Child scalded to death... what WAS the thermostat?

[RigidRaider]

This was a terrible tragedy. I can't imagine how the parents must feel at having seen their child suffer in this way.

Anybody know what the faulty thermostat was?

 

[gremlin1]

Isn't that like saying 'my wife was run over by a bus today', Oh ' what number was it'.

 

[RigidRaider]

No.... was the bus a red Routemaster or a green Volvo?

Seriously though, I can't find anything to tell me what the stat was. Was it the immersion stat or the cylinder stat? If the cyclinder, any make? I know cylinder stats are simple and fairly robust but I'd like to know because I'm thinking of replacing ours as it seems inconsistent.

 

[Bahco]

Read post 36 FAQs.

 

[RigidRaider]

Fantastic - thanks. What a great resource that FAQ is.

 

[Bahco]

Fantastic - thanks. What a great resource that FAQ is.

About time the other lazy lot on here did something too.

 

[DP]

Why would a faulty cylinderstat cause the water in the cylinder to boil over?

 

[RigidRaider]

As I understand it the immersion heater just goes on heating and heating until the water boils, forcing hot water up the overflow, out of the vent and back into the plastic header tank, which gradually heats up until the plastic softens and melts then collapses under the weight of water.

 

[billy bob]

Plumbing systems will develop faults during their lifespan, but they will usually show signs, the system in question must of been making noises, the parents even stated that the hot water was scalding hot, they should of reacted to these signs.
Don't get me wrong the council are the ones who are responsible for this tragedy and must be punished.

 

[Rob]

Aswell as hot water out of the cold taps!

 

[Mrs Spanner]

As I understand it the immersion heater just goes on heating and heating until the water boils, forcing hot water up the overflow, out of the vent and back into the plastic header tank, which gradually heats up until the plastic softens and melts then collapses under the weight of water.

This also happened to a friend of mine although fortunately no-one was hurt. She had not noticed any symptoms beforehand, but it collapsed during the night; I guess it's feasible for something to fail and cause a problem in a relatively short space of time. Fortunately hers burst over the stairwell so her and her daughter (who was in a cot) were ok but they did have to be rescued from the upstairs by the Fire service.

 

[oilman]

........ the council are the ones who are responsible for this tragedy and must be punished.

We can be thankful for the courts of justice then. They may not be perfect, but at least there is some thought before a verdict is decided. Unlike the DIYnot kangaroo system.