Immersion heater faulty; electric or plumbing to blame?

[sheepboy]

Hello all,

My immersion heater has recently been temperamental giving both hot and cold water when turned on.

I originally thought the problem was the immersion heater element given that the switched fuse it ran from was ok. I 'knew' this because the pump to the power shower is also wired into this fused box and worked fine.

So I diagnosed the problem as the element itself. I have bought a new one and installed it no problems (although it was a nightmare removing the old one - as many other posters have experienced).

For the first day or so I had hot water on demand but now it is temperamental again. Note that when the central heating is turned on we get hot water no problems.

So is it the electrics even though my pump works just fine from the fuse box?

Cheers

 

[picasso]

why are you using your immersion heater when you have a central heating boiler?

 

[Hp1]

I Hope the shower pump supply has been fused down and is not protected via the 20A Immersion supply mcb.

 

[londonboy]

The shower pump shouldnt be there full stop.
Immersion needs a dedicated 16/20amp radial from CU.

 

[JohnD]

My immersion heater has recently been temperamental giving both hot and cold water when turned on.

You mean both hot and cold water comes out of the taps?

presumably not at the same time?

or do you mean the immersion heater sometimes fails to heat the water in the cylinder?

 

[Boilerman2]

Immersion Heater & Shower Boost Pump sharing a Fused Spur?? Uh-Oh!

 

[sheepboy]

Hi,

Thank you all for your replies. I'm not fully conversant with some of the terminology used (MCB, CU - consumer unit?)but I get the jist regards how the pump is wired in. For the record the shower pump is plugged (3 amp plug) into a socket which is in turn wired into the fused box.

I am going to disconnect the pump and see if that alters anything.

Unfortunately my boiler (Ideal Classic SE18FF) does not have the capability to heat water alone so in the summer months I have to use the immersion. In the winter its the opposite. The need for central heating gives us hot water without need to swithc the immersion on.

Any other thoughts re this?

Cheers

 

[tamz]

Use the boiler and turn the radiators off at the valves

 

[Agile]

My Ideal Classic can heat any combination of CH and HW !

I recommend that you get a compentent engineer to fit full controls to your system before the end of the summer. We used to charge £240 if that helps as a guide.

You are paying about 2-3 time what you need to by heating water with electricity.

Tony