If your immersion heater is not providing hot water, James can investigate the electrical supply and controls. Understand the fault before deciding on repair or replacement.
Free quoteTell James what you need, even if you’re not sure what’s wrong.
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Local to Brechin, Angus, Scotland
Brechin Sparks is James Leslie, working from a base in Brechin and covering the DD9 postcode area, Montrose, Forfar, Arbroath, Edzell and Dundee within an approximate 40-mile radius.
In many Angus homes without gas the immersion heater is the only hot water, so a cold cylinder needs sorting rather than working around. James investigates the electrical side and explains when another trade or further work is needed. Heaters on the same off-peak supply are covered under Storage Heater Repairs & Replacement, faults that reach beyond the immersion circuit under Electrical Repairs & Fault Finding, and other small jobs under Small Electrical Repairs.
“James was very polite and sent over the quote immediately after the call and came out the same day in the early evening.”
“He couldn't of been more helpful and still only took what he quoted for, even though it was a bigger job than expected. Definitely recommend.”
“Arrived within an hour of my call, as he said he would. Fixed the problem same afternoon, and rate was extremely reasonable!”
“They also give decent price for the job and the work done will be using James again, he is also very polite and very helpful too me.”
“Fast response during a weekend, put in a temporary fix so we got power back. Excellent service.”
“Very professional and courteous. Highly recommend him.”
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James investigates the electrical symptoms before explaining what needs repair. Based in Brechin, serving homes, farms and businesses across Angus and surrounding areas within approximately 40 miles.
Controls and replacement components need to suit the particular cylinder and installation. Plumbing work and replacement of wet components must be agreed separately from electrical investigation.
Speak directly with James Leslie, based in Brechin, with 40 years of electrical engineering experience, a former RAF electrical engineer and former Angus retained firefighter.
Public liability cover across domestic, commercial and agricultural properties, with costs agreed before any work begins.
Read more about James Leslie and how Brechin Sparks approaches electrical work, from the first enquiry to explaining the completed job.
BS 7671 wiring regulations
Level 3 Award · BS 7671 wiring regulations
Cover for electrical work
Local service across a 40-mile radius
Engineering experience behind the advice
A background in serving the community
Before replacing anything
Not necessarily. Supply or control faults may be involved. James investigates the electrical side and explains when another trade or further work is needed. A cold cylinder does not by itself identify the faulty component.
A switched-off isolator, a tripped breaker or a loose connection at the switch or the cylinder can leave the water cold with nothing wrong with the heater itself. This is the first thing checked.
A timer that has lost its programme, a thermostat that has failed or been turned down, or off-peak switching that is no longer operating can all stop the element being energised even though the supply is healthy.
An element can fail so that it no longer heats, or break down so that it trips the circuit as soon as it is switched on. Testing at the cylinder shows which, and whether the fault is in the element, the thermostat or the wiring to it.
Leaks, scale, a failed cylinder or a problem with the pipework are plumbing matters. Where the electrical checks show the heater and its controls are working, James explains what has been found so a plumber can take it from there.
Not sure which part has failed? Describe the symptoms.
Get a quote
Not every cold cylinder is an electrical fault, but the signs below usually point to the supply, the controls or the element rather than the cylinder. Do not bypass a thermostat or safety cut-out, and avoid repeated resets. Switch the heater off and tell James what you have noticed.
If the immersion switch is on and the water stays cold, the supply, the thermostat or the element may have failed. A lit switch on its own does not confirm that power is reaching the element.
A cylinder that heats on boost but not during the off-peak period, or on one element but not the other, tends to point to a timer, an off-peak switch or one element rather than the cylinder. Say which setting works when you call.
An element that has broken down can trip the RCD or breaker as soon as the immersion is switched on. Leave it off rather than resetting it; the element and its wiring need testing before it is used again.
Discolouration, a burning smell or warmth at the immersion switch or the cylinder connection can indicate a loose or overheating connection. If it is safe to do so, switch the heater off at its isolator and arrange a check before using it again.
Switch the immersion off at its isolator and describe the symptoms to James.
The electrical side of an immersion heater runs from the isolator or timer, through the thermostat, to the element in the cylinder. James checks each in turn and explains where the electrical work stops and plumbing begins.
A failed timer, supply connection, thermostat or heating element may be involved when an immersion heater stops working. James investigates the electrical symptoms before explaining what needs repair. A cold cylinder does not by itself identify the faulty component.
Tell James whether the heater uses a boost control, an off-peak supply or more than one element. Recent meter, tariff or control changes may help explain when the fault started. Controls and replacement components need to suit the particular cylinder and installation.
Access to an element can involve draining the cylinder and plumbing work. Agree those arrangements separately from electrical fault finding. Unvented hot-water systems have additional safety requirements and may need an appropriately qualified hot-water specialist.
There is no fixed price for an immersion heater repair, because the fault has to be found before the work can be scoped. What you can expect is set out below.
