Immersion Heater query!!

[johnkevins]

Hi all

Just a quickie! I put an new immersion in 10 days ago, the bottom element.

All was good, everything fine. Turning the temp down a little from 65 to 60 today after running my ahnd around the element where it fits into the tank, I notcied a bit of water, not a drip, just a little wet on my finger. It's not visible though. I put the immersion element in tight, but not over tight. I tried tightening a bit more just now and it won't budge any more. Is this a big problem? Or condensation even??

 

[muggles]

It won't be condensation, that forms on cold surfaces not hot ones. You have a leak, you could either leave it and hope it fixes itself, or do the right thing and drain down and refit the element

 

[johnkevins]

is it likely to fix itself? It didn't leak for the first few days, just now I felt it, it's not much maybe just a tiny bit every day, that is not noticeable. I wonder why?

Is lsx around it a good idea?

 

[Burnerman]

Any sort of sealant applied to the outside of the joint is a waste of time - either live with it (it may seal itself after a while) or do the job again, with a new washer and sealant plus ptfe tape around the threads.
John

 

[johnkevins]

cheers for your help.

It's only a tiny bit, like every day not a drip drip drip. I used the old washer from the original heater which was in good nick, as the old one broke when getting it on, very crumbly !! I used ptfe around the threads and a smear of boss white too.

Is it likely to seal itself? How does that work?

But why did it leak now, it was ok for days!!

 

[Burnerman]

I know exactly what you mean, because these things have a large diameter screw thread, and the slightest bit of water penetration takes a while to show up.
Probably a new washer would have been best as the old one would have been well compressed, and not able to take up any more.
The odd joint will seal itself, and this is due to salts within the water (calcium particularly) depositing and drying around the leak - whats to bet that yours won't though!
John

 

[johnkevins]

the top element which wasn't changed was doing this as well a few days ago but has stopped now! It's crazy. Hopefully it will be ok !

When you say the odd joint, do you mean like 1, not like the odd one now and again?

 

[Burnerman]

It will.......
Seriously, the big problem with immersion heaters is getting the things out in the first place....many a copper cylinder has succumbed to the twisting of the octagonal boss.
John

 

[Burnerman]

the top element which wasn't changed was doing this as well a few days ago but has stopped now! It's crazy. Hopefully it will be ok !

When you say the odd joint, do you mean like 1, not like the odd one now and again?

There's a chance that any freshly made joint could leak, and then take up after a while - especially on gravity systems.....thats why, if the joint is a difficult one, the belt and braces approach with sealant and ptfe is a reasonable idea.
John

 

[johnkevins]

take up after a while? do you mean seal after a while?

I used ptfe tape and boss white on it!!

I know I was careful getting it out, and when tightening I did it up not over cruch crunch tight as didn't want to split the tank! I can't tighten anymore as have tried and it won't! But I'll see how this goes. It's not a drip, just a little bit of water like licking your finger tip every now and then!

 

[Burnerman]

Yep, take up and seal are one of the same......I guess you've just been unlucky with yours, but a new washer should have sorted it.
John

 

[johnkevins]

ok thanks, so will just have to wait now then for it to seal hopefully

 

[Jake1886]

PTFE on the thread

Have you fitted this immersion without the fibre washer? You need to fit a washer as this is what makes the fitting watertight.