Help with new immersion heater cost?

millymollymandy2K7

My parents, who are in their 70's, currently have no hot water due to a faulty immersion heater. They have been told the fault is with the heating element which is now obsolete and they will have to get a new water tank.
I'm aware there are various discounts offered and schemes, HHCRO and the likes, to replace gas boilers but is there anything similar for those with electric heating systems?

matelodave

It's hard to understand why the immersion heater is obsolete - they've been almost the same since I were a lad 60 odd years ago. There are a few companies about who make non-standard elements so it might be worth trying to identify what you've got (is there a manufacturers rating plate on it), checking the boss size and tank manufacturer and then having a shufti on the interweb. Screwfix, B&Q and Wickes probably only supply standard units but try an electrical wholesale company


have a look here, they'll even knit one for you http://www.electric-heatingshop.co.uk/bespoke-elements.html

millymollymandy2K7

Thanks will have a look into that.

I'm not technically minded but the plumber said the element had 2 bolts and the ones you can get today have 3 or 4 (I think that was what he said anyway).

Cardew

In the unlikely event you cannot source a replacement immersion heater, it isn't a major job for a competent plumber/electrician to cut a hole in the tank and fit a new heater - leaving the old heater in situ.

Fitting an immersion heater is not a big job for the professionals.
He will simply drain the tank, (so to save time find out where the drain tap for the tank is) cut a hole in the tank fit the new unit, fill the tank and test for leaks.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Brand new cylinder about £200
Brand new long element & stat about £25
Plus a plumbers costs for fitting.

Yes most E7 night store water & heat homes have a priority for the green / ECO funded schemes.

dogshome

Hmmm - From your post it isn't clear what type of Hot water tank your parents have - Single Elec. immersion heater for a tank that also heats by water Gas/Oil ?, or an ECO7 tank that has 2 Elec Immersion elements.

However my system is 40 years old and the Immersion heater screws into the tank with it's single male thread fitting into the tank's female thread, and I have never seen one that is different - Check out the ' 2 Bolt ' fitting for yourself and if you can't establish it for certain, get a second opinion

millymollymandy2K7

Both plumber and electrician have said it has 2 bolts and the plumber did mention about drilling so a different fitting could be installed (not sure why that is not an option now).

They are all electric and its not an E7 set up its THTC. I know my own THTC tank has 2 elements.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Total Heating Total control [THTC] / or / E7 / or / E10 needs a two element water cylinder, the cylinder & stat I indicated in #4 were non-THTC. The difference in cost is minimal, the cylinder and installation costs are the same, the only extra you would need is an additional immersion heater element & stat at about £20.

NOTE : For the purpose of this debate about water cylinders in this thread THTC [Scottish Hydro I assume] and E7 are the same thing. The day / night split is determined by the supplier and the switch from core-rate to cheap-rate ditto by the supplier. The switching form bottom to top element is determined by the water controller.

HappyMJ

As the cylinder is so old taking out the old immersion may destroy the cylinder. They may have rusted together and become impossible to take apart. Doesn't matter a replacement isn't that expensive and you won't have the build up of scale from many years of use so it'll be much more efficient as more water can be heated at the cheap night rate.

Farway

HappyMJ wrote: »

As the cylinder is so old taking out the old immersion may destroy the cylinder. They may have rusted together and become impossible to take apart. Doesn't matter a replacement isn't that expensive and you won't have the build up of scale from many years of use so it'll be much more efficient as more water can be heated at the cheap night rate.

Have to agree, removing the old one may well damage the HW cylinder anyway, after 40 years it will be well gunged up and HW tanks are fairly flimsy things

millymollymandy2K7

Thanks for all the help and advice I'll pss it on to my parents. I think tank would have been installed when storage heating was put in which would be about 20 years ago.