Lean repair when
Unit is young · fault is localised
Thermostat, mixer, loose fitting, or a single failed element on an otherwise dry tank — diagnose from S$80. Parts extra. Stop using the heater if it trips or leaks onto wiring.
Home / Repair or replace
Diagnose from S$80 Replace from S$180 labourRepair or replace your water heater?
A short decision path — then send a photo. We do not invent warranties or force a replacement when a safe repair is realistic. Not a remote diagnosis — photos or a visit decide the path.
Lean replace when
Tank leaks · chronic trips · end of life
Water from the tank body, seized PRV, repeated breaker trips, or a unit past economical repair. Like-for-like hang from S$180 labour; switching types takes longer.
Leaking tank · Updated 4 Nov 2026
Heater leaking from the tank — repair or replace?
A storage water heater leaking from the tank body is replaced, not repaired: in Singapore a rusted or split inner tank cannot be safely resealed, and the same tank that is dripping onto wiring will keep tripping the ELCB. Drips from the valve or pipe joints are a repair from S$80.
| Where you see water | What it usually means | Repair or replace | From (labour) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tank body or seam — water under the unit, damp casing | Inner tank rusted or split | Replace — no safe reseal | S$180 · storage S$280 |
| Pressure relief valve — drip at the discharge pipe | Valve seized, or relieving pressure; discharge choked | Repair — valve replaced, PRV piped to drain | S$80 + parts |
| Pipe joint or flexible hose — water at the connection only | Loose joint, perished washer or hose | Repair — tank stays | S$80 + parts |
| Ceiling or wall stain above the unit, no visible drip | Concealed leak from the tank or the pipe run | Survey first; replace if the tank is the source | S$80 survey |
| Trips the ELCB only while heating | Element water damage or moisture in the wiring | Element or wiring repair if the tank is sound | S$80 + parts |
| Same fault back after two repairs | End of economical repair | Replace like-for-like | S$180 |
What happens when you engage AOT
- WhatsApp photos of the unit, the damp area and the isolator, plus the heater type and rough age.
- We come back with a labour from-price band before anyone is dispatched.
- If the source is unclear, we survey first at S$80 and confirm whether it is the tank or a joint.
- Written price before work starts. Unit, parts and GST are extra when we supply them.
- If water is near electrics or the breaker is tripping, switch off at the isolator and do not keep resetting it.
Straight answers
Can a storage heater tank that is leaking be repaired?
Not the tank body. Once a storage tank is rusted through or split at a seam it cannot be resealed safely, so the unit is replaced. A drip at the pressure relief valve, pipe joint or flexible hose is a repair, not a new tank.
Is it cheaper to repair than to replace?
Usually yes when the tank is sound: diagnosis and a valve or joint repair start at S$80 plus parts. Replacing a tank is from S$180 labour for a like-for-like unit, or from S$280 labour for a storage install. Heater unit and GST are extra.
Can I keep using the heater until you come?
Only if the drip is not near electrics and the breaker is not tripping. If it is, switch off at the isolator and leave it off — water on a live circuit is the risk, not the stain. We work Monday to Saturday 08:00–17:00; we are not a 24-hour service.
Does a new tank need a new pressure relief valve?
If the old valve is seized or its discharge is choked, yes. A storage heater needs a correctly sized pressure and temperature relief valve piped to drain; a tank hung on a dead valve is unsafe and we will not reuse it.
Can I buy my own heater and have AOT install it?
Yes. We install customer-supplied units once the model fits the space, isolator and pipe run. We can also recommend a market unit after measuring — Joven, Rheem, Ariston and similar. We are not an official dealership for any brand.
Plumbing under PUB licensed plumber Lam Kien Choon WS16882018 · BCA L1 ME01/ME06/ME12 to 1 Sep 2028 · Mon–Sat 08:00–17:00, not 24/7.
Send details on WhatsApp
Fill what you know — attach photos of the unit, label and isolator.
If water is near electrics or the breaker trips, switch the isolator off and do not reset repeatedly.