- 300+ five-star reviews · VBA accredited plumbers
- Charged by the job, not by the hour, you approve the price before any work starts
Call 1800 571 216: 24/7 · Book online
Licensed and insured · Police checked and first aid verified · Australian owned and operated
Why Melbourne calls OnCall for electric hot water
- 24 hours, 7 days: including weekends and public holidays
- More than 15 years of emergency plumbing across Melbourne
- 300+ five-star reviews on Google
- VBA accredited, licensed and insured plumbers
- Job-based pricing: one price for the job, approved by you first
- Police checked and first aid verified plumbers in your home
What customers say about OnCall
"He turned up on time, went above and beyond, showed and explained everything and got the job done … he left the job site spotless."
Nancy Tayba, Google review
Quick checks before you call
A few minutes at the switchboard can tell you a lot.
- Is the hot water circuit on? Look for a switch or breaker labelled "HWS" or "hot water". If it's off, it may have been switched off by mistake.
- Has the safety switch tripped? If it trips again as soon as you reset it, or as soon as the unit starts heating, leave it off and call. Don't keep resetting it.
- Is it off-peak? Off-peak systems heat mostly overnight. Running out late in the day can mean the tank's too small for the household, not that it's broken.
- Is it leaking? If water is coming from the unit, switch off the power to it, turn off the water at the meter or the unit's cold water valve, and keep the area clear.
Still no hot water? Call 1800 571 216 and we'll take it from there.
Hot water element replacement
The element is the heating rod inside the tank. When it fails, you'll usually notice one of these:
- no hot water at all, even though the power's on
- water that's only lukewarm, or runs out much faster than it used to
- the safety switch tripping when the unit tries to heat
Elements fail from age, hard water scale building up on them, or water getting into the terminal area. Your plumber tests the element, confirms it's the cause, and replaces it with one that suits your unit. If the tank is sound, an element is usually a sensible repair.
Hot water thermostat replacement
The thermostat switches the element on and off to hold your water at temperature. Most also have an over-temperature cut-out that shuts the unit down if things get too hot.
A failing thermostat can show up as water that's scalding one day and lukewarm the next, water that never gets properly hot, or a unit that's tripped its cut-out and stopped heating. We test it, find out why it's failed, and replace it. If the water's too hot at the tap but the tank's fine, the problem may be your tempering valve instead.
Electric hot water tripping the power
A hot water unit that trips the safety switch is usually telling you there's a fault to earth somewhere. The common culprits:
- a failed element that's leaking current into the water
- moisture in the terminal area, often from a small leak above it
- a damaged thermostat or wiring on the unit
Switch the hot water circuit off and leave it off until it's checked. We'll find the fault on the unit and fix it. If the problem turns out to be in your home's wiring or switchboard rather than the hot water unit, we'll tell you plainly and recommend a licensed electrician.
Off-peak hot water not working
Off-peak systems run on a separate circuit that's switched on at set times, usually overnight. That means two possible sources of trouble: the hot water unit, or the supply to it.
If the element, thermostat or tank is at fault, we'll repair it. If the unit tests fine but isn't getting power at the right times, the issue may be the off-peak meter, timer or circuit. That's electrical work, and we'll tell you so you can contact an electrician or your energy retailer. Running out before the evening? It may simply be a tank that's too small, which we can talk through with you.
Call 1800 571 216: 24/7 · 300+ five-star reviews · Price approved before work starts
How we fix electric hot water: assess, explain, approve, fix
Assess. Your plumber tests the element and thermostat, checks the sacrificial anode, the valves and the tank, and finds the actual fault.
Explain. You'll hear what's failed and why, scale, age, a leak, and whether it's likely to come back.
Approve. You get one clear price for the job and your options. Nothing happens until you say yes.
Fix. We repair the fault, then test the hot taps, temperature and safety valves before we leave.
Other electric hot water system repairs
- Dripping or faulty relief valves
- Sacrificial anode replacement to slow tank corrosion
- Leaks from fittings and valves
- Rumbling or popping noises from scale build-up
- Rusty or discoloured hot water
When it's time to replace
If the tank itself is leaking, it's rusting through, or the system is past 10–15 years with parts failing one after another, a new unit is usually better value than another repair. We'll show you why and let you decide. See hot water system replacement for what's involved.
Pricing: what to expect
We charge by the job, not by the hour. Your plumber diagnoses the unit on site and gives you a clear price before starting.
What moves the price:
- which part has failed, and whether it's in stock
- the size, brand and age of the unit
- access, apartment cupboards and tight laundries take more work
- whether other parts, such as the anode or valves, are also due
No work starts without your approval. See hot water repair cost for more.
How it works
- Call or book online. Ring 1800 571 216 at any hour, or book online. Tell us your suburb, and whether the unit is leaking or tripping power.
- Advice and a plumber on the way. We'll tell you what to switch off and send ETA updates.
- On-site diagnosis. Your plumber tests the unit and gives you your options and a clear price.
- You approve, we fix. Once you say yes, we replace the failed part and check the unit heats properly.
- Know what's next. If you need an electrician for something outside the unit, we'll tell you.
Electric hot water questions
Why has my electric hot water stopped working?
The most common causes are a failed element, a faulty thermostat, a tripped over-temperature cut-out, or the hot water circuit being off at the switchboard.
Why does my hot water keep tripping the safety switch?
Usually a failed element or moisture in the terminal area. Leave the circuit off and call, because repeated resetting won't fix it.
Can you replace a hot water element?
Yes. We test the element, confirm it's the fault, and replace it if the tank is in good condition.
My water is too hot. Is it the thermostat?
It can be. It can also be a worn tempering valve. We'll test both and tell you which.
Why do I run out of hot water on off-peak?
Off-peak systems heat mostly overnight, so the tank may simply be too small for your household. It can also be an element or thermostat fault, or the off-peak supply.
Do you do electrical work?
We repair the hot water unit. If the fault is in your home's wiring, switchboard or off-peak supply, we'll tell you and recommend a licensed electrician.
Can you fix it today?
Often, yes. We try to fit in same-day repairs across most Melbourne suburbs. Our plumbers arrive equipped for most jobs, and if a part needs ordering, we'll tell you how long it will take.
Electric hot water gone cold? Let's get it heating again.
A licensed OnCall plumber can test it, price it, and, once you say yes, fix it.
Call 1800 571 216: 24/7 · Book online
300+ five-star reviews · VBA accredited · Price approved before work starts
What happens next: we'll confirm your details, give you pre-arrival advice if you need it, and send a plumber. You'll get ETA updates on the way.