3 kw Immersion Heater Question ?

[macabethiel]

We are on our second Immersion Heater in less than 5 years!
The first one a Backer 27" unit lasted about 15 months - when I removed the old unit it was clearly blown at the bottom. I thought maybe it had been damaged when fitted.

The replacement was the same make cheapish at £20 ish in 2017- not taken it out yet but the RCB trips immediately if the heater is switched on.

I am looking at a Heatrae Sadia at about £35 as a replacement has a longer warranty- we are not in an especially hard water area.

Anyone here got any recommendations ?

 

[solarman216]

Ted get an Incoloy one much better than copper, but a bit dearer, Rick

 

[panelbeater]

mine kept blowing so put a stainless steel one in,cant remember the make but lasted man meny years,then tank started to leak and was replaced so do not know whats in it now,but its 7 years old.
i now only put it on an hour when i want it as its winter and oil heating does water when its on.

 

[macabethiel]

Thanks Guys

Have seen both SS & Incoloy options will take a look and see if I can get one locally at a reasonable price.

I want to do it once & do it right!

 

[Banshee]

Looking at the title I guessed that this was going to be another Kenlowe HotStart or similar thread :lol

 

[macabethiel]

New Immersion Heater fitted today.

Ted get an Incoloy one much better than copper, but a bit dearer, Rick

Fitted a 27" Tesla Incoloy unit today - the stainless/Titanium model only to order up to 5 days to supply so stuck with the Incoloy - not bad at £25.79 incl VAT.

Interesting and probably honest opinion of the two blokes in the Builders Merchants was that you can only buy crap ones today and few last many years these days. He said not worth the extra for Titanium.

Old unit was as the previous one burst open at the bottom on the curve - hence RCB trip.

Did find various makes of heater online with 2 year & 5 year warranty - but not covering the thermostat!

One make found with a 25 year warranty- no price found & I won't live until I'm 96 anyways. lol

 

[solarman216]

You will not go wrong with the incoloy Ted, I have never had one fail to my knowledge, Rick

 

[elty001]

Looking at the title I guessed that this was going to be another Kenlowe HotStart or similar thread :lol

:lol:lol:lol:lol
Don't be daft

 

[macabethiel]

Top Hose Night Heater

Looking at the title I guessed that this was going to be another Kenlowe HotStart or similar thread :lol

Not so daft - reminded me of my first Vauxhall F Type Victor - it came with a heater built into the top hose I think it was. It connected to the mains to heat the coolant water a bit like an electric kettle.

Heater was nice and warm in the winter as soon as you started her up- better mpg - downside was I had no Garage I could use so extension lead ran for a good distance.

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

Keep an eye on your cylinder if its copper!
If you have steel cylinder fit steel imm., if you have copper cylinder then fit a copper imm.
The two different types of metal react with each other (electrolysis) and one will decay.

 

[elty001]

Keep an eye on your cylinder if its copper!
If you have steel cylinder fit steel imm., if you have copper cylinder then fit a copper imm.
The two different types of metal react with each other (electrolysis) and one will decay.

Good point T Doug
See alot of this at work when we refurbish level crossing emergency phone boxes.
A cast aluminium housing with stainless steel fittings and phone mounting plate.

 

[macabethiel]

Photo of old copper heater from a Copper Cylinder.

Keep an eye on your cylinder if its copper!
If you have steel cylinder fit steel imm., if you have copper cylinder then fit a copper imm.
The two different types of metal react with each other (electrolysis) and one will decay.

I am with you as far as Galvanic Corrosion is concerned about contact between two dissimilar metals - the Tesla Incoloy Unit is for made use in Copper Cylinders.

The boss that holds the heating element is made of Brass in both the old immersion heater and the replacement Tesla Incoly unit. The Thermostat housing / sheath is made of copper on both units.

Some online sites quote the typical / average life span of an immersion heater as 6,000 hours so on the basis of it being on for 4 hours a day on Economy 7 that equates to 4.1 years if used throughout the year. I use my immersion in the summer months except for the occasional 1 hour boost button on my timer.

The photo is of my old all Backer Copper Unit heater that was about 3 years old but the tank was empty for 8 months following our house fire so it had only been in actual use for just over two years!

The Builders Merchants made a point of part of the problem being the various chemicals that are in the water leading to shorter life. As we know our water is full of Nitrates as well as having Flouride added to the mix. The extent of the copper oxide plus some lime scale is clearly visible.


old immersion by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr


split element by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr