Emersion Heater

catieeb06

Hi,

Our boiler has totally conked out but thankfully we have a small emersion heater at the top of the boiler which whilst it won't give us heating will at least give us some hot water for the morning.

My question is- how long will the water last at a hot temperature? I want to put it on for a bit before we go to bed and have a shower when I get up at the morning but is it really going to last that long or will I need to get up earlier, put it on and potter about tomorrow morning waiting for some water to heat?

Also, I put it on for 2 hours earlier and it gave some lovely hot water but now it's almost all gone. My only thought with that is because the panel that you can control heating and hot water is still showing as the hot water system is on and is therefore bringing cold water into the tank ready to be heated (which it clearly isn't going to be) or am I barking up the wrong tree there?

Please help!

Catie x

keystone

First I don't think you mean a boiler that your immersion heater is fiutted to I think you mean your Hot Water Cylinder.

Secondly as you haven't said how big the storage cylinder is nor have you said what your usage is its a bit difficult to estimate how long its going to last.

The water in your cylineder should be at approx 60 degrees C. If your shower has a pump then you could damage it by putting hotter water through it than that.

My only thought with that is because the panel that you can control heating and hot water is still showing as the hot water system is on and is therefore bringing cold water into the tank ready to be heated (which it clearly isn't going to be) or am I barking up the wrong tree there?

If you could pause for breath whilst typing this sentence might be a bit easier to understand. Having said that yes I think you may be barking up the wrong tree. The cold feed to the cylinder is by a different pipework to the primary circuit which heats the water in the tank (Oh I am assuming you have an indirect cylinder of course - any chance of a pic to be certain?). When you draw water off the tank via a hot outlet (whether the water in the tank is hot or cold its automaticaly replenished with cold.

Cheers

catieeb06

The height of the tank is about half the height of a standard door and about the thickness of a wardrobe so as to capacity I don't have any idea.

My dad (he's away so I have to manage this on my own) says that the water gets fed from the cold water storage in the loft and heated and stored in the tank.

Argh! I'd never make a good DIY'er.

keystone

catieeb06 wrote: »

The height of the tank is about half the height of a standard door and about the thickness of a wardrobe so as to capacity I don't have any idea.

So possibly (probably) in the 70 - 100 litres bracket. You'll prolly be using iro 70 litres of water for a five minute shower and on the basis that its 50/50 hot/cold then you'll use around ½ of your tankful. If you have the immersion on for an hour before showering you may be OK.

My dad (he's away so I have to manage this on my own) says that the water gets fed from the cold water storage in the loft and heated and stored in the tank.

He's right.

Argh! I'd never make a good DIY'er.

Nonsense - just a few bits and pieces to get your brain around thats all.

Cheers

catieeb06

Damn, so I need to get up at 6am or do you reckon if I put it on at 10 till when I go to bed it will last overnight?

keystone

Yes it should last if your tank is well lagged.

Cheers

ormus

yes it should last ok, but itll be a bit cooler than if you used it at 11pm tonight.
why not shower tonight?

catieeb06

I could shower tonight I guess but I don't wake up properly unless I have a shower.

keystone

Shower tonight for cleanliness.

This in the morning for wideawakefulness:



it can be cold water in this instance.

Cheers

macman

A properly lagged hot water tank will keep warm all day. If it's not lagged, get it done as a priority.