My electric water heater is not working

In modern day living, water heaters can be found in many households. They are now more a necessity, then a luxury, even in Singapore’s hot tropical climate. We use hot water when taking our baths, washing our hands, washing our greasy dishes, washing our stained or dirty clothes, sterilizing utensils or floors and more.

So imagine having to manually boil or heat up water for our all our hot water needs and you would understand the important role a good functioning water heater plays in our life. So naturally, we would want to repair our faulty water heater as soon as possible, to prevent any inconveniences it may cause.

My electric water heater is not working

My electric water heater is not working

Some of the more common problems caused by a faulty water heater are listed below.

Water Not Hot

If you find that the water from your water heater is not hot, it may be because there is no current flow to the heating element.

Check the circuit breaker – there could be an electricity trip.

Next check the thermostat is set to the desired temperature.

Loose wiring can also result in no current flow and hence the water unable to heat up.

Another cause may be that your heating element has malfunctioned. This problem can often be fixed by replacing the heating element.

Leaky Water Heater

A leaky water heater may arise when there is water leakage from the storage tank, or from the pipes leading to and from it.

Water Is Too Hot

The heating element is controlled by the thermostat, and if the latter is not working properly, no electricity will flow to the element.

Thus if the water is too hot, check the thermostat’s setting.

If you find that the thermostat is malfunctioning, simply change it to rectify the problem.

Rust Colored Water

The anode rod of the water heater prevents the tank from getting rusty.

Over time, the anode dissolves and the tank begins to rust, thus causing rusty water.

When scale builds up on the heating element, rusty water also appears.

Resolve the problem by cleaning or replacing the element.

Water Heats Up Too Slowly

Since the thermostat controls the heating element, if you find that water heating up too slowly, try adjusting the thermostat higher.

If this does not solve the problem, possibly either the thermostat, or the heating element, or both have malfunctioned.

Another cause could be the sediments that have built up in the water tank over time. In this case, simply clean up the water tank.

Ever had a bad shower experience with your water heater? Cold water coming out instead of hot water? Unusual noises emitting from the water heater? Your installed water heater may have some problems that are in need of repair.

In this article, we will look at the different common water heater problems and how we may try to approach these issues.

Common water heater problems

Before we dwell into the individual problems, we have to note that in Singapore, there are generally 2 types of water heaters: Instant water heaters (E.g. Ariston SMC33 Instant Heater) & Storage Water Heaters (E.g. Rheem Electric 40L EH-40M Storage Water Heater)

Therefore, we will be categorizing the various problems according to the type of water heaters along the article.

Instant water heater

  1. No Hot Water

There are times when the water heater does not supply heated water pass the average 5 seconds of cold water, but this matter would be minor compared to when the water heater does not provide heated water at all. This may be due to many factors. The water heater’s electric resistance may be 1 factor. You will need to find a suitable water heater that suits the electric supply. Sometimes a faulty water heater will also play a part in denying the supply of heated water. In which case, the parts of the water heater would need to be replaced.

  1. Too Much Hot Water

Feeling that the water is so hot that it may scald yourself? This may be due to incorrect temperature and pressure settings of the instant water heater, which need to be checked and adjusted accordingly. It may also be due to a misplacement of pressure valve or even a faulty part, in which an expert’s opinion would be necessary.

  1. Leakage

This can happen at the base of the instant water heater and may be due to excess pressure, inadequate plumbing, corrosion or even overheating. In which case, it will call for adjustment of pressure, correction of plumbing valve, replacement of corroded part and reduction of thermostat settings to fix the issues respectively.

  1. Unusual noises

Heard a weird and rumbling noise when the installed water heater is in use? This may be due to a scale substance that is accumulating on the heating element, in which case is an indication for a change of the particular element.

  1. Discoloured Water

When you start to see some colours in the water supply, this may indicate that the anode of the water heater may be rusting or faulty, in which your water heater needs to be replaced.

My electric water heater is not working

Storage water heater

  1. Leaking Water

An electric storage water heater may leak from either the top or the bottom, for such case, it may be due to either a normal condensation, overflowed pipe due to excess pressure or loose piping. You may want to get a replacement for the water heater or approach professional water heater companies like Water Heater City Singapore to look into your case.

