Guide · Swords
No hot water: what to check before you ring
Most often the immersion element or its thermostat has failed, the switch has tripped, or the boiler is off or low on pressure. An element or thermostat fitted is €120–€300.
Free, no obligation. One local plumber prices it, not five.
Check these first
- The immersion switch is on and the timer is set to come on.
- The trip switch for the immersion on the fuse board hasn't gone.
- If the boiler heats your water: it's on, the display shows no fault and the pressure is about 1 to 1.5 bar.
- Feel the cylinder in the hot press. Cold all over with the immersion on means the element or thermostat.
What it costs to fix
- Immersion element or thermostat: €120–€300.
- Full immersion heater: €150–€450.
- New hot water cylinder: €500–€1,300.
When to ring straight away
- The immersion trips the power every time you switch it on.
- Water is leaking from the cylinder or the hot press is wet.
- The boiler shows a fault code and won't reset.
Prices that go with it
Typical prices in Swords.
| Job | Typical price | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Call-out, weekday daytime | Up to €150 | Some plumbers charge nothing to come out and bill from the first hour. Others charge a call-out that covers the first half hour or so. |
| Hourly rate, weekday daytime | €50–€130 an hour | Most bill the first hour in full, then by the half hour. Parts are extra. |
| Emergency or out-of-hours call-out | €100–€250 | Evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays cost more. Late nights cost the most. |
| Burst pipe repair | €150–€2,000 | A burst you can see under a sink is a short job. A pipe under the floor or inside a wall, with the floor or plaster to make good, is the top end. |
| Immersion element or thermostat | €120–€300 | A thermostat is cheaper than an element. Hard water scales the element, so it fails sooner. |
| Hot water cylinder replacement | €500–€1,300 | A copper cylinder like for like is the lower end. A bigger or pressurised cylinder, or moving it, is the top. |
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Questions
Can I replace an immersion element myself?
It means draining the cylinder and working near mains electricity. Most people get a plumber.
Why does my immersion keep tripping?
Usually the element has failed and is shorting to earth. Leave it off until it's replaced.
Is it the boiler or the immersion?
If the radiators work but the water is cold, it's usually the cylinder or its controls. If neither works, it's the boiler.
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