Out With The Old?

There are times when having a hot water tank and immersion heater can be more beneficial than having a modern combi boiler. Chances are, that if you have this kind of set up in your home, you have an older model of boiler. What’s great about an immersion heater, is that even if your boiler breaks down, it gives you access to hot water. Newer combi boilers are great in that you have hot water on demand, and you don’t have to heat up an entire tank of hot water for nothing, but if a combi boiler breaks, you won’t have any hot water.

How Does An Immersion Heater Work?

Essentially, an immersion heater works like a huge kettle (it has a thermostat and a heating element). It runs off electricity, and you simply switch it on to heat the water up. An immersion heater has nothing to do with the boiler, it just sits on top of the hot water tank.

One major drawback of immersion heating is the time it takes to heat the water, and the cost: heating water with electricity costs four times the price of heating water with gas, which is a little bit scary! This is why immersion heaters shouldn’t be used as a one-stop solution. One good way of overcoming this is only having the immersion heater on when it’s absolutely necessary and to never ever tell your teenager about it!

Immersion Heater Problems

If the water is not heating up efficiently or not heating up at all, then it could be a sign of a faulty thermostat or element. This will need to be tested by a proficient plumber or electrician. If the water is heating up to an extreme, the thermostat may be stuck on the ‘on’ position and will need replacing. Another common problem can be the timer switch burning out, which would also require replacement.

Still At A Loss?

If you still can’t source the cause of your immersion heater problems, or you’re unable to fix the one you have, don’t fear, why not give ACR Plumbing a call? We have over twenty five years experience in the industry, and employ only the highest quality engineers. Give us a call today for a no obligation chat regarding problems with immersion heaters, gas and combi boilers, leaking pipes and more!