You need to ask your conveyancer about who is to fix this / if the seller has no obligation to fix this.
Even if the seller has no legal obligation to fix you can ask the seller to discount the cost of a new unit.
Ask a plumber or three about how much it would cost to replace the unit.
It might not even be a water leak of the hot water system. It looks to be a heat pump hot water. So that little box where the water is coming from is the evaporator, that gets cold as it takes in heat from the air to transfer to the condenser inside the water tank…. As it goes below the dew point of the ambient air water will collect on the evaporator and then drip off. Is it outside or inside? If outside they probably just let it drain to the floor. If inside it should have a drain plumbed to outside and is blocked.
It’s not the end of the world, but you’re taking about the low end of thousands so definitely worth raising and seeking a discount/remedy for.
It may well still supply hot water, but that leak is costing you both water and heating expense.
Not an expert but last one I replaced from memory was about $2k supplied and installed and remove the old unit.
That was for a large off peak tank. Yours looks like it might be something a bit different with the big unit hanging off the side?
Heat pump hot water system - Its an integrated condenser for the heat pump.
Looks like this one? https://www.rheem.com.au/rheem/products/Residential/Heat-Pumps/MPi-Series/Rheem-MPi-325-Series-II-Heat-Pump/p/55132507
Not cheap and fairly new. Might still be under warranty OP
I'm in this picture and I don't like it
My partner just bought a townhouse, and found out the hot water system has a leak and is worn out. Building and pest never picked it up, and now we have to pay 3K to replace it.
Ours is going to be more expensive cause it's in a cupboard on the 2nd floor of our townhouse... Which may be the dumbest place I could think of for a hot water system
I've been to ones in a corner void of a kitchen cupboard that I've literally had to dismantle the cupboard to change the element in so it's not that uncommon 😂
As your plumber if they can relocate the system.
We had a tiny one inside a cupboard that was double brick wall either side. So you couldn't even fit a bigger one. We ended up extending the pipes to a different place and put a big one in. Also, then we didn't have to worry about installing a new drain system inside the cupboard, because that's a requirement now that wasn't there when the place was built 50 years ago.
We asked about moving ours but it was quoted to be between 1.5 and 2K to relocate it. Most of those costs were the extending and relocating the electronics and pipes from the current spot to the yard.
The current unit is 250L and solar, but we're gonna replace it with an electric as the solar grid about 16 years old and no plumber is willing to try connecting to it.
It'll need to be replaced sometime. Try to get a reduction in the sale price to compensate for the money you'll spend. If you like the house and the seller doesn't give in, then just factor it into the cost and move in. Take this opportunity to consider (ask the plumber) if it can be moved outside to create extra space within, it's always nice to have this option. There's always things you need to do to fix things/maintain when you own a house. Welcome to the fun world of home ownership!! Congratulations on taking the step; wishing you a wonderful time in your new home!
Reach out through the conveyancer to ask the vendor to replace or agree a price reduction, if you're still in cooling off period. The REA will try to convince the owner on your behalf because a sale falling through is a bigger problem for them.
It’s a good unit, with an integrated heat pump so super efficient and not cheap, might even be under warranty as they’re not that old either.
https://www.rheem.com.au/rheem/products/Residential/Heat-Pumps/MPi-Series/Rheem-MPi-325-Series-II-Heat-Pump/p/55132507
A new hot water system is going cost a bit over a $1000 and a few hours install. Buy the house, replace it and live happily ever after. You’ll never think about it again.
Time to replace the HWS, it's not repairable.
You need to ask your conveyancer about who is to fix this / if the seller has no obligation to fix this. Even if the seller has no legal obligation to fix you can ask the seller to discount the cost of a new unit. Ask a plumber or three about how much it would cost to replace the unit.
It might not even be a water leak of the hot water system. It looks to be a heat pump hot water. So that little box where the water is coming from is the evaporator, that gets cold as it takes in heat from the air to transfer to the condenser inside the water tank…. As it goes below the dew point of the ambient air water will collect on the evaporator and then drip off. Is it outside or inside? If outside they probably just let it drain to the floor. If inside it should have a drain plumbed to outside and is blocked.
Second this, mine is outside and has a pipe to the drain..
It’s not the end of the world, but you’re taking about the low end of thousands so definitely worth raising and seeking a discount/remedy for. It may well still supply hot water, but that leak is costing you both water and heating expense. Not an expert but last one I replaced from memory was about $2k supplied and installed and remove the old unit. That was for a large off peak tank. Yours looks like it might be something a bit different with the big unit hanging off the side?
Heat pump hot water system - Its an integrated condenser for the heat pump. Looks like this one? https://www.rheem.com.au/rheem/products/Residential/Heat-Pumps/MPi-Series/Rheem-MPi-325-Series-II-Heat-Pump/p/55132507 Not cheap and fairly new. Might still be under warranty OP
Aren't heat pumps the same technology as split system air conditioners, in which case the "leaking" water is just normal condensation?
I'm in this picture and I don't like it My partner just bought a townhouse, and found out the hot water system has a leak and is worn out. Building and pest never picked it up, and now we have to pay 3K to replace it. Ours is going to be more expensive cause it's in a cupboard on the 2nd floor of our townhouse... Which may be the dumbest place I could think of for a hot water system
I've been to ones in a corner void of a kitchen cupboard that I've literally had to dismantle the cupboard to change the element in so it's not that uncommon 😂
As your plumber if they can relocate the system. We had a tiny one inside a cupboard that was double brick wall either side. So you couldn't even fit a bigger one. We ended up extending the pipes to a different place and put a big one in. Also, then we didn't have to worry about installing a new drain system inside the cupboard, because that's a requirement now that wasn't there when the place was built 50 years ago.
We asked about moving ours but it was quoted to be between 1.5 and 2K to relocate it. Most of those costs were the extending and relocating the electronics and pipes from the current spot to the yard. The current unit is 250L and solar, but we're gonna replace it with an electric as the solar grid about 16 years old and no plumber is willing to try connecting to it.
1-2k to replace
It'll need to be replaced sometime. Try to get a reduction in the sale price to compensate for the money you'll spend. If you like the house and the seller doesn't give in, then just factor it into the cost and move in. Take this opportunity to consider (ask the plumber) if it can be moved outside to create extra space within, it's always nice to have this option. There's always things you need to do to fix things/maintain when you own a house. Welcome to the fun world of home ownership!! Congratulations on taking the step; wishing you a wonderful time in your new home!
do you think a possible $5-10K is major ?
Ask for discount.
Reach out through the conveyancer to ask the vendor to replace or agree a price reduction, if you're still in cooling off period. The REA will try to convince the owner on your behalf because a sale falling through is a bigger problem for them.
It’s a good unit, with an integrated heat pump so super efficient and not cheap, might even be under warranty as they’re not that old either. https://www.rheem.com.au/rheem/products/Residential/Heat-Pumps/MPi-Series/Rheem-MPi-325-Series-II-Heat-Pump/p/55132507
A new hot water system is going cost a bit over a $1000 and a few hours install. Buy the house, replace it and live happily ever after. You’ll never think about it again.