Smarttek Black Smart Hot Water System
Verified71 reviews
I hate this product, it works correctly 20% of the time, the rest of the time it cuts out as soon as it gets warm and water goes cold. You have to turn it off then back on to warm it, then it cuts out again. Customer support was no help either, after performing a test the said it was working correctly, which it is not. Show details
I can't stand this thing, it was supplied with a brand new camper trailer two years ago and has given me nothing but problems since day one. And yes I'm using fresh batteries that aren't voltage sagging under load, fresh 9kg gas bottles, and I'm not expecting miracles in snow country or anything. Constantly shutting off during showers or pouring… Read more
a sink to wash dishes, not working next time on settings previously able to fight through a shower, and now refusing to ignite the piezo when water is flowing through the unit even though the lights are on. 4.6l pump so enough flow to run with the water dial on minimum, short hard line from the gas regulator to the units braided hose so minimal gas restriction.
The only way I can get a brief amount of hot water is to start the water flow then flick the power switch which activates the piezo, not an ideal scenario when the price was calculated into the trailer and probably marked up as well.
The company the trailer was from don't want to know about it, and looking at all the 'support' comments but fresh batteries are the only go to customers get when they're supplied a dud unit.
Don't waste your time go buy a Joolca or even an Adventure Kings HWS, im sure they're more reliable even.
Same problems as others, never worked. We were refunded – Purchased the Smarttek black Sept 2024 to replace 4yr old different unit which was reliable. But it had problems similar to the others - started, heated up, cut out. Took photos and videos. After a week contacted Mitch who was very helpful, returned but they could not reproduce the fault. Installed in our shack, same problems, Catherine was… Read more
very helpful and patient. However it didn't work - never got a shower out of it. Sent it back, and much to their credit, Smarttek refunded the purchase Dec 2024.
Add Jan 2026: we re-purchased the same unit we had previously - a Maxcon water heater (eBay). Excellent result, worked out of the box and hasn't failed to deliver hot water since. Thoroughly recommend it.
Hi Olefella, Thank you for taking the time to share… Read more (+1 reply)
Reviews with attachments
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Best unit we have used to date – We purchased this unit after trying many other camping hot water units which have failed on us. This hot water system is honestly the best we have used. This unit is perfect for us, works flawlessly every time. No issues, good flow and temperature control. Not to mention it has put me in the good books with the wife too which is a bonus. Show details
Anything but good so far. Note: you need a new gas bottle! – Very disappointing. We were told it came with all we needed only to discover it need a gas bottle with a NEW fitting on it. After a lot of running around we got one. Then on first use the system kept cutting out and now we have no display at all. It’s not that we can’t follow the instructions. No one available on the tech extension. So far - had… Read more
it for a week and still can’t use it, wasted a few hours trying. I see it has many good reviews but our experience has not been a good one. Now they have called back, we need to take the front off, find a loose wire etc… is brand new, shouldnt be loose. Been a long time trying to get this thing to work, all in all, anything but smooth. I would not recommend.
Hi Rachael, Catherine here from Smarttek Support.… Read more (+1 reply)
PORTABLE GAS HOT WATER SYSTEM - LOVE THE PRODUCT – We could not be happier with our product, we have it in our off-grid cabin where we have guests come and stay. It's the perfect hot shower when you don't have access to power. Very easy to set up. The staff are excellent and help is always there if you are needing help in any way. Would recommend this product.
PORTABLE GAS HOT WATER SYSTEM - LOVE THE PRODUCT – We could not be happier with our product, we have it in our off-grid cabin where we have guests come and stay. It's the perfect hot shower when you don't have access to power. Very easy to set up. The staff are excellent and help is always there if you are needing help in any way. Would recommend this product. Show details
My Smarttek Black not a set and forget system – I purchased the unit on 20.03.21 prior to our yearly Easter camping trip with a large group of friends. I set it up on the first day using the Winter mode with the water set to the start of the first notch off minimum and the gas dial centred on the first notch off minimum. The ambient water temperature at camp ranged from 10-14 degrees depending… Read more
on the time during the day. These settings gave a continuous shower at around 38-40 degrees with a water flow just under 4 l/m.
