No Hot Water? Here’s What You Need to Know

If you’ve suddenly got no hot water, it can be disruptive and frustrating. The good news is that the problem is often easy to diagnose and, in most cases, just as straightforward to fix. Whether your home uses an electric cylinder, a gas system or a continuous flow heater, this page will help you understand what might be going wrong and what you can do about it.

Why Your Hot Water Cylinder or Heater Might Not Be Working:

Hot water systems usually fail because of a few common issues, which vary depending on the type of system you have. Electric systems tend to have internal faults with power or components, while gas and continuous flow systems introduce other factors like gas supply and digital control boards.

Electric Hot Water System Faults

Electric hot water cylinders are reliable but not immune to failure. When they stop working, it’s usually a result of something simple like a power trip or a faulty part. If your water isn’t heating at all, or only cold water is coming through, it’s worth checking a few key areas.

• The circuit breaker may have tripped at the switchboard and needs resetting
• The heating element could be blown or no longer heating, even though power is reaching it
• The thermostat might not be telling the element when to heat the water
• The tempering valve may be stuck or faulty, allowing only cold water through
  

What Can Solve These Electric Faults:

Start by checking your switchboard and resetting any tripped breakers. If that doesn’t work, you may need a qualified technician to inspect and replace the element or thermostat. Tempering valve issues often require a licensed plumber, especially if it’s not delivering a consistent temperature.

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Gas Hot Water Cylinder Issues

Gas cylinders are efficient and effective but rely on a few more moving parts. If there’s no hot water coming through, it may be due to a supply issue or a safety mechanism shutting down the system.

• Your LPG gas bottle could be empty and needs replacing
• If you’re on natural gas, there might be a supply fault or meter issue
• The pilot light may have gone out and needs to be safely relit
• The gas shut-off valve may have triggered due to a drop in pressure or a fault
• A general fault inside the cylinder could be preventing it from operating normally
  

How to Get a Gas System Working Again

Check your LPG tank and replace it if needed, or contact your gas supplier to see if there are outages. If your pilot light is out, follow the instructions on your system to relight it, or call us if you’re unsure. For gas safety valve issues or internal faults, it’s safest to call a technician to diagnose and repair the problem.

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Continuous Flow or Califont System Issues

Continuous flow water heaters, or califonts, heat water on demand. When they stop working, the cause is often electrical or related to water or gas flow. These systems are a little more complex but still follow a few common fault patterns.

• Power to the unit may have been lost due to a switchboard trip or outage
• Filters on the water or gas lines may be blocked and reducing flow
• The digital control board inside the unit may be faulty and need repair
  

Steps to Fix Continuous Flow Problems

First, check your switchboard and reset the system if needed. If there’s no response, you may need to clean the filters or book a service. A faulty control board typically requires professional attention, as it involves dealing with internal electronics and safety components.

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What You Can Check at Home Before Calling

There are a few simple checks you can do yourself before calling a plumber. These quick steps can help you rule out obvious faults and, in some cases, get your hot water going again straight away. Even if they don’t fix the issue, they can speed up the process when you speak with our team.

• Check your switchboard for any tripped breakers and reset if needed
• Make sure your gas bottle isn’t empty or that your gas supply is active
• If you have a pilot light, check whether it’s gone out and needs relighting
• Power cycle your continuous flow unit and look for error codes or flashing lights
  

How These Checks Help

These checks help rule out minor issues and often save time and money. Resetting a breaker or replacing a gas bottle can solve the problem on the spot. If you’ve done these and still have no hot water, it gives our team a head start when diagnosing what’s wrong.

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When to Call Cylinder Direct

If none of the above steps get your hot water working again, give us a call or submit an enquiry. You’ll speak directly with someone from our team who knows these systems inside and out. We’ll walk you through a few questions and can often work out what’s going wrong over the phone.

• We’ll provide a likely diagnosis and let you know what it could cost to fix
• If needed, we’ll send one of our own licensed technicians
• We don’t use subcontractors, so you’ll deal directly with our team from start to finish
  

Why It’s Worth Getting an Expert In

Some problems are straightforward to fix once the cause is known, but many issues involve pressurised systems, gas safety, or electrical components. Our technicians are fully qualified to handle these safely and get your system back up and running without delay.

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Hot Water Repairs in Auckland, Hamilton and Waikato

We provide quick and reliable repairs across Auckland, Hamilton and the Waikato region. Whether your system needs a small repair or full replacement, we’ll get it sorted with minimal hassle.

• Fast callouts for homes with no hot water
• Experienced, local technicians who work efficiently
• Clear communication and honest pricing every step of the way
  

What to Expect From Our Service

We aim to get most repairs completed on the first visit. Our vans are stocked with common parts, and our team is trained to work efficiently while keeping you informed at every step. We won’t upsell you something you don’t need.