An electric storage hot water system that's gone cold is usually missing power, waiting for its off-peak heating period, or has a failed element or thermostat. A few safe checks often narrow it down.
If the switchboard looks fine and the water stays cold, ring 0421 772 661 and we'll test the supply and the heating parts.
If water is leaking around the tank, pooling near the electrical cover or the switchboard, turn off the hot water circuit at the switchboard if you can do so without standing in water, and keep away. Don't touch the unit while it's wet. Call 000 if anyone has had a shock.
Never remove the covers on the side of the tank. Behind them are mains-voltage terminals as well as the element and thermostat. Also be careful with the water itself: a system that has just reheated can deliver water hot enough to scald.
These checks are for electric storage tanks. If yours is gas, the burner and gas side are a licensed gasfitter's job.
At the switchboard, look for a breaker labelled hot water, HWS or off-peak. If it's off or tripped, reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off.
If a safety switch has tripped and won't stay on, see our guide on a safety switch that won't reset before trying again.
Many electric tanks heat only during off-peak hours on a controlled load. After heavy use the tank can run out and only recover in the next heating period.
A new meter can change when the controlled load switches on. If the cold showers began after a meter swap, mention that to your retailer and to us.
Some tanks have an isolating switch on the wall nearby. Make sure it's on, without opening it.
No supply to the tank. A tripped breaker, a switched-off isolator or a controlled load that isn't switching on all leave the element without power. The tank itself may be perfectly fine. Supply issues at the switchboard are ours to fix; a problem with how the controlled load is being switched by the meter is raised with your electricity retailer.
A failed element. The element is the part that heats the water. When its insulation breaks down it often leaks current to earth, which trips the safety switch. A hot water circuit that trips the safety switch every time it comes on is a classic sign.
A failed thermostat or tripped over-temperature cut-out. The thermostat switches the element on and off. Most tanks also have a safety cut-out that shuts off heating if the water gets too hot. A cut-out that has tripped needs the reason found, not just a reset, because it tripped for a reason.
The tank has reached the end of its life. If there's rust, a leak from the tank body or the system is old and has had repeated faults, replacement is usually more sensible than repair. That involves a plumber for the water side and an electrician for the connection.
Call us if the hot water circuit or safety switch keeps tripping, if the supply is on but the water stays cold through a full heating period, or if there's any sign of water near the electrical connections. We test the circuit, the element and the thermostat, and tell you plainly whether it's a repair, a supply issue for your retailer, or time for a new system.
If you're replacing an old tank, it's worth reading about heat pump hot water and its electrical needs. Our hot water electrical work page covers how we wire and connect new systems.
If your tank heats only on an off-peak controlled load, heavy use during the day can empty it and it won't fully recover until the next heating period. That's normal operation rather than a fault.
That often points to an element whose insulation has broken down and is leaking current. Leave the circuit off and have it tested.
No. It's behind a cover with live terminals. If the over-temperature cut-out has tripped, an electrician should find out why.
Electrical faults, such as the supply, element and thermostat, are electrician work. Leaks, valves and replacing the tank need a plumber. Often both are involved in a replacement.
It can change when the controlled load switches on. If the problem started after a meter change, contact your retailer and we can confirm the circuit itself is working.
NSW Electrical Contractor Licence 332956C · Fully insured · Since 2016 · Based in Hurlstone Park
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