Electric Immersion Heater

philhoole · 10 Jul 2007 at 08:52

My house is all electric with no gas. I get hot water from an immersion heater that heats overnight on economy 10.

I got up this morning and there is no hot water which (for about the 4th time) looks like the heating element has failed. It's a real pain to change this as it involves draining the tank and it's a bit of a struggle to get the element out. The tank is already a bit buckled from previous replacements.

If the tank can't stand another repalcement element then I'll have to get someone who knows what they are doing in to replace that.

My question is, how long are these elements supposed to last because I reckon I'm getting less than 2 years?

Samtheman1k · 10 Jul 2007 at 08:58

If it's failing that much, then you probably have hard water and need a water limescale filter in your system somewhere.

Adam_151 · 10 Jul 2007 at 09:50

If the tank is already bent then you need to be very carful you don't bend it anymore when you change it, as its only been in two years it shouldn't be too bad, but you want to be shutting the valve, break the seal on the heater (try tightening it a little to do this, then go the other way, also can try tapping it a little if it doesn't go), once you have got it loose you can drain the tank down and swap the heater.

Oh, have you checked its not the thermostat on it? (power off, cover off, multimeter on continuity across themostat and wind it back and forth and see if it pulls in and out)

Simon · 10 Jul 2007 at 09:57

Mine does this sometimes, turning it all off and back always kicks in back into life and i get hot water within 10 seconds

philhoole · 10 Jul 2007 at 10:35

Thanks for the replies.

I am borrowing a meter from work tonight which will easily show if its the element or the thermostat. With a bit of luck it will be the thermostat which just slides in and out.

Otherwise I can see me spending the best part of Saturday draining the tank and hoping I can avoid damaging the tank/valve any more