I had to replace the thermostat on the immersion heater on the water water tank at my parents' house recently as the thermostat decided that it didn't wish to switch off anymore, continuously heating the hot water to very hot levels.
The tank is a very old large one with an immersion heater mounted right at the very top facing downwards. I replaced the thermostat like for like with what was there before and now they have hot water without having to keep turning it on and off at the switch!
The cap on the immersion heater cover claims the element is 27" in length, but the thermostat that was already there was only 18" in length. Would this be right, or should the thermostat not be 27" also? That is assuming that the cap is correct and the element is actually 27" long... Don't know without removing the whole element from the tank - not something I want to do as it's actually working.
The problem is that although they now have hot water there is not much of it. The system used to be heated by a gas boiler which has since been condemed! That's why they since used the immersion heater as they have no desire to replace the gas boiler (as it only heats the water). The problem is that with gas heating (via coil inside tank) there was enough hot water for two baths, now there is barely enough for one full bath.
Any suggestions? Would I be able to just change the thermostat to a longer one, or would it not physically fit?