All the businesses listed offer an emergency service for gas and electric hot water. They may be able to fix your existing system, or you may need a completely new unit. If so, they can also provide a temporary hot water solution should there be a delay in installing a new electric heat pump.

All offer either same day or emergency services and can install a temporary solution if needed while waiting for a heat pump to be installed.

For some situations, you may just need a repair to your existing unit. If you need a replacement, the businesses listed can offer advice and installation of new electric alternatives including heat pumps.

It is up to you what to choose should you need a new unit. It's worth remembering however that hot water makes up about a quarter of an average household's energy costs. This means you can save significant energy, money, and emissions by installing an efficient hot water system such as a heat pump.

Talk to your prospective installer to understand if you might need electrical work to be done such as upgrading your switchboard. Depending on the unit that's being recommended, you may be able to plug into an existing powerpoint, hardwire to an existing power circuit or you might need a new dedicated circuit on your switchboard.

Heat pump hot water systems are three to five times more efficient than electric or gas hot water heaters. For details on the financial and environmental benefits of heat pumps see the information on the Electrify Boroondara website.

With hot water heat pumps you get what you pay for. Systems range in price from $1,500 to $6,800. Hot water makes up about a quarter of an average household's energy costs and is typically the third largest consumer of energy in your household.

There are a number of government schemes that reduce the cost of a new electric heat pump. These include the Victorian government's VEU and SolarVic rebate schemes and the Federal Government's STCs. VEU reductions are applied to the price of your new unit by your supplier. The Solar Vic rebate generally has to be applied for and approved prior to an installation. All the trades people on our list can install heat pumps that are eligible for these rebates. Some may take care of any paperwork for you and incorporate the rebates into your quote or invoice. Others may require you to do some of the paperwork yourself. The Solar Victoria rebate of up to $1000 for a heat pump has additional eligibility criteria: you need to be the owner-occupier of the property; the household taxable income of all owners combined must be less than $210,000 per year; and the value of the property must be under $3 million.

Because VEU and STC rebates are applied to the price of your new unit, these are not affected by an emergency installation. The Solar Victoria rebate needs to be applied for AFTER an emergency installation. This means it's even more important to use suppliers who are already accredited and who install approved, compliant products.

Many Boroondara residents want to electrify their lives. They want to save money, reduce emissions and create a healthier environment. Tradespeople are often the first point of contact when householders need help, however, many tradies tend to recommend like-for-like replacements or gas appliances due to familiarity and simplicity. This can delay our transition to a clean energy future by up to 15 years with each installation.

Heat pumps need to be installed outside with space around the system so they are not the best solution for apartment dwellers. If your current hot water system is gas, you may be able to upgrade - and claim rebates- for a conventional (also known as a 'resistive') electric hot water service, although this depends on the type of system you have and the amount of space available.

This will depend on the arrangements you have with your landlord and/or property agent. Check with them about your hot water emergency first. Many landlords and property agents would be happy to switch to a more efficient electric heat pump, so if you're comfortable why not suggest this option to them.

The trades people and businesses listed and the services, products and advice they provide are not endorsed or guaranteed by Electrify Boroondara. We are providing a linking service for Boroondara households to these tradies on the basis that they:

• Provide emergency gas and electric hot water services to homes in Boroondara
• Can access and install electric heat pump models that are eligible for all relevant Federal and State Government rebates and discounts
• Are accredited with Solar Victoria
• Are committed to helping households save money and reduce carbon emissions through electrification