Help please - Immersion heater element problem

LTJ

fto wrote: »

If its just a bog standard tank, with one heater........the element either works or not.Have you turned up the stat ????.
Btw, I must have changed hundreds of Immersion heaters & I`ve never drained the tank.

We don't know what is wrong here we are not there, if this has a headder tank fitted and something has gone wrong inside the tank what will happen when you undo the element, you could be faced with a lot of water, although the water should have been turned off before starting this work. I am just being cautious

erb

A lot of help here.

The tank has got 2 elements as we only have electricity so the element at the bottom of the tank comes on when off peak economy 7 electricty comes on. It is this element that is not working properly. It is definately working to some extenent because I have switched the good element off and when the economy 7 electricity starts I can here the element working in the water just like when you switch a kettle on. It seems to be on all night as I have got up during the night an listened. But it does not get the water hot enough for the stat to switch it off.

The new stat is turned up to what I had before, 60 degree C and at this temperature we always got a full tank of hot water after a full night's working but not any longer.

Looks like the element will have to be changed but it is a large tank about 5 to 6 feet high and the element at the bottom so it will have to be drained. I am not confident myself so will have to contact a plumber. Any idea how much a plumber might charge for changing the element?

DVardysShadow

fto wrote: »

I though it was a good idea to leave water in the tank to help it keep its shape and be stable while the force is applied to the heater

Exactly....If its at the top of course.

Or at the bottom. You only leave it filled while you turn it free. Obviously [?] you drain the tank down before you pop the element right out.

fto

I still think its the stat.........................

vaio

Me too, I can't see how an element could half work

OP, might it be worth a try to short out the stat and see how hot the water gets then?

erb

The plumber fitted an new element yesterday and it is now working fine.

The old element had blown with cracks in the tube. I am as surprised as everybody but can asure you the old element was working to some extent but not at full power.