Is this true

[Pika1971]

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to ask a question about an electric sealed immersion heater tank we have.

We have a 120lt hot water tank that has been in our flat for some 20 yrs, it looks in reasonable condition but lately we have noticed that the amount of hot water we are actually getting is quite small. I'd say its only about 40 litres which isn't much.

We had a company round that said that it is working ok but they are saying its full of limescale and it will be cheaper to get a new system than repair the old one.

I am just a wary as they have a reputation for telling people to put new systems in rather than fix the old one.

Any thoughts or opinions would be great.

Cheers

 

[scatmanjohn]

I am just a wary as they have a reputation for telling people to put new systems in rather than fix the old one

So why did you use them?

 

[Pika1971]

It's complicated scatman.

The apartment is actually abroad and although I asked our contact in the resort to arrange a visit from a different company she went ahead and used the one with the poor reputation anyway.

I am of course going to get another company to take a look before I give the go ahead to do anything, I am just after a plumbers opinion as to whether this is possible or likely.

I'm no plumber but it just smells fishy, the heating element works fine because the water is very hot and if there was so much limescale in the tank wouldn't it have affected that.

You see I don't know that's why I'm here trying to get another opinion from someone that's qualified to give that opinion.

Thanks

 

[scatmanjohn]

That will teach me for being a smart arse

So, you have a 120ltr cylinder, the water gets red hot, however after about 40ltrs it runs cold?

Is that what you are saying?

Is it in an area that suffers from limescale?

 

[Agile]

In much of Europe water is only heated by electricity and the element gets lime scale deposited on it.

The repeated thermal cycling breaks up the scale and it drops to the bottom. Usually the element fails when it becomes covered with scale.

Its difficult to get the scale out and a new cylinder is the usual fix.

HOWEVER the system may not have been correctly configured in the beginning!

As you see on this forum we do not approve of giving unpaid "opinions". You often get what you pay for!

That means pay nothing and you get nothing.

Tony



PS Why are posters on forums always so secretive about where the places are? This one was first assumed to be UK and then reluctantly said to be in "abroad". Why not say that its in Benedorm or whatever?

 

[Pika1971]

Thanks guys.

Yes Scatman thats exactly what happens.

Things are a little clearer now.

Cheers

 

[Agile]

The scale deposition will be reduced slightly by setting the stat to give a water temperature of 55°.

It will not stop it entirely as the element itself still gets far hotter as it heats the water.

Tony

 

[bengasman]

cylinder two thirds full of limescale sounds a lot bu then again 20 years is a long time.
at that age it might be economically more interesting to replace it. at least i would not spend money on repairing if it were mine.

 

[gavinda]

ive seen cylinders like that in our neck of the woods quite frequently. so scaled up that the draw of in the top looks like a little green cats arse hole.

pretty picture for you guys eh