Immersion Heater Problem

[kosrug]

Hi All,

I have a very annoying problem with my immerison heater, First of all I have changed both elements. The day time one went first and got it fixed by a plumber at the cost of 200! then the second went (well i thought it did) and replaced that at just over a hundred. The Day time one is working fine but the night time one is still not working, the light on the switch does not go on at night so only get hot water at day rates. I have contacted the plumbers who changed the night time element to come and look at it again and after 3 days of trying to get them around and constant calling they say it is an electrical problem which could be a blown fuse without actually coming round to see or test the system and as they are plumbers they cannot fix the problem. I think they are trying to just fob me off and don't really know what to do next.

I need help. Could someone please tell me what the problem could be so I could try and investigate the problem myself or know who to contact next.

Thanks!

 

[TicklyT]

If the neon in the switch doesn't light up at night when the switch is turned on there's probably no electricity getting to the switch to light it up.

It is possibly a fuse or breaker for the off-peak supply.

Do you have any other off-peak supplies for storage heaters etc?
Are they working correctly?

Is there a seperate fuse board for the off-peak supply with a fuse or breaker for the off-peak immersion?

Do you have a dual tariff supply?

Maybe ask on the electrics forum.

 

[kosrug]

Thanks for your speedy reply!

So maybe it is an electrical problem? so if it is a fuse or breaker were would I find these to check if they are broken or need replacing?

I do have storage heaters that use off-peak and on-peak power and tehy are working fine so no problem with off-peak electricity coming in I guess.

I only know about the one fuse box that seems to work everything, don't know if it controls the off-peak electricity hw woudl i be able to test that?

Yeah think I do have a dual tariff supply have two switches for the immersion and the storage heaters.

 

[Softus]

Immersion heaters are a perennial problem for single-trade contractors.

At this point you clearly need someone who's competent electrically, but you'd be best off finding someone who can also change elements, just in case.

£200 is expensive for changing an IH element, unless there was some unusual problem in draining and that needed two people.

 

[kosrug]

Oh it was only 200 because they had to drain it as well as go and get the part so they charged from when they got there a bit of a con i think, but only found this stuff out after they got thee and already left to go find the part in the middle of rush hour!

Well at least I know it's not the elements because they have both been changed for new ones so must be the electricity supply so looks as if it maybe more money that I am splashing out then.

 

[Softus]

Oh it was only 200 because they had to drain it as well as go and get the part so they charged from when they got there a bit of a con i think

I wouldn't call it a con, merely poor organisation.

Call me picky, but when I go to investigate an immersion heater fault, I take one of each size element that it's possible to buy, one of each size thermostat, butyl-sheathed cable, an FCU, and draining kit. The only reason to go off-site during the job would be if I somehow wounded myself badly enough to have to go to casualty.

Well at least I know it's not the elements because they have both been changed for new ones...

That isn't a safe assumption. You can only be sure what's working when there are no faults. That's why I suggest you find an electrically competent plumber, or an electrician who doesn't cack his pants when he sees water.