Immersion heater wired to be permanently on ?

tim_p

coffeehound wrote: »

Well at least the tank is double insulated so there shouldn't be too much waste..

But it’s not your usual 170-odd litres though, so a chunk to heat.
I’d be taking meter readings twice daily to get a handle on what it’s using as well as establishing what the switch does.

Biggus_Dickus

mihnea wrote: »

Hi,
I just moved into a newa apartment and am super confused by the water heater situation.It's a massive tank with blue insulation on it and an open top. The only switch it has is labelled Standby/Duty. From this switch come out 2 wires that connect to 2 immersion heating elements on the tank, one at the top and one at the bottom. I cannot yet post photos as I'm a new user, unfortunately.

Now, I've had the switch in both positions for 3 days each and i've had continuous boiling water regardless. This makes me think the heater is never actually turning off and it's just switching elements.

There is also a breaker labelled water heater in the fuse box, but obviously I can't really use this as a switch daily.

How on earth do I turn this off? I obviously don't want it on 24/7. Or do I have to tell my landlord to install a timer ?
Thanks.

With due deference to the forum members who’ve already responded with some excellent advice you may find it additionally helpful to post your question on the Electricians forum of the DIYnot website.

That forum has many professionals and they will offer you good advice;...in particular they’ll tell you the legality of the installation and whether it meets (or breaches!) current regulations. That sort of info may come in useful if/when you get to the stage of negotiating with your landlord to get it sorted.

The guys on DIYnot have helped me out on any number of occasions;...i.e. expert professional advice delivered sympathetically to an amateur/novice.

https://www.diynot.com/diy/forums/electrics/

P.S. It seems a tad unusual for heating elements to be wired permanently on.
Just asking, but as you’ve just moved in,...have you checked to see if there is a separate remote on/off switch or switches hidden away in another part of the flat?...kitchen or broom cupboard etc.

Talldave

mihnea wrote: »

Exactly, thanks. Basically since we have no timer I have no issue turnig it on myself for 1h or 2 when I need it and then off again by hand. But it seems that's not an option unless I do it from the breaker (yes, bad idea, i know)

You also may not fancy switching it on at 5am and off at 7am in order to use cheaper night rate electricity.