Hot Water Electrician Adelaide
- 2024 Emerging Business of the Year (MEA SA)
- 13+ years in the trade
- 24/7 electrician
- Licensed & insured · PGE 229 469
When an electric hot water system stops heating, the cause is often electrical: a tripped circuit, a failed heating element, a faulty thermostat or a problem with the off-peak supply. A licensed electrician can isolate the system, test each part and fix the electrical fault. If the tank, valves or pipes are the problem, that is a plumber's job and we will tell you so.
Signs the problem is electrical
An electric storage hot water system is a tank with one or more heating elements inside, a thermostat that switches them on and off, and a cable from your switchboard. When one of those parts fails, the water slowly goes cold. These signs point to the electrical side:
- The water is cold or only lukewarm, and nothing is leaking.
- The hot water switch or breaker at the switchboard has tripped, or trips again after you reset it.
- A safety switch trips when the hot water comes on, often late at night on an off-peak circuit.
- The water is far hotter than usual, which can mean a thermostat has stuck on.
- You smell burning near the heater, or see scorch marks on its cover.
For a step-by-step look at what you can safely check yourself, read our guide no hot water: when it's an electrical problem.
Elements and thermostats
The element is the part that actually heats the water. Over time minerals in the water build up on it and it can burn out, or its insulation can break down and leak current to earth. A leaking element is a common reason a safety switch trips when the hot water switches on.
The thermostat reads the water temperature and turns the element on and off. Most also have an over-temperature cut-out that stops the heater if the water gets too hot. If the cut-out has operated there is usually a reason, so it should be tested, not just reset. These parts sit behind a cover with mains power inside. Please do not open it yourself.
Off-peak circuits and timers
Many Adelaide homes run electric hot water on its own off-peak or controlled-load circuit. That circuit only gets power during set hours, often overnight, and the switching is done at the meter or by a timer, not by the heater itself. It is why a tank can run cold late in the day after a lot of showers and recover overnight.
- If the tank never heats at all, the circuit may not be getting power at its usual time.
- If it runs out sooner than it used to, an element or thermostat may be weak, or the timer may be set wrongly.
- If the hot water circuit is labelled poorly at the switchboard, we can label it so you can find it next time.
Your off-peak hours and tariff are set by your energy retailer and the network, so we can check the wiring and any timer on the circuit, but questions about the tariff itself go to your retailer.
What we do on the day
- Check the switchboard: the hot water breaker, any safety switch on the circuit, and any timer or contactor.
- Isolate the circuit and confirm it is dead before we open the heater's cover.
- Test the cable from the board to the heater.
- Test the element and the thermostat, including the over-temperature cut-out.
- Explain what failed and what fixing it involves, in plain language.
- Repair or replace the faulty electrical part, test it, and restore power.
If the tests show the electrical side is fine, we will say so straight away, so you are not paying an electrician for a plumbing problem. If a tripping hot water circuit turns out to be part of a wider issue, our electrical fault finding service covers tracing it through the rest of the house.
The plumbing side: when you need a plumber
We are electricians, not plumbers. We work on the power supply, the wiring, the element and the thermostat. The tank, the valves, the pipes and any gas connection belong to a licensed plumber or gasfitter. Call a plumber if:
- Water is leaking from the tank, the pipes or the relief valve.
- The tank is rusted through or the whole unit needs replacing.
- The system bangs, knocks or the water comes out dirty.
- You have a gas hot water system and the problem is the gas side.
When a new unit is going in, the plumber fits it and an electrician connects the power. We are happy to do that electrical connection, and to check the circuit and switchboard can take it.
Staying safe until we arrive
- If the hot water breaker trips again after one reset, leave it off. Resetting it over and over can make a fault worse.
- If water is leaking onto electrical parts, switch the hot water circuit off at the switchboard if it is safe to reach, and keep away from the heater.
- If you smell burning or see smoke, switch off at the main switch if you safely can, leave the house and call 000.
A cold shower is a nuisance rather than an emergency, but water and electricity together is different. For help deciding, read what counts as an electrical emergency, or see our emergency electrician service.
When to call us
Call Hoile Electrical on 0482 099 388 if your electric hot water has stopped heating, the hot water circuit keeps tripping, or a safety switch drops out when the heater comes on. We take calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All our work is done under SA electrical licence PGE 229 469 and comes with our workmanship guarantee.
If the tripping points to an old switchboard with no room for proper protection, our switchboard upgrades and safety switch installation pages explain the options.
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Common questions
Do I call an electrician or a plumber for no hot water?
For an electric system with no leak, start with an electrician: the circuit, element or thermostat is the usual cause. For leaks, valves, a rusted tank or a gas system, call a plumber.
Why does my hot water trip the safety switch?
A common cause is a heating element whose insulation has broken down and is leaking current to earth. Damaged wiring or water inside the heater's cover can do it too. Leave the switch off and have it tested.
Can I reset the thermostat on my hot water system myself?
No. The thermostat and its cut-out sit behind a cover with mains power inside. If the cut-out has operated there is usually a fault that needs testing.
Do you replace whole hot water units?
No. Replacing the unit is a plumber's job. We do the electrical side, including connecting the power to a new unit and checking the circuit.
Why does my hot water run out in the afternoon?
On an off-peak circuit the tank usually heats overnight, so heavy use during the day can empty it. If it runs out much sooner than it used to, an element, thermostat or timer may be at fault.
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