It looks like the filament in my electric water heater has gone - it must be
20 to 25 years old. Electricity is getting to the switch but, for some reason, this morning the water was cold and attempts to heat it up now have proved fruitless.
Is this something I can change myself? I assume it is just a job of unscrewing the filament - a tad rustry where it connects to the copper boiler - and fitting a new one? Of course, ensuring the electrical supply is switched off when I do this?
Where can I buy one of these - B&Q or do I need to go somewhere special? Is filament the right word? Is there any specific size or power that I need to bear in mind?
One last point - it looks like it needs a big wrench/spanner? Bigger than any I have - is there a special kind I need? Can someone recommend one?
Could be the thermostat - worth checking - but more likely to be the element.
Immersion heater is the word (and it goes in a 'hot water cylinder', not 'boiler'). You'll need the same length (usually 27" for top mounted,
11" for side-mounted). There's a grade more suitable for use in hard water areas if you're in one. The element usually comes with a new thermostat but if it doesn't buy a new one (of the right length) too as they now have a separate safety cut-out in case the main thermostat fails to 'on'. (Check that what you're buying has this separate cut-out just in case there's old stock still kicking around.) B&Q and other sheds, real plumbers merchants and electrical wholesalers and retailers should have them.
I'dbuy a length of new cable too: the old one is liable to be in poor condition due to heat and age. You want 2.5mm^2 heat-resistant cable and this may be hard to find except in a proper sparks' merchants.
Yes you'll need a suitable spanner: they tend to be pressed steel and reasonably cheap. I've seen designs that are (a) flat (b) cranked and (c) box-spanner with a flat handle off the side. The box and, to a lesser extent, cranked types allow access when the element is recessed in a cut-out in a foam-lagged cylinder, but if there's room to use a flat type I'd get that. You'll need to remove the cable first to get the spanner on. The immersion element nut will be well stuck on to the cylinder: don't try to turn it smoothly but instead keep hitting the end of the spanner moderately hard with a normal hammer until it starts to shift. (This is why you want a flat spanner: it's a pain trying to do this with an offset type.)
Clean up the surface off the cylinder boss before fitting the new element. It may be easier to attach the (new) cable to the terminals of the element before fitting it, but don't clamp it into the cable clamp or you won't be able to get the spanner over it. The new element should have a fibre washer to seal agains the boss but I usually squish some Boss Green (not Boss White) on to help seal the join. Again, tap it back using a hammer on the spanner.
John, thanks very much for taking the time to answer in detail.
My Mum passed away 2 weeks ago after 12 weeks in the local ICU and I am pretty numb at the moment. The last thing I need now - although this is nothing compared to the loss of my Mum obviously - is extra hassle of this nature so your information is much appreciated.
Only this morning I was wondering whether I sell or stay but I think my Mum is trying to tell me something - get a new immersion heater!
Yes unfortunately theres no respite from these things, even when you least need them.
I almost certainly dont need to say this, but I cant help thinking theres just that remote possibility: if you unscrew that element theres gonne be a whole lotta water gushing out. Copper tanks can buckle during element unscrewing, so it should be loosened a little while full, then emptied then unscrewed. I would use a fair bit less force to do it up than it took to unscrew, or it'll never come out again.
Re the house decision, hopefully you've got some time to think it all through and decide. Selling and buying is a lot of hassle and cost. And if you take your time then do decide to sell, value will have gone up due to price rises, and due to you sorting a few bits and pieces out.
I was wondering if someone would say that the tank needs to be emptied before the element is removed. Emptying is not a trivial matter, unless you have a tap somewhere that is below the level of the element. My plumber has installed my cylinder without any means of draining it. He said that it's easy enough to unscrew the inlet pipes and attach a hose. Doesn't sound that easy to me. Once I turned off someone else's inlet tap, and it had not been turned off for 20 years so it wouldn't go on again. So it pays to turn taps off and on every few years.
Well, I changed the immersion heater with a new one today and it still would not heat. I then changed the cable to the spec that you suggested and it still does not work so now I am assuming it is the electrical timer switch.
I had assumed it was not the timer as when I switch it on to manual a red 'output' switch lights up and I had assumed that power was coming through it OK.
When I turn the mains off this red light remains off no matter what I do with the timer... so off to be B&Q in the morning for a new timer switch. Power is obviously getting to the switch as there would be no way of getting the red light on and I have checked all the connectors/wires coming from it to the immersion heater and they are connected up fine...
So it looks like the timer swtich is bust? Or am I missing something?
On Sun, 12 Mar 2006 16:20:51 UTC, "John Smith" top posted:
What about the thermostat?
I assume this is the normal sort of immersion heater that screws into the cylinder. The thermostat (on all the ones I've seen, anyway) slides down the middle of a tube in the heater, and is connected into the heater circuit.
a) Did you change the thermostat too? b) [wild thought, please don't be insulted] Did you change the thermostat, thinking it was the heater?
I bought a complete unit from B&Q which was identical to the one I removed. It has the element that heats up and goes into the water itself, then the screw bit that completes the seal part of which, on top, is the thermostat. The new one has a safety feature if it overheats by which a button springs up on the thermostat but this is depressed - I thought that might have been the problem but appears not.
I just don't like using them. Yes, I know how to use them but I still have an aversion in poking bits of pointy metal in live electrical things.
It was the timer - power was getting to it and the output light to the boiler was indicating things were OK but they weren't. Yes, a multimeter would have spotted this but, heck, I would have had to buy one and I just don't like them. Fitted a new timer and I immediately could hear the thermostat coming on.
Oh well, still cheaper than calling out a spark... which would have been my next action relucantly.
I replaced my element - 27 inch for 27 inch a few weeks back - and now I can't get a decent hot bath from it.
There is a thermostat on it that starts at 50 degrees goes through 60. 70 and 80 and apparently pops out if the water gets as hot as one of the settings. I have mine set on the 80 degree setting - it has never popped out once - but my baths are now ruddy warm at best. Also, whereas before it would take about an hour to heat a good hot tank for a bath it can now take
2 hours and, even then, I am only sitting in a fraction of the water I used to as the water does not get anywhere near as hot.
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