Immersion heater time....!!!!

tarry67


Joined: 16/05/2008
Posts: 1053

Message Posted:
17/01/2012 14:01

How long are you putting the immersion on for now as I was getting enough hot water in 45 mins a week ago, but now only luke warm, so could be I need a new one?

Whistler


Joined: 28/07/2008
Posts: 1332

Message Posted:
17/01/2012 14:28

Steve, 40 minutes is plenty at the moment.

yrret


Joined: 17/08/2010
Posts: 761

Message Posted:
17/01/2012 15:36

Maybe your immersion is coated in Limescale (Calcium Carbonate)

Mix some pool acid in warm/hot water and soak the element end in it, or use a strong limescale remover from the supermarket.

Don't forget to isolate the electrics first!



If you don't clear the Limescale from it, it will eventially overheat as the limescale insulates it (hence the reduced heat), but the thermostat which works on water temp will not switch it off, and it will burn out, then you will have to remove it anyway to fit a new one, so do it now and save the cost of a new one.

stellasstar1



Joined: 02/07/2008
Posts: 1519

Message Posted:
17/01/2012 16:01

Mine is taking 1 1/2 hours to heat up. A stupid queston maybe, but where is the element? and what is isolating the electrics. Do you mean turn off the electric at the mains.

carian


Joined: 13/03/2009
Posts: 336

Message Posted:
17/01/2012 16:38

Ours takes about an hour at present.

davpat


Joined: 23/08/2011
Posts: 225

Message Posted:
17/01/2012 16:55

stella,



The immersion heater element is within the hot water tank/cylinder,it contains a copper sheath that carries an electrical wire that heats the copper sheath,and hence heats the surrounding water within the cylinder.



David

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
17/01/2012 17:43

I am very tempted to try cleaning our heater as suggested but as I am known within the family as "Mr Bean" I think I may flood the house. Presumably, if I switch off the pump and electrics and run the hot water taps by gravity until running water ceases it will be safe to remove the heater ?

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
17/01/2012 18:50

At this time of year without any significant sunshine then you can expect the immersion heater to take longer to do its job as the ambient temperature of water in the tank is a lot colder.

carian


Joined: 13/03/2009
Posts: 336

Message Posted:
17/01/2012 21:09

Have to agree with message 8, I think people forget that most water tanks are outside so soon lose their heat in this weather, especially as the sun isn't as warm.

birdman



Joined: 20/09/2010
Posts: 690

Message Posted:
17/01/2012 21:53

I had a new one fitted last month and even after five hours the water is only lukewarm !

rowlo



Joined: 12/10/2008
Posts: 4796

Message Posted:
17/01/2012 21:59

birdman , you gotta go back to the supplier/ fitter , thats not right , our water was pumping hot in 45mins

Babrew


Joined: 15/09/2010
Posts: 486

Message Posted:
17/01/2012 22:22

Have a gas heater system put in, instant hot water, wash and GO! 900 t.l. Well worth it.

Jonesy299


Joined: 07/02/2009
Posts: 367

Message Posted:
18/01/2012 13:15

For me it's usually an hour (max) but Dave is quite right that you are heating up a much colder body of water this time of year. We have also found the timer useful (after burning our way through two elements some years ago!!!Doh!)

yrret


Joined: 17/08/2010
Posts: 761

Message Posted:
18/01/2012 13:29

Birdman,

Sound like you ned to check you have insulation.

We had a new tank fitted, fortunately, knowing the workmanship in NC I tokk off one of the ends to check the insulation.

The retard who had made it only put insulation at the ends, where you can see when you take of the covers, almost nothing else in sdie but air, obviously like the persons head.

I have no doubt there will be plenty of others around with little insulation.

I added loads to aours, and it holds the heat all day, but a better insulator than the fibre glass is cardboard cut into lengths and put inside the outer cover.

Cyprusactive


Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 128

Message Posted:
18/01/2012 13:32

When I wrote the Mr Fixit column some years ago we did a test over a winter period to see how long the immersion needed to be on to produce 40 litres of hot water each morning. Average figures were October 48 min. November 1hour 02min, December 1 hour 20min, Jan 1 hour 35min, Feb 1hour 21min, March 1 hour 03min. It was not a very accurate test but is an indication of times and of course the solar panels do make a conribution even in cloudy conditions. To remove the element and de-scale it is really not worth the hassle, you can turn it down which is effective but best of all is to replace it with a stainless element from Kirk Bracey. The elements are long so the heat per unit area is less and a higher melting point of the stainless meant they should last for ever! Whatever that is?

Birdman, you have something wrong, could be the thermostat and immesrions cannot half work!

tarry67


Joined: 16/05/2008
Posts: 1053

Message Posted:
18/01/2012 15:35

To start with you need a special spanner to undo the immersion as it is deep inside the end of the tank and then there is a chance you may spoil the thread. You also need to do the wiring before you fit it back as after you cant get to it. How do I know, I tried it, have the plumber in tomorrow.........grrrrrrr