immersion heater / condensation troubles

Boxlord

Hi, folks.

I'm a new tenant renting (a month or so) from a private landlord (ground floor flat).

The bathroom has been prone to condensation since I moved in, I assumed because the water heater is in there in a small cupboard. I'd started leaving the window open a small amount and it seemed to be keeping it at bay. However since the recent cold weather started it's gotten a lot worse very quickly, also moving out to the hall outside.

I didn't notice until now but the pipe from the wall by the shower it giving out a fair bit of steam (you can see the condensation from it on the shower rail which is directly in front of it). The pipe is an overflow or vent from the water heater. Now I don't know whether this is the sole cause of the problem or just aggravating it, and I don't know whether that pipe is meant to be there at all or run outside or whatnot.

I'd been given a dehumidifier to help with the problem but a) I don't know whether that would work and b) whether it would just mask a bigger problem.

There's also an issue with the water heater that the hot water is too hot and doesn't have enough pressure. I don't know anything about water heaters and such so don't know if it's the wrong sort of heater / on its way out / etc.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!


(I tried to post pictures but it won't let me.)

southcoastrgi

pm me the link to the pics or upload them to a host then put the link(s) here without the www & the forum will think it's just text

Boxlord

dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15716817/20131119_090107.jpg
dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15716817/20131119_090207.jpg
dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15716817/20131119_090234.jpg

Thanks.

southcoastrgi

you have a serious prob there, can you post some pics of your hot water cylinder

Boxlord

You're telling me! I've turned it off today to see if it makes a difference. Thanks again for the replies.

dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15716817/20131120_011132.jpg
dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15716817/20131120_011147.jpg

southcoastrgi

i just knew that you had a combination cylinder, i bet if you put your hand in the water in the small tank at the top of the cylinder i bet it is boiling hot ?
if i'm right the stat has failed in the immersion heater, don't use it as it's dangerious like it is, you will need to replace the stat inside the immersion heater, 7" stat, you don't need to drain any water out it's just electrical, make sure it's the new type with a manual re-set, set at 60d

Boxlord

I wont be putting my hand in there! But yeah it always comes out of the tap scalding. Thanks for the advice re the stat - I'll talk to my landlords about it.

Am I right that the pipe coming out of it should go outside? I left the heater off all yesterday and last night and today is the first time in nearly 2 months that there hasn't been -any- condensation in there.

Cheers.

southcoastrgi

yes it should it's the overflow, but that's the least of your problems, or at least it is until it starts pouring boiler water over you when you are in the shower