A geyser that trips the power the moment it heats is one of the most common — and most misunderstood — faults. People keep resetting it; what they should do is treat it as the safety warning it is. Here is what's happening.
The usual cause: a failing element
Geyser elements perish with age and scale. When the element's insulation breaks down, water reaches the live element and current leaks to earth — and your earth leakage or breaker trips to protect you. A perished element is the cause in the large majority of cases.
Other causes
- A faulty thermostat
- Moisture in the geyser's electrical connections
- Damaged wiring to the geyser
Why you must not keep resetting it
The trip is protecting you from an earth fault. Forcing it back on again and again defeats that protection and risks a shock or further damage. Switch the geyser off at its isolator and get it checked — see how earth leakage works.
The fix and the cost
Replacing the element (the usual culprit) typically runs R1,200–R1,800 including testing — cheap against the risk of an untreated electrical fault. We test the element, thermostat and wiring and put it right. See geyser repairs and fault finding, or call us if you have no hot water.