Immersion heater element replacement.

[wsoppitt]

Evening guys and girls, just a quick question. When asked to look at a faulty immersion heater , do you suggest a plumber ( likely to be faulty element) or do you take a look, test then advise that they need a plumber when it is a faulty element and charge a call out for testing or do you take on the plumbing aspect of the job and change the element yourself. The reason I ask is that I have been asked to look at an immersion heater that has stopped working, likely to need replacement element, dont want to suggest a plumber incase it's not, also wouldn't want to charge incase it is. What are your views.

 

[Midwest]

Get a plumber (and other trades) as a contact. Then you can scratch his back and he can scratch yours (& not in the literal sense SWD). Then jobs like these, are nice & simple. That will help you build your business.

 

[Dobes_88]

As others have said, go there and prove what's wrong - if it is the element that's a job for a plumber!

 

[telectrix]

As others have said, go there and prove what's wrong - if it is the element that's a job for a plumber!

but OP will need to go back and make sure plumber has put all the right wires in all the right holes, with no twisted and taped joints into bell wire, then test and issue a MWC.

 

[telectrix]

bugger, fat fingers strike agian.

 

[pirate]

Don't like those immersion jobs, so I am biased...but being so, I would just tell 'em to get a plumber in. Wouldn't go out to look at it just to say the same thing. The older cylinders were thicker, I think, so could stand more spannering, but a buckled, leaking cylinder on a Saturday night is a nightmare.
Of course, were I a plumber, I would upsell to a different system! LOL!

 

[telectrix]

Don't like those immersion jobs, so I am biased...but being so, I would just tell 'em to get a plumber in. Wouldn't go out to look at it just to say the same thing. The older cylinders were thicker, I think, so could stand more spannering, but a buckled, leaking cylinder on a Saturday night is a nightmare.
Of course, were I a plumber, I would upsell to a different system! LOL!

and of course not mention to customer that the old tank you charged him £40 to dispose of environmentally friendly, got you £30 from the local scrap yard.

 

[GBDamo]

Done a few immersion’s the job is really easy.

If it comes out easy enough it’s your job.

If it’s a pain it’s wet pants.

Watch for the copper body of the tank flexing when undoing the old element as some are paper thin and will tear.

Just remember when reassembling to ensure all old gasket/PTFE tape residues are removedand a generous amount of WRAS approved jointing compound is used.

 

[telectrix]

i always found that gently tapping the spanner rapidly with a 4lb. lump hammer released it without the tank failing.

 

[GBDamo]

i always found that gently tapping the spanner rapidly with a 4lb. lump hammer released it without the tank failing.

If I had to go near a hammer I’d consider it a plumber job.

Or at the very least give the customer the option. I’ll continue but no way am I paying for a new tank.

Happily dispose of the old one though.

 

[sparksfly]

I charge to investigate issues like these, Use any tools it is chargeable otherwise not. Someone has to find out what the issue is first... test supply, cable, thermostat, element then worse case return with decent element & plumbing kit ...towels ....more towels......then speedos if it really goes BAD.

 

[Midwest]

Happily dispose of the old one though.

As long as you have a Upper Tier Waste Carrier Licence

 

[telectrix]

all depends on your definition of waste:
Waste (or wastes) are unwanted or unusable materials. Waste is any substance which is discarded after primary use, or is worthless, defective and of no use.

a copper tank is, by definition , not waste, as it will be recycled, and as such is not worthless, defective, and of no use. same applies to scrap cable.

 

[Midwest]

all depends on your definition of waste:
Waste (or wastes) are unwanted or unusable materials. Waste is any substance which is discarded after primary use, or is worthless, defective and of no use.

a copper tank is, by definition , not waste, as it will be recycled, and as such is not worthless, defective, and of no use. same applies to scrap cable.

You might wanna look out for unmarked council/environmental cars, waiting outside of scrappies for the unsuspecting sparky.

Until your old copper tank, has began its recovery process, its still waste. Your not part of the recovery process, by dropping it off at the scrappies.

Happily stand corrected.

 

[telectrix]

so, if i dent the tank with a lump hammer, it's recovery process has been initiated by me? same with cable, if i strip some insulation off, will that not be the start of recovery?

 

[mattg4321]

Every time I need to use a council service - which I try to keep to an absolute minimum, it's been a depressing painful experience. They appear to be hugely understaffed or maybe they are just lazy and/or incompetent?

If they've got the spare resources to let someone sit outside the scrappys waiting for some unsuspecting tradesman dropping off some copper that is no longer required by them, just so they can fine them or whatever.... I don't think I could be held responsible for my response to them!