A cold shower on a winter morning is miserable, but a geyser that has stopped heating is not always a geyser that needs replacing. Before you call anyone, run through these checks. They take a few minutes and need no tools.
1. Check the DB board
Most geysers have their own circuit breaker on the distribution board, usually labelled. If it has tripped, switch it back on once. If it trips again straight away, leave it off. A breaker that keeps tripping points to an electrical fault in the element or thermostat, and that is a job for a professional.
2. Check the timer or isolator
Many homes have a geyser timer, a smart switch or a wall isolator. After load shedding or a power dip, timers can lose their settings. Make sure the geyser is actually switched on and has had a few hours to heat.
3. Look for water
Look at the ceiling below the geyser, the drip tray and the overflow pipe outside. A steady drip from the overflow, a wet ceiling or a full drip tray means the geyser or its valves need attention soon.
When to call
- The breaker trips again as soon as you reset it
- Water is leaking from the geyser, the valves or through the ceiling
- The water is scalding hot or the geyser is making loud banging noises
- You have checked power and timer and there is still no hot water
If any of these apply, switch the geyser off at the DB board and send us a WhatsApp with a photo of the geyser and its label. It helps us bring the right parts.