Checks you can make
At the switchboard, the hot water circuit is often labelled HWS, hot water or off peak. If its circuit breaker, or the safety switch covering it, has tripped, reset it once. If it trips again straight away, leave it off. Energy Safe Victoria advises calling a licensed electrician when a safety switch won't reset.
Near the tank there is usually an isolating switch. Make sure it's on, but don't open it or the tank's covers. If the tank is on an off-peak circuit, it only heats when the network or a timer switches it on. A power cut, a meter replacement or a tariff change can upset that, so you may need your retailer to confirm the off-peak times. Some boards also have a boost switch for daytime heating.
Signs of a failed element or thermostat
A completely cold tank with power at the switchboard often has a failed element or thermostat. A failing element commonly trips the safety switch as it heats. A thermostat stuck on does the opposite, overheating the water so the relief valve releases a lot of hot water. Both are tested and replaced from the electrical side, and on a younger tank with no leaks they're often worth replacing.
When the tank itself is finished
Water pooling under the tank, rust streaks or a leak from the body of the tank mean it can't be repaired. A licensed plumber handles the water connections for a replacement, and our team disconnects and reconnects the electrical side. Every electrical job comes with a Certificate of Electrical Safety.
If the tank has failed and you need hot water back quickly, a like-for-like tank is often the sensible call. If it's ageing but still working, that's the time to look at a heat pump.
What you can safely do now
- Check the switchboard for a tripped hot water circuit breaker or safety switch, and reset it once.
- Make sure the isolating switch near the tank is on, without opening it.
- After a power cut or meter change, ask your retailer to confirm your off-peak times.
- If water is leaking near the electrics, switch the hot water circuit off at the switchboard if it's safe to reach.
- Turn off the water to a leaking tank if the valve is easy to reach.
Services that can help
Read more in our guides
Related questions
- Why does my hot water run out faster than it used to?Usually something has changed in the tank or in how it's heated.
- What is the off-peak or timer switch on my switchboard?It controls an off-peak circuit, usually for electric storage hot water and sometimes for slab heating or a pool pump.
- Is it normal for my hot water system to drip from the valve?A little water from the relief valve drain while the tank is heating is normal, because water expands as it heats and the valve lets the extra out.
- Why does my hot water smell like rotten eggs?A rotten egg smell that comes only from the hot tap usually starts inside the storage tank.
Sources for this answer
2 sources, with the date each was checked
- 1.Energy Safe Victoria: Locate your electricity box outside your home and check whether the safety switch has tripped. If it has tripped, reset the switch. If the switch won’t reset, call a licensed electrician. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 2.Energy Safe Victoria: Whenever a licensed electrician completes any electrical installation work, they must provide a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES). Accessed 30 September 2026.
General information for homes in Victoria. Every installation is different, so treat this as a starting point. Where this answer refers to Victorian safety or rental rules, the sources above have the current requirements.