- Same-day repairs where possible across most Melbourne suburbs
- Charged by the job, not the hour, approved by you first
Call 1800 571 216: 24/7 · Book online
300+ five-star reviews · VBA accredited · Price approved before work starts
Why call OnCall when the hot water stops
- 24 hours, 7 days, including weekends and public holidays
- 15+ years of Melbourne emergency plumbing
- 300+ five-star reviews on Google
- VBA accredited, licensed and insured plumbers
- Diagnosis first: we don't push a new system when a part will do
- Police checked and first aid verified
First, make it safe
Check these before you try anything else.
- Is the unit leaking? If there's water around the base, switch off the power to the unit at the switchboard, or turn off the gas at the unit. Don't reset anything. Read our leaking hot water system page.
- Can you smell gas? Isolate the gas at the meter, keep flames and switches away, and call us straight away.
- Is water pouring out? Turn off the water at the meter or the cold valve on the unit.
If none of those apply, the quick checks below are safe to try.
What to check when you have no hot water
These take five minutes and sometimes save a callout.
- Electric storage: look at the switchboard. If the hot water circuit has tripped, switch it back on once. If it trips again, leave it off and call us, that points to a failed element or wiring fault.
- Off-peak electric: many electric units only heat overnight on an off-peak tariff. If a full house has used the tank, it may simply be empty until tonight.
- Gas storage: check the pilot window. If the pilot is out, relight it by following the instructions on the unit. If it won't stay lit, stop there.
- Continuous flow: look for an error code on the unit or controller and write it down. Check the gas is on at other appliances.
- Solar or heat pump: check the booster or unit switch is on, and whether the weather has been cold and overcast.
Still nothing? Call 1800 571 216 and tell us what you found. It helps your plumber get started.
What our customers say
"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
A Google review of OnCall's plumbing service.
Call 1800 571 216: 24/7 · 300+ five-star reviews
Hot water not working? The usual causes
When we're called out for hot water that's stopped working, it's most often one of these:
- Failed heating element or thermostat on an electric storage unit
- Thermocouple, pilot or ignition fault on a gas storage unit
- Error code or ignition failure on a continuous flow unit
- Gas supply or gas control valve problem
- Booster, pump or controller fault on a solar system
- Fan or compressor fault on a heat pump
- A tank that's failed internally, sometimes showing as rusty water or a leak
Most of these are repairable. A tank that's split or corroded through usually isn't.
Hot water not hot enough or lukewarm
Lukewarm hot water is its own puzzle. The usual suspects:
- A worn tempering valve mixing in too much cold. See tempering valve replacement.
- A failing thermostat or element that heats only part of the tank
- Sediment build-up in the base of a storage tank, taking up space and slowing heating
- A tank too small for how many people now live in the house
- Low gas pressure or a partly blocked burner on gas units
- Flow too low on a continuous flow unit for it to fire properly
If the water is slow to heat and your energy bill is creeping up, the system may be working much harder than it should.
Low hot water pressure
If the hot tap is weak but the cold is fine, the issue sits on the hot side. Common causes are a partly closed valve on the unit, a sticking tempering valve, a faulty pressure limiting valve, or sediment and scale restricting flow in older pipework. In Melbourne's older homes, ageing galvanised pipes can also narrow over time.
If both hot and cold are weak, it's more likely a mains pressure or supply issue. We'll check and tell you which it is.
How we find the fault: assess, explain, approve, fix
Assess. We test the system properly, power or gas supply, controls, element or burner, valves and the tank itself.
Explain. You hear what's failed and why, plus whether repair or replacement makes more sense for a system of that age.
Approve. One price for the job. Nothing starts without your say-so.
Fix. We repair it, then test every hot tap and the safety valves before we leave.
If the system is past saving, we'll show you why and talk you through replacement options. Read our repair or replace guide if you're weighing it up.
No hot water plumber Melbourne households and businesses trust
We help homeowners, tenants via their landlord or property manager, strata buildings and hospitality venues. For rentals, a failed hot water service is treated as an urgent repair in Victoria, see rental property hot water.
Pricing
We charge by the job, not by the hour. A tripped element and a failed tank are very different jobs, so we assess on site and give you a clear price before work starts. More detail on hot water repair cost.
How it works
- Call or book online. Tell us the system type, your suburb, and what you've already checked.
- Advice and dispatch. We'll tell you if anything needs switching off and send a plumber with ETA updates.
- Diagnosis and price. Your plumber explains the fault and gives you a clear price.
- You approve, we fix. Then we test the system and clean up.
No hot water FAQs
Why have I suddenly got no hot water?
The most common causes are a failed element or thermostat on electric units, a pilot or thermocouple fault on gas units, and an error code on continuous flow units. A tripped circuit or empty off-peak tank can also be the reason.
Is it safe to reset my hot water system?
Only if it isn't leaking and you can't smell gas. Reset a tripped circuit once; if it trips again, leave it off and call a plumber.
My pilot light keeps going out. What does that mean?
Usually a faulty thermocouple, a dirty pilot or a gas control problem. It needs a licensed plumber to check it.
Why does my hot water run out so quickly?
Often a failing element, a thermostat fault, sediment in the tank, or a system too small for your household. We can tell you which.
Can you fix no hot water the same day?
Often, yes. We aim for same-day repairs where possible across most Melbourne suburbs. If a part needs ordering, we'll give you the timeframe.
Do I need a new hot water system?
Not necessarily. We diagnose first and only recommend replacement when repair isn't practical or cost-effective, or the tank is leaking.
My continuous flow unit is showing an error code. What now?
Write the code down and call us. It helps your plumber narrow down the fault before arriving.
Still no hot water? Let's find out why.
A licensed OnCall plumber can diagnose it, price it and fix it once you say yes.
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.