Quick self-check
Three things to look at before you call
1. The switchboard. Cylinders have their own fuse or breaker, usually labelled "HWC". If it's tripped, flick it back once. Trips again? Stop — that's an element or wiring fault. Call.
2. Water around the cylinder. A puddle in the cupboard means a leak. Steady dripping from the copper overflow pipe outside usually means the pressure relief valve — cheap fix, but it wastes power every hour it runs.
3. Warm but not hot. One failed element out of two, or a thermostat. Repairable in one visit on almost every NZ cylinder.
Tell us what you found and we'll tell you on the phone what it likely is, what it costs, and whether it can safely wait until business hours — after-hours rates are real money and we'd rather you didn't pay them for a drip.