My electric water heater is not working

  1. No Hot Water

There are generally 3 scenarios in which there would be no hot water supply, which may be due to lost of electric supply, in which you may want to check the circuit breaker. Or when the heating element has failed and in need of a replacement. This may also occur when the water gets too hot and trips the limit switch within, and as such, would need a water heater replacement.

  1. Water is too hot

This would usually be due to the thermostat setting being too high or the thermostat may be faulty and needs replacement. You can check if the thermostat is set too high, and adjust accordingly. If after the adjustment and there are no changes, it is advised to get a professional to look into the matter.

  1. Low water pressure

A small piping may hinder the water supply, reducing the output pressure. In this case, you may want to replace the pipe with bigger piping to increase the pressure. Built-up/Sediments within the pipes may also add to the low water pressure, as does a leaking water heater tank. A plumber would be able to help with the above.

My electric water heater is not working

  1. Noises

Some cases you may hear weird noises in the tank rumbling or banging, which may be due to a build up in sediments in the tank. Other causes may be due to water leakage, high pressure, expansion and contraction of pipes. In which case, it would be best for a professional like Water Heater City Singapore to take a look.

  1. Dirty Water

This is a sign that the anode rod or the tank may be corroded, and your water heater needs to be replaced before the situation gets worse. Other possible reasons can be due to sediment built up causing the water to be discoloured, which may be solve by doing tank flushing.

  1. Smelly Water

There’s a difference between dirty water and smelly water, both are caused by different factors. Smelly water may occur when there is growth of bacteria within the water heater tank, giving off a foul odour. The tank would need to be chemically treated and flushed periodically to fully get rid of the smell.

My electric water heater is not working

In summary

To sum it up, there are many problems that may occur with your installed water heater, all in which are due to numerous reasons. The responsibility lies with you to keep it in tip top condition in order to work when it is necessary. But in time of needs whereby a problem occurs, Water Heater City Singapore is just a call or an email away to look in the issue.

WhatsApp us at +65 8241 0032 or email us at [email protected] for all your water heater needs.


Water Heater City Singapore offers complete water heater services for both storage and instant water heater tanks including water heater installation and replacement, and water heater leak. We can provide the supply and installation or replacement of Singapore’s most popular water heater brands like Ariston water heater, Rheem water heater, Joven water heater, 707 water heater, Rubine water heater, and Champs water heater. If required, we are also able to open a false ceiling, patch it back up and paint it to restore it to its original condition. We have over 10 years of experience in the installation of water heaters and have done hundreds of water heater installation cases for landed, condos, and HDB, including complete one-stop installation above false ceilings, plastering and resealing false ceilings. We are a highly recommended Water Heater Services Company in Singapore, with many delighted customers and reviews over the years on Google and Facebook. WhatsApp us at +65 8241 0032 for transparent quotations and honest pricing for all your water heater needs. We also provide fast and efficient service to solve any of your water heater needs!

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My electric water heater is not working

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How do you reset an electric water heater?

Somewhere on your electric water heater, you'll find a reset button. It's usually red and often located near the thermostat. It may also be hidden behind a removable metal panel on the unit—and then behind some insulation. Once you find the button, push and release it.

What is the most common problem with electric water heaters?

Water leaks are perhaps the most common type of water heater issue you'll face. Any water heater will start to leak eventually, as by nature water will eventually corrode your tank and create microscopic cracks or fractures. However, this isn't always a sign that your tank is what's leaking.

What to check if water heater is not working?

Check for any obviously loose plumbing connections, tightening (but not over-tightening) them to reduce the leak. Next, check the loose heating element bolts, tightening them if needed. If the heating element is still leaking, you will probably need to replace the gasket (we recommend hiring a professional to do this).

What do you do when your water heater won't turn on?

A fuse may be blown. Reset the breaker for the heater. If this doesn't restart the heater, check to see if any wires are loose..
The gas control valve on your water heater is broken..
The pilot light on your water heater is out..
The flame sensor on your water heater is not working..