No hot water? Call Mott Plumbing now on 8462 9844 for 24/7 emergency hot water repairs and replacements across Adelaide.
A leaking hot water system or hot water service isn’t something to ignore. You might only realise there’s something wrong when there’s not enough hot water or, even worse, no hot water. You should take action as soon as you realise your hot water system is leaking – because a small problem could quickly turn into a much bigger one!
A leak could be a sign that your hot water service is corroding and it will only get worse over time. The hard water quality in Adelaide often leads to cylinder corrosion and while many hot water services last well beyond their warranty of five to seven years, the average lifespan is only around 10 or 12 years.
To check the age of your hot water system, look for a manufacturer’s badge plate on the unit and note the manufacturing date on it (it may have a plastic cover over it).
Read on to find out what steps you should take when your hot water system has a leak.
Step one: identify the leak
Before you phone an Adelaide plumber, the first thing you should do is check where the leak is coming from. Is it at the top or bottom of your hot water cylinder? Or is it leaking from the pressure relief (PRV) or pressure/temperature relief valve (PTRV)?
If it’s the PRV or PTRV, things might not be so serious. It’s normal for these valves to leak a little water occasionally, but not all the time.
Locate the valve on the side of the tank near the top or bottom, then lift the silver lever three or four times to open, close and clear any blockages. If the water flow stops, your problem is solved. If it keeps running, you probably need a replacement valve. This is a relatively inexpensive repair that will prolong the life of your entire system and stop water wastage so it’s well worth doing.
If the leak is coming from the top or bottom of your electric or solar hot water system, you need to turn off the electricity to it at your power board. This is an important step because direct connection of electricity and water is potentially very dangerous.
The system should have its own fuse or circuit breaker, so you’ll still be able to run other appliances and lights. You also don’t want to run the heating element when the tank is almost empty. If you’re having problems with your gas hot water system, you’ll need to turn off the gas. Look for another pipe (gas) running into the system and turn it off at that tap or lever valve. You’ll also need to isolate the water supply to the heater as described above.
Our fully qualified plumbers and gasfitters can handle any repairs or install a new hot water system so you have access to reliable hot water.
Step two: turn off the water
Next you need to turn off the water on the inlet pipe to the heater. This applies to electric, solar and gas hot water services.
Look for a small black tap or lever valve on a pipe leading into the bottom of the unit. Turn this off fully. If you can’t find the inlet tap, or it has seized up, turn off the water at the mains water meter. But before you do, it’s a good idea to fill the kettle or a jug with water for drinking and have a couple of buckets of water handy so you can flush the toilet.
Once you’ve turned off your hot water, the best option might be to call an expert. Call our team on 8462 9844 or keep reading for more information!
Step three: weigh up your options
Now you have a hot water system that is either broken or turned off, and you need to know what the next step is. Some people try and DIY their hot water system issues, and sometimes it works for them. However, in most cases a faulty hot water system is part of a bigger problem, and quick fixes are like applying a band-aid. Eventually, your quick fix will come undone and you’ll have a worse situation on your hands than what you started with.
We recommend homeowners avoid working on their own hot water system, and it’s best to act fast; a hot water leak can get much worse in just 24 hours if you leave it. Which brings us to our final step…
Step four: call Mott Plumbing, Adelaide’s experts in hot water systems
Once you’ve shut down your hot water system, it’s time to give us a call or fill in the form below. Either way, we’ll have a plumber from our team out to fix your hot water system, fast.
Our team of licensed, fully qualified plumbers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays.
In a hot water emergency, one of our expert plumbers can be at your property within two hours of your phone call. If it’s not an emergency, we still guarantee same day service so you can have hot water when you really need it.
Our team are experts in repairing, replacing and installing all types of hot water systems, including:
- Electric hot water systems
- Gas hot water systems
- Solar hot water systems
- Heat pumps
- Boosted solar hot water systems
We’ll investigate the water heater problem and advise you on the best solution. We can repair any hot water system – no matter the make or model – or we can supply and install a replacement. We’ll also take the old unit away, so you don’t have to worry about disposing of it safely. We make everything as easy, convenient and efficient as possible for you.
When we advise replacing your faulty hot water system, we recommend only the most reputable hot water system suppliers so you can reliably trust your hot water supply for many years to come.
Request a free, no-obligation quote for 24/7 hot water system repairs, replacements and installations across Adelaide
Fill out this form to give us more information about your hot water system and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. If you require immediate assistance, please call our 24/7 emergency line on 8462 9844.
