Hot Water System Not Working in Melbourne? Here’s What to Do First

Waking up to cold water in Melbourne in July is not a minor inconvenience. Before you call a plumber, there are a few things you can check yourself that might resolve the issue or at least tell you what’s wrong before we arrive. Here’s what to do when your hot water isn’t working in Melbourne.

Check these things first

Gas hot water systems

• Check the pilot light — on older gas storage systems, the pilot light may have gone out. Check the viewing window on the front of the unit and look for a small flame. If it’s out, follow the relighting instructions on the unit label
• Check your gas supply — turn on another gas appliance (stove burner). If that doesn’t light either, you may have a gas supply interruption. Contact Multinet Gas (eastern suburbs) or AusNet (western suburbs)
• Check the circuit breaker — modern gas continuous flow systems have electronic ignition. If there’s a power outage or the circuit breaker for the hot water system has tripped, the unit won’t ignite

Electric hot water systems

• Check the circuit breaker — find the hot water circuit in your switchboard (usually labelled HWS or Hot Water). If the breaker has tripped, reset it and see if it stays on. If it trips again immediately, there’s an electrical fault — call us
• Check the off-peak timer — if your system runs on an off-peak tariff, it may only heat during set hours, typically overnight. If you’ve used more hot water than usual, you may need to wait until the overnight heating cycle
• Check the manual boost switch — most off-peak electric systems have one. It turns on the element immediately and bypasses the off-peak timer

When to call Plumbing Bros

Call us immediately if:

• You’ve checked the above and still have no hot water
• There is water leaking from the hot water unit
• The unit is making unusual noises (banging, hissing, gurgling)
• You smell gas near a gas hot water system
• The circuit breaker for an electric system keeps tripping
• Your hot water system is older than 10 years and has failed — it’s likely at end of life

FAQs about hot water repairs in Melbourne

How quickly can you replace a hot water system in Melbourne?

For same-day replacement in Melbourne, call us before 2pm. We carry the most common gas and electric storage system sizes on our vehicles and can complete a replacement in 2–3 hours.

Is it worth repairing or better to replace?

If your system is under 8 years old, repair is usually worth it. Over 10 years, replacement is generally the better investment — you get a new warranty, better energy efficiency, and avoid the risk of another failure in 12 months. We’ll give you honest advice based on the specific system.

What’s the best hot water system for Melbourne’s climate?

Heat pump hot water systems are excellent for Melbourne — they extract ambient heat from the air and are three to four times more efficient than electric storage systems. In Melbourne’s cold winters they’re paired with a booster element. Gas continuous flow is also popular for its reliability and performance in cold weather.