Please Help!! econo 7 heating?

[matt81]

Hi, as you can see I have just signed up as I deffo need some help! so im hoping someone out there can help me! to cut straight to the point I live in a flat with electric only as power source, therefore I am on an off-peak & on-peak econo 7 , I have a twin emersion heater (I think) which heats up the tank over night on the cheaper tariff, there is also a boost function on my hostmann controll panel, anyway my problem is that when using the boost function, usually when I get in from work for a shower as there isnt enough hot water by this time, all is well! however the sysyem isnt heating up over night as when my wife has a shower first thing in the morning the water is just tepid, I thought in my wisdom that it was the hostmann controller as it must be a good 10 years old, so I replaced it yesterday, programmed it etc, however I used the boost function last night to have a shower and all was well with lovely hot water, my wife came to have a shower this morning as usual and aarrgghh!!! tepid water!!! hence the problem is not fixed!! my only thoughts is that it is the coil feed in the tank???? can anyone confirm this?? I assume the tank is in two sections with a coil feed in each, hence the reason it works when the manual boost function is used? hope someone can help!!
Thnks in advance
Matthew

 

[nozspark]

I'd guess that you have a dual element Immersion cylinder, the lower one is your E7 element and the upper one your boost element.

The most likely part that has failed is likely to be the element, however it could be the thermostat.

Youre best bet would be to get an electrician in to test and possibly replace the element (some won't replace the element especially if it's an old cylinder due to the risk of damage to the cylinder) so you might have to get a plumber in as well (dependant on what the electrician says)

HTH

 

[matt81]

Hi, Thanks for your reply, so the element & thermostat are seperate?? or are they one and the same thing? oh dear I have a feeling this will be costly!! any ideas of how much a sparky would charge to replace the above? assuming a plumber is not required that is!
Thanks

 

[AndyPRK]

A pic of the tank would help.

You may have a top immersion

or you may have two side entry immersions

 

[starspark]

sounds like he has two side entry immersions and the stat has probably gone or if its newer type the thermal cutout has tripped on it. i doubt it will be the element as in my experience that usually causes electric tripping when it comes on.

 

[matt81]

Hi guys, just to update you, yes it has two side elements, not one from the top, it has a header tank, I went to b &q to buy 2 new elements with thermastats already installed with them, anyway to cut a day of hell short there was no way I could unscrew the elements from the tank, they are corroded solid as it seems a pipe from above(directey above the stats) was leaking very slightly and dripping dow on to them, must of been doing that at least a couple of years! looks like a new tank is in order sadly! the guy we bought the place from clearly re-did the flat to sell it and did a half arsed job of most things! from the fitted kitchen to the tank!! we have found many problems over the last few years!! in truth the place needs re plumbing and re wiring but I don't have the cash for that, oh well just an update thanks for all your help.!!

 

[nozspark]

I could really quite easily be the either the main stat or over temp stat that has gone faulty or activated..

They are easy to test, you just need the right equipment

 

[matt81]

Hi, could you tell me how please? it is very corroded all around each if the stats, especially the top one, but if I can get away with sliding a new stat in then of course I would

 

[nozspark]

Can you take a photo of the immersion with the cap removed and post it??

it'd make things much easier

Make sure that the circuit is turned off before ou remove the cap though!

 

[matt81]

Hi yes, I could do that, it would be in about an hour if that is ok? also how do I upload a pic on here?? thanks for your help!!

 

[nozspark]

If you click on the "Upload photo" link just above the posts box, add an album and then upload a picture.. you'll then have to add a link to the photo in your mesage

 

[matt81]

Just a quick one, where is the over stat?? is that within the stat itself??
Cheers.

 

[nozspark]

Get a photo up and one of us will show you (yours might not have one though)

 

[matt81]

Ok just give me 15 mins, im waiting for the boost to go off so I can have a shower as soon as it goes off I will turn the elec off and take a pic, I will take afew of the leaking pipe to so u can give me your opinions .
Many Thanks!!!!

 

[matt81]

//www.diynot.com/network/matt81/albums/

I hope this has worked it was an effort getting back up there let me tell you sorry for the poor pics but its very cramped up there!