Replacing thermostat in immersion heater

Eliza_2

My immersion heater overheats badly and apparently the thermostat is broken and needs replacing. A friend had a look and said it was a simple job but has just rung to say he forgot to make a note of the size of the one that he is to replace and has asked me to check and ring him back so he can buy the right one.. He says it's easy to get out to measure.. I've taken the top off the thing but am now wary of going any further despite having read some instructions on the net and despite him telling me what to do, it looks more complicated than he's giving me to understand.

I was wondering if there's a way of checking the size without taking it to bits but have tried googling the number on it - IH-200 but can't find anything.

Is taking it out and physically measuring it the only way of finding the length of it? I know it's just a little one which does a couple of bowls of washing-up.

Thanks

ITtim

it should be fairly straight forward to use, especially if its recently been removed. Do you have the tool to remove it though?

Eliza_2

Thanks It was fitted around 5 yrs ago, doesn't look rusted or anything so easy to undo. Didn't know I'd need a special tool, it just looks like a matter of removing a screw or two with a normal small screwdriver and lifting it out. I'd rather not do it though if there's a way of telling the size from some number on the outside, then this friend can come and fit the new one. Otherwise I might just as well do the whole thing myself. Once we start talking about needing special tools etc, I might as well ring him and ask him to come over and sort it himself.

Gloomendoom

You don't need a special tool! The special tool is only required to remove the whole element.

You want to replace the thermostat and not the immersion heater element. The Thermostat simply slides into a tube that runs down beside the element.

All you need to do is turn off the power to the immersion heater and remove the cover (usually one screw). Inside you will see some wires. The red or brown one will lead to a rectangular bakelite box shaped thing. That is the top of the thermostat. Remove both the wires that are connected to it. The thermostat should simply pull upwards and out.

Fitting is the reverse of removal.

If you aren't sure, get an electrician to do it.

Eliza_2

Thank you, yes that's exactly what I can see when I remove the lid. Your description pretty well concurs with what I'd worked out so it's great to have that confirmed from someone who obviously knows what they're talking about.

No I'm not sure but on the other hand I aint gonna be beat either!!! I've switched the heater off at the wall but am going to turn off the electricity too at the mains, just to be sure.

Thanks for your help.

vaio

with a model number of IH-200, my money is on 200mm long

ormus

7,11, and 18 inch. are common sizes.
about 5-10 quid each.
very simple to replace.

27col

Sometimes I wish that all electrical jobs were as easy and cheap as replacing the thermostat in an immersion heater.