No hot water at all
Burnt-out element, thermostat or cut-out tripped, or day/night contactor.
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Boiler or Water Heater Breakdown: Repair or Replace
In Belgium, the word boiler is used both for the central heating boiler and for the hot water tank. This page is about the water heater: no hot water, lukewarm water, water underneath or a tank that trips the power. Our technicians repair and replace water heaters 7 days a week, with the price given first.
5,0on Google· 22 years of experience
Multimeter diagnosisElement and thermostat
Repair or replaceHonest advice
Price given firstBefore the work
7 days a weekEvenings and weekends
Diagnosing an electric water heater
An electric water heater is a simple appliance: a tank, a heating element that warms the water, a thermostat that controls it, a cut-out that trips on overheating and an anode that protects the tank from corrosion. The fault is almost always one of these parts.
The technician switches off the power, opens the cover and tests the element and thermostat with a multimeter. A burnt-out element no longer heats; an element with a short trips the breaker. A faulty thermostat gives water that is too cold or too hot, and a tripped cut-out stops everything.
He also checks the day/night contactor in the fuse box, which switches the water heater on the night tariff: if it no longer engages, the tank never gets power, even if it is in perfect condition.
Replacing a water heater at the end of its life
When the tank leaks from the bottom, repair is no longer possible: corrosion has perforated it from the inside. The water heater must be replaced, preferably quickly, because a tank that starts leaking can give way.
The technician chooses the capacity according to the number of people, baths and showers, and the space available. He can fit a standard electric water heater, a more efficient model or a heat pump water heater, which warms the water with heat from the air and uses much less electricity.
Replacement includes draining and removing the old appliance, fitting the new one with a new safety group, the electrical connection and commissioning. After the first heat-up you have hot water again.
Limescale: protecting the water heater
In much of Belgium the water is hard. In a water heater, limescale settles at the bottom and on the element: the appliance heats less well, uses more power, gets noisy and the element eventually burns out. Descaling every few years extends its life.
Servicing a water heater also means checking the anode, which wears away to protect the tank. A dissolved anode lets corrosion attack the steel: replacing it in time prevents a leak.
To protect the whole hot water system, tank, taps and appliances, a water softener on the mains supply is the most effective solution. Our plumbers install and service them.
Symptoms and their causes
What you notice usually points to the faulty part.
The breaker trips
Element short-circuiting or moisture in the electrical compartment.
Only lukewarm water
Thermostat badly set or faulty, scaled element, tank too small.
Water from the safety group
A little during heating is normal; constantly means the group needs replacing.
Leak at the bottom of the tank
Perforated tank: the water heater must be replaced.
Rusty water or smell
Worn anode or corroded tank: check needed.
How the visit works
Your call
Give the brand, capacity in litres and the symptom. We book the first available visit.
Diagnosis and price
The technician tests and proposes repair or replacement, with prices.
Hot water back
Part replaced or new water heater fitted, tested, job sheet handed over.
What our customers say
Where do we work?
Our technicians repair and replace water heaters throughout Belgium: Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia. For a central heating boiler, see our heating pages.
BrusselsWalloon BrabantFlemish BrabantHainautNamur provinceLiège provinceLuxembourg provinceAntwerpEast FlandersWest FlandersLimburg
The brands we work with
Our technicians work on all brands: they install, service and repair appliances from the major manufacturers. For a new installation, we recommend the model that suits your home and budget.
We buy our equipment from all the major Belgian wholesalers and suppliers, including Facq, Van Marcke, Desco and STG: genuine parts, quickly available.
Frequently asked questions
My water heater no longer heats. What should I check?
The water heater's breaker and, with a two-rate meter, the time: on the night tariff it only heats at night. If nothing helps, call us on 0477 03 88 98.
How long does an electric water heater last?
Often ten to fifteen years, longer with soft water and an anode replaced in time, less with very hard water.
Repair or replace?
An element or thermostat is easy to replace. If the tank leaks or the heater is very old and scaled, replacement is better.
The safety group drips. Is that normal?
A few drops while heating, yes: the water expands. A constant flow means a worn group or too high a water pressure.
Do you install heat pump water heaters?
Yes, after checking the room is suitable: enough air volume, condensate drain, electrical supply.
Which brands do you repair?
Vaillant, Bulex, Ariston, Atlantic, Stiebel Eltron, Viessmann, ACV and the other common brands.
My central heating boiler has broken down, not the water heater. Can you help?
Yes, our heating engineers repair gas and oil boilers 7 days a week: see our emergency boiler repair page.
Water heater not heating?
Call us for a repair, book a slot or request a quote for a new water heater.