We installed a prodigy 3 from Bunnings in 2010 after old unit broke down on the weekend. We are a four person family but can have up to 7 with relatives staying. We always had good, strong hot water even though certain family members have very long showers!

Standard maintenance items are thermal relief valves and anodes every 5 years.

The gas regulator failed a couple of years ago which meant pilot kept going out and this was about $150 I think from one of the plumbing shops.

Ours was within a few weeks of the 7 year tank warranty when...Read more

Same complaint as everyone else. Pilot light won't stay on.
In December 2014, Dux fitted a shield to protect it from rain. This made it slightly better -- pilot light only went out in heavy rain. Where I live, it rains a lot. Dux told me they would charge me for call out under guarantee if I complained about the pilot light again.
It got worse. In the last 6 months it's gone from monthly to daily. In the last 7 days, I have spent hours on the phone and paid out $400. New controller -- made no difference. New regulator -- made no difference. ...Read more

Dangerous unit. Out of warranty (2 years old). Pilot continually went out, and when we managed to get it to stay alight, flames randomly shooting up through front of unit damaging internal components. My local licenced plumber took a look noting when lit, gas was escaping inside the unit causing mini "thumps" as escaped gas was igniting internally. Claimed he'd never seen anything like it in his 20 years of plumbing and called Dux to ask if the unit was possibly subject to a recall. Dux advised no, but sent out their contractor to repair it at ...Read more

I've experienced the exact same problem described with the pilot light failing to stay ignited in a 6 year old 170L Dux Prodigy 3 but have found a very simple and free solution!

The background is similar, I turned the gas off to replace the sacrificial anode but then found I couldn't get the pilot light to stay on. I had tried to change the anode the day before (but didn't have the right sized socket) and had switched off the gas but was able to turn it back on without issue. I then realised the difference between the two times was that when...Read more

We noticed the hot water in our Protégé 3 model wasn't lasting as long as it was previously without any difference in usage. Luke warm showers at best. We checked it and there was no obvious problems. ie: pilot on, temp set to maximum. The system was manufactured in 2013 so not even 2 years old and that's when I found out the warranty is only for 12 months and only covers the parts and the workmanship. The warranty is worth nothing as far as I'm concerned. It's a piece of junk if it only lasts 2 years. Most people expect their hot water system ...Read more

I bought a factory refurbished Dux Prodigy 3, LPG gas, 10Kw output, hot water heater from an online auction site in July 2009 for $125.00.
Obviously LP gas was going to be considerably more expensive to run than natural gas but, as there is no reticulated gas supply in our area we had no option. Having said that, we don't find the running cost to be outrageous! It uses an 8.5 Kg barbecue cylinder every 18-19 days which @ $22.00 per refill equates to a running cost of about $1.20 per day. Although this water heater only supplies a bathroom and...Read more

My Prodigy 3 is 6.5 years old. First time its control unit broke several days after warranty expiration. It did not keep the pilot light on. In 5.5 years after its replacement the same has happened again. It seems that it is due to the same crappy unit. I could imagine that Dux who is aware of this problem would invest some resources in developing a new reliable unit but after searching in the Internet has come to the conclusion that my idea is wrong.

Besides the failed control unit my system has two more problems. It almost continuously em...Read more

Have had the Dux Prodigy three 135s for 19 months and the pilot light went out and would not remain lit . Called out plumber of 16 years and he tested everything including thermocouple and found that it was the Gas valve (SIT Valve) this was not remaining magnetized inside to retain the gas flow. of course this is no longer under warranty and a Dux plumber wanted $250 just to come out and then $50 for the first 15 minutes and then the part is about $350 dollars!!!!! how can a part like this go after only 19 months. i am extremely disappointed w...Read more