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Immersion heater problem

IvanOpinion
IvanOpinion Posts: 22,131 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving
Turned our immersion heater on for the first time last night and it failed to heat anything .... especially my ardour after being forced to take a cold shower.

Anybody any thoughts on what someone with reasonable DIY skills should test before spending a fortune on a plumber?

Thanks
Ivan
I don't care about your first world problems; I have enough of my own!
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Comments

  • alanobrien
    alanobrien Posts: 3,309 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Mortgage-free Glee!
    IvanOpinion wrote:
    Turned our immersion heater on for the first time last night and it failed to heat anything .... especially my ardour after being forced to take a cold shower.

    Anybody any thoughts on what someone with reasonable DIY skills should test before spending a fortune on a plumber?

    Thanks
    Ivan

    If its on a simple 13 amp plug as some are, then check the fuse first.

    Then there may be a switch or stat on the top of the heater element so you could check those.

    Finally, if you think the element is dead you might be able to check the continuity of the elements by putting a meter across the contacts.......but only do this if you know how !
  • paul_h
    paul_h Posts: 1,074 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Check the fuse or mcb (trip) in the consumer unit - it should be on a circuit of it's own. If it's gone, replace/reset it once. If it goes again, it's likely the element is kaput. If the fuse/mcb is OK, the thermostat or again the element could be duff.

    If you feel competent, complete replacement immersion heaters are less than £10, but if you are in any doubt get an electrician in... ;)
    alanobrien wrote:
    If its on a simple 13 amp plug as some are, then check the fuse first.
    Immersion heaters should not be connected via a 13A plug. Requirement in the 16th edition regs is for a 16 amp MCB (or fuse) on a 2.5mm twin and earth cable radial circuit, a 20A double pole isolator and then heat resistant (16A) cable to heater.

    A 13A socket does not provide double pole isolation by switch.
  • YorkshireBoy
    YorkshireBoy Posts: 31,541 Forumite
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    paul_h wrote:
    A 13A socket does not provide double pole isolation by switch.
    Many manufacturers have now introduced DP switches to their 13A sockets - MK & Crabtree for example. However, as you say, they should not be used for immersion heater circuits.
  • paul_h
    paul_h Posts: 1,074 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    YorkshireBoy wrote:
    Many manufacturers have now introduced DP switches to their 13A sockets - MK & Crabtree for example. However, as you say, they should not be used for immersion heater circuits.

    I seem to remember that the regs specifically prohibit this immersion heater arrangement now.

    You are right about the newer switched sockets - although there's no requirement for DP switching on sockets outlets. Perhaps I should have said 'does not guarantee double pole isolation' or something similar. :confused:

    By the way, I'm a MK fan myself...
  • YorkshireBoy
    YorkshireBoy Posts: 31,541 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    paul_h wrote:
    I seem to remember that the regs specifically prohibit this immersion heater arrangement now.
    Regulation 554-05-03. ;)
  • paul_h
    paul_h Posts: 1,074 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    YorkshireBoy wrote:
    Regulation 554-05-03. ;)

    Well done that man! :beer:
  • lush_walrus
    lush_walrus Posts: 1,976 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    We just had the same problem, and it turned out to be the element. For the part and labour we paid £80 and it took just over an hour to do (London prices). Aparently if the element is at the top of the boiler rather than at the side it is easier to get to.

    But be very careful if you are thinking of checking or changing the element yourself, as if you damage the copper inside the boiler then you might end up needing a new boiler altogether.
  • Nile
    Nile Posts: 14,766 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    lush_walrus wrote:
    We just had the same problem, and it turned out to be the element. For the part and labour we paid £80 and it took just over an hour to do (London prices). Aparently if the element is at the top of the boiler rather than at the side it is easier to get to.

    But be very careful if you are thinking of checking or changing the element yourself, as if you damage the copper inside the boiler then you might end up needing a new boiler altogether.

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  • alanobrien
    alanobrien Posts: 3,309 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Mortgage-free Glee!
    paul_h wrote:
    Immersion heaters should not be connected via a 13A plug. Requirement in the 16th edition regs is for a 16 amp MCB (or fuse) on a 2.5mm twin and earth cable radial circuit, a 20A double pole isolator and then heat resistant (16A) cable to heater.

    A 13A socket does not provide double pole isolation by switch.

    :rolleyes:
    Thanks i am well aware of that , and i am also aware that many get connected by 3 pin plugs because my brother is an electrician and sees that stuff all the time.
  • Cagey
    Cagey Posts: 295 Forumite
    You can`t get better double pole isolation than removing a 13amp plug. The problem with the immersionm fittted to a 13amp plug is that the cartridge fuse tends to wear out through time.
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