Water heater repair and replacement in Paris

7 days a week, 24 hours a day: +33 1 89 70 15 36, a photo of the water heater's label on WhatsApp (reply in under 30 minutes) or a quote request. Paris, 92, 93, 94. Many of our plumbers speak English and can handle the whole job in English.

What we do

1. Repairs on electric water heaters (the cumulus or ballon d'eau chaude in French) that no longer heat or trip the fuse box
2. Part replacement: heating element, thermostat, safety valve (groupe de sécurité), flange seal, leaking fittings
3. Replacement: supply, fitting, connection and commissioning of the new unit
4. Removal and recycling of the old tank
5. Bringing old installations up to standard: safety valve, fittings, drain
6. Draining and descaling the tank

No hot water: what you can check

1. The water heater's breaker in the fuse box: if it has tripped, reset it once. If it trips again, leave it: an element or a cable is probably faulty.
2. The day/night switch (contacteur jour/nuit) in the fuse box: French electric water heaters usually heat at off-peak times (heures creuses). Switch it to "marche forcée" (forced on). If the water heats then but not in automatic mode, the switch or off-peak signal is at fault, not the tank.
3. Nothing heats, even forced on: the element or thermostat has failed. That is a repair, not necessarily a replacement.

Do not open the electrical cover yourself: switch off the breaker and call us (water heater repair: first steps).

Water heater leaking or dripping

1. The safety valve drips while heating: that is normal, water expands as it heats and the excess runs off.
2. It runs all the time: the safety valve is worn or the incoming pressure is too high. It is replaced in one visit (safety valve dripping).
3. The tank leaks from the bottom: a flange seal to replace, or a corroded tank. A tank that has rusted through cannot be repaired; the water heater must be replaced.

While you wait: switch off the water heater's breaker, close the cold water inlet on the safety valve and put a bowl underneath.

Repair or replace?

An element, a thermostat or a safety valve can be replaced: the repair is quoted after diagnosis, with a heating element replacement at €600 excl. VAT. Past 10 years old, with a leaking or heavily scaled tank, replacement is often the sensible choice. The plumber gives you both prices and you decide (signs a water heater needs replacing).

Water heater prices in Paris

Repairing a broken-down water heater: quoted after diagnosis, with a heating element replacement at €600 excl. VAT and draining and servicing at €380 excl. VAT. Replacing a wall-mounted electric water heater: €850 to €1,750 excl. VAT depending on size (30 L to 150 L), including supply, fitting, the safety valve unit and removal of the old appliance. You get the price before any work (see our prices).

How the visit works

1. You call or send a photo of the water heater, its rating label and where it sits.
2. We give you the price and a slot; for a replacement, we check the capacity and the size that fits your space.
3. The plumber turns off the water and electricity, drains the tank and diagnoses the fault.
4. The fault is repaired, or the old unit is removed and the new one fitted with a new safety valve.
5. Commissioning, leak and function checks, old tank taken away, home left clean.

Replacing a water heater in a Paris apartment

1. Tight spaces: a cupboard, above the toilet, in the kitchen or in a false ceiling. The new unit must fit the same spot: vertical, horizontal or slimline depending on the case.
2. Narrow staircases, often with no lift: the new tank goes up and the old one comes down by hand. We allow for that in the slot and the price we give you.
3. Fixings to check: a full tank is heavy, and an old partition wall cannot always carry it.
4. The day/night switch is often old: we check it so the tank heats properly at off-peak times.

Who pays for a water heater repair?

In a rented flat, routine upkeep is usually the tenant's job, and replacing a worn-out appliance the landlord's. Check your lease; if in doubt, the plumber's written diagnosis helps settle it. A leak that has caused water damage should be reported to your home insurer.

No hot water? Call us

Call +33 1 89 70 15 36, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, or send a photo on WhatsApp. Many of our plumbers speak English.

Our guides on this topic

1. Replace Your Water Heater? Signs, Age, Repair or Replace
2. Water Heater Repair in Paris: No Hot Water, Faults, Leaks
3. Electric Water Heater Installation in Paris: Complete Guide
4. Water Heater Safety Valve Dripping: Normal or a Warning Sign?
5. English-speaking plumber in Paris, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day

Service area

1. Plumber in central Paris
2. Plumber in Hauts-de-Seine (92)
3. Plumber in Seine-Saint-Denis (93)
4. Plumber in Val-de-Marne (94)