcode, reliable, affordable hot water is a big part of everyday life. Many homes are still on older gas or electric units, so upgrading to an energy efficient hot water system is a logical next step to cut running costs and future‑proof the home.
Forest Hill’s solar exposure is better than many people realise. The local Mitcham weather station records an annual mean daily solar exposure of about 14.7 MJ/m², which is roughly 4.1 kWh of sunshine energy per square metre per day. That is plenty to support a well‑designed solar hot water heating system or a high‑performance heat pump hot water system. With a solid base of owner‑occupied homes – more than 5,900 dwellings are owned outright or with a mortgage – and a median household income of about $1,806 per week, many families are in a good position to invest in upgrades that pay for themselves in bill savings.
In Forest Hill 3131, most separate houses have three or four bedrooms, which usually means higher hot water demand and good roof space for a solar hot water installation. Hot water use can easily make up a quarter of a typical home’s energy bill, so moving from electric hot water vs gas hot water to the most efficient hot water system you can reasonably afford has a real impact. Locally you will see trusted brands like Rheem, Rinnai and Sanden on many homes – from Rheem solar hot water and Rheem heat pump hot water systems, through to Rinnai solar hot water and premium Sanden heat pump units for those chasing the best heat pump hot water system in Australia.
For a typical Forest Hill home, realistic average annual bill savings look like this:
• Old electric to quality heat pump hot water system: save around $350–$700 per year • Gas storage to heat pump hot water system: save around $250–$500 per year • Gas storage to solar hot water system: save around $200–$450 per year • Old electric to modern electric hot water system with rooftop solar: save around $250–$600 per year
There are already 757 efficient hot water systems installed in Forest Hill, combining heat pump hot water installation and solar hot water installation. Install numbers were modest in the early 2000s, then jumped sharply around 2009, and have stayed solid since, with another lift in 2015–2019 and strong growth again in 2025. This steady pattern of hot water installation shows how local interest in electrification, lower running costs and solar hot water vs electric hot water has grown as energy prices have risen.
Even if you still have a fairly new gas unit, more Forest Hill homeowners are now comparing heat pump vs solar hot water and planning their next upgrade. Federal incentives such as Small‑scale Technology Certificates (STCs) apply to eligible solar hot water systems and heat pumps, effectively acting as a solar hot water rebate or heat pump hot water rebate that reduces upfront solar hot water price / cost and heat pump hot water price / cost. Victoria also offers state‑based hot water rebate VIC programs that can cut the cost of heat pumps, efficient electric hot water installation and some solar hot water tank replacement jobs. Combined, these hot water rebate VIC schemes can trim system cost by a substantial percentage and shorten payback to just a few years, especially if you run your unit on solar power, use timers, or add solar‑diversion controls.
If you are weighing up solar hot water vs electric hot water, or deciding when to move from gas to an all‑electric home, now is a smart time to look at the best hot water system Australia has to offer for your budget. Whether you are considering a chromagen solar hot water setup, a premium Sanden heat pump, or a robust Rheem or Rinnai system, Forest Hill’s mix of good solar resource and strong interest in sustainability makes efficient hot water a practical upgrade. To explore hot water repair, solar hot water repair, hot water system price, electric hot water system rebate options and tailored hot water repair or electric hot water installation, it pays to speak with experienced local hot water VIC specialists. Check whether your Forest Hill home is ready for a hot water upgrade today and connect with trusted local experts for personalised advice that helps cut bills, lower emissions and future‑proof your place.