immersion problem

[tap washer]

I have installed a 30" immersion in a direct cylinder that was previously heated by solid fuel the cylinder only part heats i.e. only the top quarter gets hot. We have tried 2 immersion heaters both give the same result?

 

[sime10]

Has you cylinder got a thermostat ? If it has maybe it is to far up the cylinder try lowering it if this is the case.
By lowering it I mean further to the bottom of the cylinder

 

[tap washer]

thermostat is fixed in the centre of the element??

 

[sime10]

Sorry was thinking of boiler heated

 

[Bamber gaspipe]

I have installed a 30" immersion in a direct cylinder that was previously heated by solid fuel the cylinder only part heats i.e. only the top quarter gets hot. We have tried 2 immersion heaters both give the same result?

You cannot have installed a 30 inch immersion in a direct cylinder then say it was previously heated by solid fuel, how can it be new? a clue would be interesting?

 

[sime10]

I have installed a 30" immersion in a direct cylinder that was previously heated by solid fuel the cylinder only part heats i.e. only the top quarter gets hot. We have tried 2 immersion heaters both give the same result?

You cannot have installed a 30 inch immersion in a direct cylinder then say it was previously heated by solid fuel, how can it be new? a clue would be interesting?

Where does new come into it?

 

[tap washer]

The cylinder (or the water in it) was previously heated by a solid fuel back boiler (old). The boiler burst, the pipes to the boiler were capped off, an immersion heater was purchased and installed, (new). Problem as previous heating only quarter of a tank of water (wet)

 

[sime10]

Obviously the water at the top reaches temprature so it knocks the thermostat of leaving you with only 30 inches or under of hot water in the cylinder.

another immersion requiered at the bottom of the cylinder

 

[tap washer]

So why do cylinders have only one immersion plug formed at the top and none anywhere else.

 

[Bamber gaspipe]

The cylinder (or the water in it) was previously heated by a solid fuel back boiler (old). The boiler burst, the pipes to the boiler were capped off, an immersion heater was purchased and installed, (new). Problem as previous heating only quarter of a tank of water (wet)

Pardon me, my mistake, most solid fuel back boilers did not have electric immersion heaters, very modern for back boilers, my mistake, solid fuel back boilers where you utilise the damper to heat water rarely had immersion heaters, pardon my ignorance.

 

[sime10]

So why do cylinders have only one immersion plug formed at the top and none anywhere else.

try turning the stat up then

 

[tap washer]

Elecctrician has had the first one up to its limit, the second one is factory set at 60 degrees which should be hot enough, but the problem persists

 

[JohnD]

I have a feeling that your thermostat may only be about 11" long. Because the hot water rises within the cylinder, it will stratify and heat from the top down. Before the top 11" of the cylinder is hot, the thermostat will be satisfied and turn off the power.

There are "dual element" immersion heaters made with one long and one short (folded) element, and IIRC some of these have two thermostats. they are surprisingly expensive, though.

Do you remember how long the thermostat was?

 

[Gasguru]

Try a different make of thermostat - I've had this problem - it was due to poor quality. Have you got the correct lenght of thermostat? Are you allowing sufficient time for the water to heat up?

 

[Bamber gaspipe]

So why do cylinders have only one immersion plug formed at the top and none anywhere else.

try turning the stat up then

The cylinder stat has nothing to do with the immersion heater, if the heating does not perform the immersion is used as a backup, the cylinder stat is only in use when all heating/hot water is operational.