This was perfect and how I expected the unit to perform. I taped the dials so they couldn't be changed. Unfortunately you can't leave these settings for the next shower as they may or may not work. Often using these settings the unit would run to around 30 degrees, then flame out (not wind effected) and the temperature would drop back to the ambient temp. During the week at camp I spoke to Smarttek support nearly every day trying to find a solution but none was forthcoming. The batteries supplied with the unit were blamed because according to their records my unit must have sat on the Tent World shelf for 6 months before I bought it. I purchased a new set of batteries that gave a reading of 3.23v in standby and 3.07v under load. This wasn't good enough, so the next set of new batteries hit the magically number of 3.1v under load but these made no difference to the performance of the unit.
Last week I made a video of the unit flaming out as described above and sent it to Smarttek. The promised next day return phone call never happened. Having wasted $498 (heater, stand and filter set) on this unit, I decided maybe it could be used for hot water in the camp kitchen. I tested it to see how hot it could get under the full gas setting and was surprised to see it pass the 55 degree max. setting and hit 60 degrees before I switched it off (photo attached). I'm sure this is outside the gas regulations requirements for a hot water service and just shows how irregular the gas solenoid valve and temperature sensing controls are with these units.
Even though the unit was DOA over the counter at Tent World I was denied a refund or replacement and have been left to deal with Smarttek directly.
Hi Boyd, Thanks for your review and feedback. The data… Read more (+1 reply)
Positive reviews
Awesome customer service – Had a few issues with the gas going out....contacted customer support and they could not have been more helpfull. Spent quite a long time fault finding and trying a few different options to get it to run correctly. In the end I returned the item which they paid postage. They tested the unit and couldnt find anything wrong but have replaced mine with a new one anyway. Show details · 1
Good camp hot water service – We recently bought a new Opus camper which came with a Smarttek hot water service. Couldn't get it to work at all. I contacted their support team and spoke with Mitch. What a legend, Mitch stayed on the call with me for 30min while we were troubleshooting the issue. Turned out the flame failure safety device wasn't connected, so the gas was… Read more
cutting out. I connected it and it works perfectly. A little disappointed that there was an issue in the first place, but their support was outstanding, thanks so much Mitch!!
Perfect system for me – Perfect system for me, set up is easy, everything is easy to read and operate. Crazy how I can be anywhere in aus and have hot water! Unbelievable customer service also Show details
Negative reviews
Same Same – Issues from day one. Same as everyone else on here, cuts out when you try to increase water flow. Problem resolved by Mitch and Catherine at Smarttek. Show details
Hi Ray, Thankyou for taking the time to leave a review… Read more (+2 replies)
Find out how Smarttek Black Smart Hot Water System compares to other Gas Continuous Hot Water Systems
Know better, choose better.
Rethink Your Choice – We would like to thank SMARTTEK for authorising Tentworld to issue a full refund on the basis the Smarttek Black Smart Hot Water System failed to operate as advertised. We purchased the Smarttek system and experienced problems similar to the other reviews: heats up, cuts out, and turns off = no hot water. In the two videos we submitted as evidence… Read more
to Smarttek, each revealed a sequence of multiple instances in which the Smarttek hot water system repeatedly reached around 35deg before regressing to cold. Our previous system (not Smarttek) worked perfectly for over 5 years. My technician husband did some analysis on our old system (not Smarttek) and found that if there is a high resistance or an open circuit on the sensor input to the igniter control, then this can create the same symptoms. Despite several conversations with Smarttek customer service, having returned the unit to Smarttek for testing, and the video evidence we provided, Smarttek informed us there was nothing wrong with the unit. The only reason we chose Smarttek was its availability at a local camping shop. In hindsight we would have ordered a different brand online and waited for its delivery. Hope this helps other people make the right choice.
