Should you lag an economy 7 water heater?

rosamy52

Hi all,

I've been having problems with my hot water tank recently. They replaced the small tank which I believe is the booster tank and no change. Then they changed the thermostat rod thing and there was hot water once again - yay! However just when I thought all was well I ran a bath this evening and had put the booster tank on for an hour and a half before I ran it just in case. It got to about three, maybe four inches and was running cold disappointed. But of course by then I’d put the epsom salts and scent in. So I went ahead with my bath but it was a very short and rather disappointing one. I’d done one bowl of washing up using maybe a third of the bowl for hot water in the v morning so it’s not like I’d used very much is it? Surely a system should be able to cope with giving enough hot water for a bath? It has done before, I don’t think it’s asking too much is it? Not sure what the solution is though…

Should the tank be lagged/insulated? It isn't. Is that why the water wasn't hot at the end of the day?

Raxiel

I'd say yes, it absolutely should.

It's possible there are some tanks made with insulation built into the skin, but the one in the picture doesn't look like one to me.

rosamy52

Thank you, so it's likely that the hot water ran out because the tank cooled down too much by the end of the day? It's a rented property, is it reasonable to ask for them to put a jacket or lagging on the tank?

Robin9

They only cost about £10 from a DIY shed. It's to your benefit - why not DIY

rosamy52

Well £10 is a lot of money for some of us, do you think I'm asking to much for the landlord to do it?

wavelets

rosamy52 wrote: »

Hi all,

I've been having problems with my hot water tank recently. They replaced the small tank which I believe is the booster tank and no change. Then they changed the thermostat rod thing and there was hot water once again - yay! However just when I thought all was well I ran a bath this evening and had put the booster tank on for an hour and a half before I ran it just in case. It got to about three, maybe four inches and was running cold disappointed. But of course by then I’d put the epsom salts and scent in. So I went ahead with my bath but it was a very short and rather disappointing one. I’d done one bowl of washing up using maybe a third of the bowl for hot water in the v morning so it’s not like I’d used very much is it? Surely a system should be able to cope with giving enough hot water for a bath? It has done before, I don’t think it’s asking too much is it? Not sure what the solution is though…

Should the tank be lagged/insulated? It isn't. Is that why the water wasn't hot at the end of the day?

Should the tank be lagged/insulated?
Yes

It isn't.
It is.The insulation is below the outer metal skin you can see.

The booster immersion is not suitable for a bath. The booster immersion you can see as the upper heater on the side of the tank, so you can see how little water it heats. Immersion heaters only heat water above the heater itself.

AndyPK

Touch the tank metal in the morning.

If its really hot, it needs insulation.

But I think you will find its only warm, and the insulation is inside with another metal layer over it.

As to your problem, the bottom white immersion probably needs replacing.
As this is the one that gives enough water for a bath
and runs off cheap rate

rosamy52

Hi,

Thanks for replying. The small white tank was replaced last week, that was the first thing they did.

I'm a little confused though as you said that

"As to your problem, the bottom white immersion probably needs replacing. As this is the one that gives enough water for a bath and runs off cheap rate."

But wavelets said in the previous post that

"The booster immersion is not suitable for a bath. The booster immersion you can see as the upper heater on the side of the tank, so you can see how little water it heats. Immersion heaters only heat water above the heater itself."

So I'm not sure who is right as these two opinions seem to contradict each other? Apologies if I'm missing something really obvious!

rosamy52

Hi,

Thanks for replying. I'm afraid I'm a bit confused as you and Andy PK seem to be saying different things, see my reply to him.

I just want to figure out how I can have a decent bath! I ran a bath this morning and whilst the hot water lasted a little longer so I got another inch or so, it was warm rather than hot, which is disappointing. I’m wondering if they didn’t set the new thermostat very high or something.

Thanks!

molerat

There are 2 heaters on the tank, the white disc things actually on the silver tank. The whole tank is heated overnight on cheap rate electricity using the lower heater and if you use all that you can boost enough for washing up etc using the top heater on day rate electricity. You will not get enough for a bath using the top heater especially if the thermostat is set to its lowest setting. Is the lower heater turned on ? You should get a nice tank of hot water in the morning, when you get up touching the brass bit between the tank and white cap should be a good indication if the heater is working.

AndyPK

we are both right.
Hot water comes out the top of the tank.
Heat rises.

The bottom element heats the whole tank over night (enough for a bath)
The top element is just a top up or boost. Is only heats what is above it (heat rises) so will only produce enough for sinks.

There is something wrong with the bottom one. Check its turned on.

Get your landlord to fix