immersion heater stuck in cylinder

culpepper

The immersion heater in the cylinder in my daughters flat is stuck.
It is faulty so my husband bought another one with a spanner thing for removing and replacing it but the old one is so stiff,he cant get it out.

The cylinder arrangement is two copper cylinders right up against the wall behind the bath so there isn't room to really get any more leverage.

We will have to employ a plumber to look at it but...

Do plumbers have more tools for special removal of these things does anyone know or are we looking at replacing the whole arrangement?

GuidoT

Try some WD40 and leave for a while.

And or heat up around it with a blow torch, be careful though - watch the flex (I assume it is not pre-insulated as that will make this impossible) etc.

Canucklehead

Hi,

I have used a hacksaw blade and cut the washer away around the circumference. Not much use if it's set down in foam lagging.
Method B is to use a hole saw then cut down to the thread in two places to remove a section of the heater thread.
That isn't easy to describe!!
Still, it's only plumbing not rocket science.
Heat is the first choice but a bit messy with the foam lagging in place.
Are you using a box type spanner or open ended one.?
You can help it along with a hammer on the open ended one.
GSR

anotherbaldrick

It will probably need more than just hand strength to move it, probably a sharp blow at the end of the spanner with a club hammer. However this is where experience comes in, hard enough to move it but not so hard as to wrench the boss out of the cylinder. I would suggest a plumber to do it for you would be a good investment.

Plumberman

Applying heat is the answer combined with a bit of persuasion from a hammer. Be very careful using a blow lamp near insulation or wood surfaces and don't apply too much heat as if there is no water in the cylinder you may do more damage than good, this is where experience comes in.
There are different types of spanners available to use on imm-htrs, a box spanner with a loose round bar for a handle (not so good for hitting with a hammer) or a solid spanner with a fixed handle (much more substantial).
Obvious point but make sure the ELECS are not live while you are working on it!

gas4you

Don't fully drain the cylinder. Try to leave in full to just under the imm heater boss.

The water in the cylinder will help strengthen the cylinder whilst you are hitting the imm heater.

The easiest thing to do is split the cylinder!

culpepper

Thank you everyone. We will have to get a plumber to do it I think .
It is in Scotland LOL while we are in Kent.
We were up there fetching my daughter home in the car as we had some heavy stuff to bring back and OH thought it would be a quick job.
OH did try knocking the spanner round with a hammer but he couldn't budge it.
It isn't an insulated cylinder so maybe a plumber can manage it with the help of his trusty blow torch.
At least it sounds a bit more optimistic now.

Owain_Moneysaver

If the cylinder's not foam insulated it will be losing a lot of expensive heat. Might be easier to bite the bullet and get a new foam insulated cylinder.