Waking up to a cold shower is miserable — but a geyser that won't heat usually comes down to a handful of common faults. Here is how to work out what is wrong and what it costs to fix.
1. Tripped earth-leakage or breaker
Check your distribution board first. A tripped geyser breaker or earth-leakage is the most common cause. Reset it once — but if it trips again, stop. Repeated tripping points to a faulty element or wiring and needs a professional.
2. Burnt-out heating element
The element is the part that actually heats the water, and it fails with age and scale build-up. A dead element means no hot water at all. Replacement runs R1,200–R1,800.
3. Failed thermostat
The thermostat tells the element when to heat. If it fails, you get cold water or, occasionally, dangerously hot water. It is a quick replacement once diagnosed.
4. Tripped safety cut-out
Most geysers have a manual reset safety cut-out that trips if the thermostat fails. Resetting it may restore heat temporarily, but the underlying fault still needs fixing.
5. Wiring or isolator fault
A faulty isolator switch or wiring at the geyser can cut power to an otherwise healthy unit — best confirmed by an electrician.
Repair or replace?
Under eight years old with an element or thermostat fault? Repair it. Past ten years or with a leaking cylinder? Replacement from R5,500 with a COC is smarter. We diagnose, quote honestly and fix same-day across Sandton, Midrand and the East Rand. Call 082 886 9119.