Quote agreed after assessment. The equipment, access, investigation needed and extent of installation or repair affect the price.
James explains the proposed work and any additional costs before you agree to proceed.
Describe which heating controls you use and whether the fault affects all hot water. Plumbing work and replacement of wet components must be agreed separately from electrical investigation.
Share the cylinder and control details, the symptoms and any recent changes. Do not bypass a thermostat or safety cut-out, and avoid repeated resets. If there are signs of overheating or leaking near electrical equipment, stop using the affected equipment and call for advice.
Describe the symptoms and James will quote the investigation.
Get a quote
The fault is traced from the supply towards the cylinder, so the part that has actually failed is identified before anything is replaced.
James confirms power is reaching the isolator and the immersion switch, checks that the timer or off-peak switching is operating and looks at how the thermostat is set and whether it is calling for heat.
The immersion heater circuit is switched off at the consumer unit and proved dead before any cover is removed at the switch or the cylinder.
The element is tested for continuity and insulation resistance and the thermostat for correct switching. This shows whether the fault is in the element, the thermostat, the control or the wiring, rather than guessing from the symptoms.
A failed thermostat, switch, timer or the wiring to the cylinder is repaired or replaced once the cost is agreed. Access to an element can involve draining the cylinder and plumbing work. Agree those arrangements separately from electrical fault finding.
The repaired circuit is tested, the heater is run and James goes through the arrangement with you: which switch or timer does what, and when the cylinder should be heating.
Where the fault turns out to be in the cylinder itself, or the system is unvented, James explains what has been found and ruled out so the right trade can take it on.
On completion
The paperwork for an immersion heater repair depends on whether the circuit has been altered and whether anything has been referred on. James confirms what is issued for your job.
Where the repair alters or replaces part of the immersion heater circuit, a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate records the work carried out and the test results for that circuit. Its scope is limited to the circuit worked on.
If the investigation shows the problem is in the cylinder, the pipework or an unvented system, James explains what has been checked and what has been ruled out, so a plumber or hot-water specialist can take it from there without repeating the electrical tests.
Immersion heaters are common in homes without a gas supply, in properties on off-peak tariffs and in rural parts of Angus, so many of these calls come from outside the main towns. Based in Brechin, Angus, Scotland, covering the DD9 postcode area and the wider Angus towns within an approximate 40-mile radius. Give James your postcode to confirm availability.
From the town centre to Trinity and Cookston. Our base, so usually the quickest to arrange.
Homes, rentals and business premises across the Angus towns, including flats with electric-only hot water.
Immersion heater and other electrical repairs, including surrounding rural properties without a gas supply.
Enquiries welcome for houses, flats and rented properties.
Call with your postcode to check coverage within the approximate 40-mile service area.
Full list of towns on the areas covered page.
Not necessarily. Supply or control faults may be involved. James investigates the electrical side and explains when another trade or further work is needed.
It may be the supply, the thermostat, the timer or the element, and the symptoms alone rarely say which. A tripped breaker or a switched-off isolator leaves the cylinder cold with nothing wrong with the heater; a failed thermostat or a timer that has lost its programme stops the element being energised; a failed element does not heat even when everything else is working. James tests each in turn and explains which has failed before any part is replaced.
Yes. The element is an electrical component and a failed one can be replaced, but it also sits in the water. Access to an element can involve draining the cylinder and plumbing work. Agree those arrangements separately from electrical fault finding. Unvented hot-water systems have additional safety requirements and may need an appropriately qualified hot-water specialist. James explains which arrangement applies to your cylinder before anything is agreed.
Where the thermostat and any safety cut-out are working, an immersion heater is designed to switch itself off once the water reaches temperature, so leaving it switched on is not in itself a safety problem. Whether it suits you depends on how you use hot water and whether a timer or off-peak supply would heat the cylinder at a better time. Do not bypass a thermostat or safety cut-out, and avoid repeated resets. If the heater seems to run without stopping or the water gets very hot, the thermostat may have failed and needs checking.
Yes. Tell James whether the heater uses a boost control, an off-peak supply or more than one element. Recent meter, tariff or control changes may help explain when the fault started. Controls and replacement components need to suit the particular cylinder and installation. Where the off-peak switching is done at the meter, James explains what he can repair and what needs to go to your supplier.
It depends on where the fault is. The supply, isolator, timer, thermostat and the wiring to the element are electrical work. Access to an element can involve draining the cylinder and plumbing work. Agree those arrangements separately from electrical fault finding. James investigates the electrical side and explains when another trade or further work is needed.
Where the repair alters or replaces part of the circuit, you receive a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate recording the work and the test results for that circuit. A fault find that changes nothing may not need one; James confirms what is issued for your job. Anything referred on for plumbing or cylinder work is noted so the next trade knows what has been ruled out.
Describe which heating controls you use and whether the fault affects all hot water. Share the cylinder and control details, the symptoms and any recent changes.
Call 01356 235858