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What To Do If Your Hot Water Heater Stops Working
Many Sydney homes rely on a water heater to maintain hot or warm water for bathing, washing dishes and laundry. You will have a solar hot water system, electric hot water heater or gas hot water heater in your home.
As we approach the colder half of the year, Pav Plumbing sees many hot water systems start to leak, burst or stop work. Suddenly, homes all around Sydney need
emergency water heater repair work. That’s Murphy’s Law, isn’t it?
Nobody wants to run out of lovely warm water in the middle of winter, so we’re here to help with the best
plumbing services in Sydney
and
the right advice you can trust.
In this article, we will:
- Explain what to do if you run out of hot water
- Understand what defines a bona bide hot water emergency
- Why you should seek a professional hot water plumber
We hope this information is useful. If you have any questions about our hot water plumbing service, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Pav Plumbing team.
What to do if hot water heater is not working
If your heating suddenly stops working, you can try a few things before calling a professional plumber. Triaging depends on your hot water system.
If you have an electric hot water heater
Check your power supply to ensure the device is receiving electricity. The circuit breaker or fuse box may have tripped or blown. If so, reset to see if the equipment begins working again.
If you have a gas hot water heater
- If the pilot light is out, simply follow the manufacturer’s instructions and relight. Typically, this requires you to turn the gas control valve to the pilot position, lighting and hold down the reset button until the light catches.
- Check your gas supply is on. If the valve is closed, open it and see if the equipment begins working again.
Any type of hot water heating system
- Check the thermostat settings. Someone may have bumped them, and you might need to re-adjust the temperature.
- Inspect the equipment for leaks of any kind. These could suggest issues with the tank, fittings, or plumbing connections. If you do detect a leak, turn off the water supply and contact us for immediate hot water heating system repair.
- Examine the pressure relief valve to ensure it is not open or leaking. In the case of the former, simply close it. If you detect a leak, you will need to get a replacement part.
- Flush the tank to release any sediment build-up. This is also a good maintenance task to encourage equipment longevity and ongoing efficiency.
Signs you need emergency hot water repair in Sydney
We consider any of the following as signs you need emergency 24/7 plumbing. Please contact our team on 1300 479 100 any time, day or night.
- Your hot water system is leaking or flooding. This situation requires an urgent emergency plumber to prevent further damage.
- You suspect a gas leak. If you can smell or hear a gas leak (or everyone in the home has started to develop an inexplicable headache), you have a plumbing emergency on your hands. This potentially very dangerous situation requires a professional, fully qualified gas plumber. Evacuate the house of all people and animals immediately, opening windows on your way out if you can. Call our emergency plumbers immediately, and we will advise you on the next steps.
- Is no hot water an emergency? We often get asked this question, and the answer is yes. If the loss of hot water compromises your ability to bathe or clean, it is an emergency.
- Pilot light failure is a sign of gas heaters failing. It may constitute an emergency plumbing call-out if you cannot relight the pilot.
Overheating or pressure build-up can also cause equipment malfunction. Extremely hot water or unusual sounds coming from the heater should be taken seriously - call a professional for absolute peace of mind.
Reasons to contact our local hot water plumbers:
Before you undertake hot water heating DIY repairs, think twice. There are compelling reasons to call a hot water system plumber instead.
- Safety - working with hot water plumbing systems can pose several hazards, particularly if the work involves gas lines, electrical components or pressurised water tanks. Gas leaks, electricity shocks, scalding injuries and even explosions are all valid threats. We are fully accredited and know how to work safely in such situations - mitigating risk to humans and property is our priority.
- Liability & insurance - DIY work risks causing property damage, personal injury and code violations, all of which you may be liable for and required to cover costs (or deal with the consequences). Hot water emergency jobs are risky work - don’t make them any riskier.
- Building code compliance often extends to hot water heater plumbing work. We are familiar with Sydney Building Codes, and our work is 100% compliant and guaranteed. If we do the job, it will meet inspection requirements, and you won’t have to worry about fines or invalidated warranties.
- Emergency hot water repairs are complex. Equipment involves many different components and systems, all of which we are trained to diagnose and repair. Attempting a DIY without the necessary knowledge can lead to bigger, far worse plumbing problems.
- Warranty - Many hot water units come with warranties that are voided if installation or servicing is not carried out by a professional.
- Efficiency - we have the right tools, equipment and know-how for the job. This means our hot water plumbers get the job done well the first time around. This minimises the chance of emergency hot water repair work and ensures the equipment works optimally.
Let us handle your hot water emergency
You may be able to fix minor hot water heating plumbing problems. However, in most cases, this home maintenance job is best left to the professionals. We take care of all types of emergency hot water repairs in Sydney, so rely on our team for the best results.
