Immersion tripping after new bathroom

[Sarah76]

Hi. We have an immersion heater tank on economy 7. We have had no issues with this since moving in 3 years ago. We have just had our bathroom renovated including an electric towel heater wired in. From the very next day our night time immersion switch keeps tripping. Our decorator tells us there is no connection but it seems a large coincidence. He has tried to get the immersion out to replace it but was unable to so says the tank needs replacing. Can you please let me know your thoughts and if there a likely connection. Thanks

 

[Sarah76]

The decorator did the bathroom and an electrician came to do the towel rail that he knew. He fitted a switch in the bathroom and another in the hall. The decorator then came back to look at the immersion, he a plumber also, not just a painter and I did see an electrics tester being used

 

[telectrix]

why is a decorator messing with electrics. on my jobs if my redecoration is required, i employ a skilled decorator. stick to your own, i say.

 

[Sarah76]

As I say, the decorator did not fit the towel rail. Can someone please let me know how fitting the towel rail could be causing the immersion to trip. I have not paid the decorator as yet. He said that the work would not be linked to the immersion suddenly tripping, but he would change the immersion with no labour coats as a gesture, but was not able to get it out the tank. Do people think I am justified to refuse to pay or the works until the immersion is fixed, or is a link unlikely?

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Because without testing he's decided it must be the heater in the cylinder.
And without enough experience of removing immersions he's failed, or chickened out when the cylinder started to distort.

You say that but I have managed to split a tank before, admittedly it was an old one and the element was stuck in good and encrusted with all sorts where it had leaked previously. thankfully, the customer was understanding as they had already tried to get it out themselves with no luck.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Blimey this guy is a painter, decorator and plumber plus bit electrician, He must have spent 10 years at college or 8 weeks in a training warehouse to be all them things....

 

[ashrow]

Without carrying the correct tests, with the correct test equipment you can only second guess at faults.
I would with hold a payment of say £100 until you are given the correct certification for the added/altered electrics.
Get a electrician in to find the fault

 

[Deleted member 9648]

As I say, the decorator did not fit the towel rail. Can someone please let me know how fitting the towel rail could be causing the immersion to trip. I have not paid the decorator as yet. He said that the work would not be linked to the immersion suddenly tripping, but he would change the immersion with no labour coats as a gesture, but was not able to get it out the tank. Do people think I am justified to refuse to pay or the works until the immersion is fixed, or is a link unlikely?

You need to get the immersion heater element tested by an electrician, assuming things without verification will lead to unnecessary expense. If there is a fault with wiring an electrician will be able to verify, if it is simply a failed element that will have nothing to do with works carried out and will be a coincidence.

 

[Wilko]

The element should be tested before replacing it. As Gavin has said they can be difficult to remove, so worth testing first. Can you advise exactly what trips please? Also, a new towel rail in the bathroom is something the Electrician should be notifying your local council Building folks about and you should also get a certificate from him.

 

[ruston]

Decorators skill aside , immersion heater cable suffers at the stat connections and the insulation becomes brittle , if this cable has had a lot of abuse during the alterations there is a possibility that it is shorting causing the trip .
I know the decorator has looked at but... Get it checked for safety reasons, tripping electrics is not to be ignored.

 

[The Ghost]

Why not suggest getting someone (electrician) to fix it and take it off the balance? It is possible that the electrician put the towel rail on the same circuit as the immersion heater, which would be a mistake. So hopefully they did not.

 

[ruston]

Yes the outcome of peace of mind should come first.

 

[Amp David]

After all these years with part p, finally realised what the p stands for...

...must be paint

 

[Dave OCD]

Why not suggest getting someone (electrician) to fix it and take it off the balance? It is possible that the electrician put the towel rail on the same circuit as the immersion heater, which would be a mistake. So hopefully they did not.

If the immersion circuit was a 24 hour supply wired in 2.5 back to the CU I'd be happy to run a towel rail from it on an independent SFCU.

 

[Pete999]

how would a decorator test it.... with a sheepskin roller?

No Tel he would just paint a pretty picture, seriously, if the water tank if full of deposits from the immersion heater it could be difficult to remove, needs some testing doing before any conclusions can be drawn.

 

[The Ghost]

happy to run a towel

I feel it is usual to put such things (water heaters) on their own circuit ideally. However I am aware some people will do that and indeed often do. I personally would not take that route.