Burst or Leaking Hot Water Services

Leaking hot water services can be isolated by turning off the water meter, however a more practical solution is to turn the hot water heater off. This allows cold water to still be used throughout the property.

General recommendations to control your emergency situation.

Step 1: Locate your hot water heater. It may be outside, inside on top of the roof or in the roof space.

Step 2: Determine the energy source. Gas, Electric, Solar or Heat Pump

Step 3: Determine the type of heater. Storage or Instantaneous

Electric Storage & Heat Pump Hot Water Heaters (Tank)

Isolating the water: There will be a copper pipe at the bottom of the HWS leading into the side of the tank. Follow the pipe back to a round black knob or a ball valve handle and turn off. Turn clockwise for the black knob or turn handle 90deg to the pipe.

This will isolate the incoming water into the hot water heater. The storage hot water heater may still leak as the remainder of the water in the tank is draining but will eventually stop.

Isolating the power supply: At your electrical switchboard, there should be a switch marked ‘Hot Water’ or ‘HWS’. Flick the switch ‘Off’ and this will isolate the power to the hot water heater. If you’re not comfortable isolating the power supply, leave it to us.

Gas Storage Hot Water Heaters (Tank)

Isolating the water: There will be a copper pipe at the bottom of the HWS leading into the side of the tank. Follow the pipe back to a round black knob or a ball valve handle and turn off. Turn clockwise for the black knob or turn handle 90deg to the pipe.

This will isolate the incoming water into the hot water heater. The storage hot water heater may still leak as the remainder of the water in the tank is draining.

Isolating the gas supply:

1. Turn the gas control knob to the "★" position (pilot). This setting will leave the pilot flame alight however the main burner will not be able to light.
2. Turn the gas control knob to the "" (off) position. This setting shuts the gas control down completely.

Gas Instantaneous, Continuous Flow Hot Water Heaters

Isolating the Water:
Turn off the controllers(s) (if fitted) by pressing the on / off button. Switch off the electrical supply at the power outlet to the water heater. Beneath the heater there’s typically three pipes that lead into the bottom of the heater, ‘Cold Water In’, ‘Gas In’, and ‘Hot Water Out’. These pipes are indefinable by labels on the underside of the heater. Trace the Cold Water In pipe back from the bottom of the heater and locate the water isolation valve. Turn ‘Off’ the valve to isolate the hot water heater.

Isolating the gas supply:
From the bottom of the heater, trace the Gas pipe back from the bottom of the heater and locate the gas isolation valve. Turn ‘Off’ the valve to isolate the gas to the hot water heater.

If you have difficulty with any of the above steps, please do not hesitate to call our office and one of our friendly staff will attempt to talk you through it.