Removing immersion heater

[Elsa TLC]

Of course, that is what I suggested.

But your not always there for me

 

[Agile]

Only once have I had an immersion element which would not unscrew even with heat.

I ended up drilling 4mm holes in the element top.

 

[Dereekoo]

Only once have I had an immersion element which would not unscrew even with heat.

I ended up drilling 4mm holes in the element top.

And did it leak?

 

[Agile]

Well obviously I haad lowered the water level so it did not leak and with part of the edge drilled away it reduced the pressure on the cylinder thread and enabled it to rotate and be removed.

But that was an extreme case.

 

[Worcesterman]

Just my luck then. I’ve never removed one before. All ready to try to get it out and hoping I am not going to break the tank and none of the standard immersion spanners fit.

Well, I had to give up on this one. Got a plumber to help. He went straight for the box spanner which didn’t quite fit no matter how many times he tried. He had another immersion spanner which also didn’t quite fit. He did seem a bit suprised. His wrench wouldn’t quite open enough for 86mm but I had one handy that would. Not easy to hold it on the nut with all the insulation but after some force and a hammer we got it out without any leaks that I can see. I think I’ll replace it regularly to save the hassle.

 

[Worcesterman]

Immersion heaters, and the spanners to fit them, are a standard size. Are you sure what you have is actually an immersion heater spanner?

Can you show a picture of the spanner, on or nearly on, the 'nut'?

I hired a plumber to help. His immersion heater spanners also did not fit. He was quite confused. Got it out with a wrench in the end and put in a standard replacement from screw fix.

 

[Stuart981]

Worse thing you can do is apply torque to an immersion nut. Pretty much guaranteed to wreck the tank.

 

[ree]

FWIW:
Back in the day I removed IH's with a little pin hammer vibration while applying an 18" or 24" Alu Stilson.
Sometimes a 2" length of galv pipe was also used as a "come along".
I never used heat.
Stuatr1981 respect, I'm not advising anyone to use my method, I'm simply saying thats how I did it.

 

[Dereekoo]

Worse thing you can do is apply torque to an immersion nut. Pretty much guaranteed to wreck the tank.

Surely as soon as you apply any force on a nut you are inducing torque???

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Surely as soon as you apply any force on a nut you are inducing torque???

Applying enough torque, is the only way to release them. A little better, is applying the torque evenly, to both sides, rather than from one side.

 

[pete01]

I usually tap the spanner with a hammer you shouldn't just push it.

And with the tank full never empty.

 

[Stuart981]

So DIYer turns off water at mains - tries to graunch off immersion with improvised tool and it doesn't move. Next uses extension bar on tool - puts boot against opposite wall of airing cupboard and heaves. Tank creases and splits at boss boss joint. Jet of water sprays out of split and keeps going till header tank empty and kitchen flooded.

 

[Dereekoo]

So DIYer turns off water at mains - tries to graunch off immersion with improvised tool and it doesn't move. Next uses extension bar on tool - puts boot against opposite wall of airing cupboard and heaves. Tank creases and splits at boss boss joint. Jet of water sprays out of split and keeps going till header tank empty and kitchen flooded.

Or he is lucky and immersion spins round due to initial torsional force, winners and losers

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Or he is lucky and immersion spins round due to initial torsional force, winners and losers

I've changed a few, never known one split.

 

[dilalio]

Tighten first then start releasing.