Hi Cate, It was lovely chatting to you on the phone… Read more
Sorely Dissapointed – We have been having the same issues as others. No hot water. Heats up cuts out. turns off. Followed the trouble shoot guide. Took it back to tentworld. I was told that I should call the support number or leave it with them and thats what they will do.. I persevered and it seemd to work properly. So I decided to take it with us on our current June… Read more
July southern trip.. What a mistake!!! NOthing but Heat up and then cuts out. I should have stuck with my three year old ebay model that never failed. I am just dumbfounded. Not happy with tentworld either. All I wanted was a swap out for another. Less than a year old and less than 5000km. (I found a way to make it work. Put the intake hose in a bucket of hot hot water and just turn the shower on.) nearly $400 for a bucket shower... If I get time and reception I will call help line to see if I can return it Postage Collect!
Hi Neil, Thank you for taking the time to leave a… Read more
Recent reviews
Does not do the one job it’s made to do – Purchased this for surprisingly… ‘hot water’. Simple set up, simply did not work. Heated to 30 degrees and cuts off immediately. Reignite gas and same thing. Tried all the recommended fault finding settings. Nothing. Replaced batteries (another poorly designed feature). Now had to schlep it half way across Sydney to be told they’ll have to test… Read more
it/send it back to Smartek before I can be reimbursed/replaced which hi simply do not want. Help centre only operates mon-Fri which is super useless. Would not recommend or buy any other smartek product. Now off to buy a Joolca because I need hot water now not when Smartek can make their decision.
Hi Danielle, Thank you for taking the time to share… Read more (+1 reply)
Smarttek hot water system – What a horrendous experience. As mentioned in previous reviews it is a complex system. We purchased our unit just over a year ago and have had nothing but issues from day one. The day I purchased it I had to ring tech. support because it just wouldn't work, they informed me that the batteries that came with it were probably flat and to go and buy… Read more
some new ones and make sure my gas bottle was full (which it was). So, with the new batteries and a full gas bottle it worked (sort of). Wouldn't maintain temperature and flame kept cutting out. We used it probably another 4 times with the same issues every time. I rang support on two more occasions but just gave up in the end. I went to use it on the weekend, AGAIN with new batteries and a full gas bottle, and got absolutely nothing. So, I bit the bullet and went and bought a different well-known brand hot water system and it worked perfectly, probably should have done that in the first place. As the Smarttek unit is just out of warranty (13 days) it will be going to the tip where it belongs. Absolute piece of garbage. Don't waste your money on them like I did.
Hi Ross, I have taken a look into the details you have… Read more (+2 replies)
Complex device – I tried the device at home and it took some time to get it to work. I watched multiple YouTube videos, asked questions at a Facebook forum, read the manual and had to call customer service twice to finally get it to workI. I had to buy new batteries even though the supplied batteries came fresh out of the pack. Apparently you need a full charge,… Read more
everything less won’t work, which leads to disposing many almost full type D batteries if you don’t have another purpose for them. At the location I connected the device but didn’t get it to work again, the display didn’t lit up even after again replacing batteries. I then realised that overnight my complete gas bottle had emptied through a leak. Apparently you have to test the connection every time with soapy water to prevent this from happening. I never had to do this with any other camping gas device. All and all I find this product very user unfriendly and can’t wait to sell it on to someone else.
Hi Sybillie, Thankyou for leaving a review of your… Read more
Not fit for purpose – As others have said, incredibly difficult, time water and gas consuming to set up- once you’ve completed set up will work for about 2 mins, then you start all over again. I just want to 1-set unit up, 2 have a hot shower, 3 turn off, 4 repeat the next day. Unfortunately with this unit you hardly ever get past step one. I think they are called… Read more
Smart tek because unless your a Mensa certified genius you’ve got more chance of winning the lotto on 4 consecutive weeks than you have of having a hot shower with one of these.
Hi Cramhobart, Hannah here from Smarttek Support.… Read more (+2 replies)
Keeps cutting out. No tech support avail – Cuts out if you ever adjust. I believe the batteries aren't contacting properly which we found when we purchased was the problem. The battery box and set up is a major design flaw. Difficult awkward and holding batteries uphill is rubbish.Camping World said after sales for technical was amazing. Absolute crap. Have never had a call back and you… Read more
never get through. I want to return and under ACL I'm entitled to. More crap asking it be returned for assessment. Wanted Joolca but they had a wait list. Worst decision going with this 2nd option.
