water in the terminal of immersion heater

[Silly Sausage]

if my immersion tank (copper cylinder one) needs replacing do I get plumber or electrician? My local electrician said seek advice from plumber before he can re connect the immersion so I'm unsure who to speak to re a replacement if it's needed... ta!

I would say a plumber myself.
Post a link to this thread on their forum and I'm sure you'll get plenty of good advice.
To go with what you've had already!

 

[ruston]

You need a plumber to sort out the overflow problem. I may have got the wrong impression , I thought you had water damage in the loft due to the overflow. Is this the case?

 

[oldtimer]

All hot water systems have an expansion tank so your immersion is fed of the cold water tank in the attic then there is the central heating system this needs it own expansion tank so this should be small ie 600mm wide by 500mm high 500mm deep and if it is an old system then it will be metal.

When a heating system get hot it expands hence why the tank is called an expansion tank and it has to be seperate from the domestic water system.

Your immersion should have 2 ways of heating it one is electric the other by another source ie a central heating system or a coal fire or as you say a wood burner so how do you control it well the electric heater in the immersion should cut off via the control thermostat in the element now you say there is water leaking out of this well this could be due to wear and tear or the water in the immersion being boiled and this tip of heat can expand the metal joints causing leakage.

The other thing is the wood burner if it is heating the water by what is called gravity circulation you will know this if the pipes going into the side of the tank are large ie 28mm wide so whats the problem well if it was a central heating boiler the water would heat up to the same as the control stat on the boiler ie 65oC then it would cut out fine but if it is this wood burner that is constantly on then you need to find out if this can switch off heating the water when it gets to a set temperature.

Also history ie how long as it been in have you always had really hot water or has this problem just arised and does it also heat the central heating as well. As for plumbers and electrician you need a plumber as he will sort or renew the immersion and should be able to fathom how the wood burner works and controls the water

 

[Caren Mccabe]

originally called electrician cos copper immersion tank tripped all electrics due to water in terminal cap but he recommended plumber to seek where the water came from....the overflow was stemmed by us via a valve on the pipe near ballcock and electrician thought the overflow may be connected to excess water in terminal due to build up of pressure from stemmed overflow...plumber came today and said copper immersion may be breached inside hence water in cap....we are still unsure if the stove and its water flow etc is functioning and not sure if that is what damaged the cylinder with excess heat....the installer is coming out as soon as he can but I am not using either the appliance or immersion at present! Thanks for all advice....I will be recommending this site to everyone I know and I will be trying out the plumbing forum next!!

 

[oldtimer]

Caren I will try and do a schematic for

Sorry I should have added that I googled the above as it gives a good idea

 

[Caren Mccabe]

wow!! you are so kind to go this far with your help even though my original electrical problem has morphed into plumbing one! I am very grateful to all those who have taken the time to post and will let you know how it pans out as soon as it's all done....Thanks for now!

 

[oldtimer]

No Probs it keeps the brain ticking over with all that you have said my thinking is the temperature control for the wood burner heating the immersion is faulty causing the immersion boil off in other words a big kettle plus the immersion is designed to work at temperatures of 55-65oC so boiling it at 100oC can put strain on any joints hence the leaking.

I also think that this would not be such a big problem on a central heating system where the boiler temperature cuts of at say 65-70oC the problem would not have been noticed except you would have had an abundance of hot water