Hi Fran, Thankyou for leaving your honest feedback. Our… Read more
Love the new Hot Water Smarttek – Great Product. Loved the upgrade to the Smarttek from our old hot water system. Makes camping more enjoyable and keeps the wife happy with a hot shower. Show details
Nothing beats a hot shower! – Such a great hot water system! Bought this for my partner as an outdoor shower, hasn't missed a beat. 44°c showers every time. Even used it for an outdoor bath! Can't recommend this product & the snap pack enough! Show details
Find out how Smarttek Black Smart Hot Water System compares to other Gas Continuous Hot Water Systems
Know better, choose better.
Perfect for camping – Great unit to have at such a good price, family use it camping in black soil country never misses a beat.. stays consistently hot.. would recommend Show details
Great hot water system & very easy to set up – Love camping but so much better with a hot shower. So easy to use and with our big family we had no problems with everyone having a hot shower. Show details
Absolute waste of money – This is our second unit, the first was returned to Anaconda when it was pulled out of the box damaged. We used it because we had to and had trouble with it but assumed it was the damage to the casing that may have contributed. We have used the replacement a few times and perservered but this last time will be the last. Usually hubby will assist… Read more
with the stupid dial system while I am in the shower and vice versa so we at least get a half decent shower, but this time it was dangerous. We did all the usual adjusting, perseverance, hoping we didn't run out of water before we got clean etc but in the process, the water got to such a high temp in such a short amount of time that I was unable to avoid the scalding hot temp in that tiny little shower tent. I will be calling the Helpline tomorrow but am annoyed that I now need to go out of my way to send this sub-par product back to Smartek, go through the motions and hope I get the hard earned money I paid for it back. I don't post bad reviews but it's time Smartek looked at this product and considered how dangerous this product can be. I won't be using it again, nor recommending it
Hi Nikki, I appreciate you leaving your honest review… Read more
Smarttek black – Loving the convenience and the smile on the wife's face watched all the start up videos made the adjustments and it's running perfectly.Highly recommend getting the travel bag to protect the unit makes the whole package look smart thanks Smarttek " Show details
All the creature comforts – Not having the budget for a big fancy caravan I thought the creature comforts while camping would continue to elude me. I hate going to bed Sandy, gritty, sweaty and just gross so camping was always something I went along with to keep the family happy but never actually enjoyed it. Until we got our Smarttek hot water system. Now I'm loving camping… Read more
and am actually the one suggesting it. And at under $500 it was much better on the budget than a caravan
The smarttek black is awesome! – Brought the smarttek black system 8 months ago, love the on/off feature on the shower rose! Love not having to get out of the show tent to turn off the water, really helps save water on the long camping trips! Show details
The Best Portable Gas Hot Water – The wife and kids love the Smarttek , hot showers now ,where ever we go camping, the perfect temperature every time, lightweight and packs into a very handy carry bag.Highly Recommended. Show details
Great portable hot water system – The smarttek hot water system is fantastic. It is a must when we go camping the whole family love it. Perfect temperature every time and it's easy to use and set up which is great. We also use it for washing our dogs very handy. Have recommended this to friends and family as I'm very happy with my purchase ☺️ Show details
The best thing I have ever bought for camping – We love it, light weight and super reliable we take it to foster camping and when we stay in national parks pumping water from the river means we can have 30 minute showers. Perfect temperature every time, easy to use husband and kids love it. We also use it to wash the dog. She loves her outdoor hot showers. Show details
Smarttek Black Hot Water System – We paid only $419.00 for this fantastic hot water system that we got from Smarttek we wouldn’t survive without it. Thanks Smarttek your brilliant ☺️☺️ Show details
Love our Smarttek System – Love our Smarttek shower it's constantly used when camping. Not only do we use it for showering but also great for quick hot water rather than waiting for the kettle to boil for washing up and washing things down as well. Would recommend this to anyone looking for a Gas Shower etc. " Have never had any issues with it and the water temp and flow is… Read more
always constant. If there is ever a problem you can contact the customer service line and the problem is always sorted out in an instant.
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Hi James, I am sorry to hear that you’ve had such a… Read more