Immersion Heaters
Thousands of flats and rural homes up and down the country have to rely on expensive electricity for lighting, heating and hot water. The heating system will invariably be a hot water storage tank, with the water heated by an immersion heater. If you find yourself with cold water, No1 PHD electrical heating engineers can replace your failed immersion heater or thermostat quickly and efficiently.
What’s an immersion heater?
In all-electric homes, there are two ways the water is heated. Using an electric inline water heater, which doesn’t require a water tank. Or via a water storage tank, where the water is heated by an immersed steel heating element, similar to the one in your kettle. That’s the immersion heater. If your water no longer gets hot, the first thing to check is that the immersion heater thermostat hasn’t been turned down, or the isolating switch in the cupboard hasn’t been switched off.
There are a couple of problems you may encounter with your immersion heater. The water may start getting very hot, or it may seem stuck on lukewarm. In these situations it is likely to be a faulty thermostat. The thermostat could be an integral part of the immersion heater, or fitted separately on the hot water tank. If the water remains cold, it could be either the thermostat or a failed immersion heater. Your local No1 PHD heating engineer will have the equipment to be able to test the circuits, and determine which unit is failing. For example, if a thermostat installation or replacement is needed, our engineers can supply or fix the issue quickly for you with the minimum of disruption.
Some hot water tanks are fitted with two immersion heaters. One which heats the water during off peak periods. And a second heater, which can be switched on anytime during the day should you require extra hot water. Remember though, the daytime heating cost will be far higher.
Switching to combi – you don’t have to ditch your water tank
With the cheaper cost of natural gas, many families today have done away with their hot water tank, in favour of the more economical combi-boiler. There are however, some sound reasons to try keeping your water cylinder and immersion heater. If you have a large growing family there’s nothing worse than the boiler breaking down in the middle of winter; in which case you might consider No1PHD Emergency Heating Call Out Service. Okay, so the house will cool down, but if you have kept your old cylinder and immersion heater, a flick of the switch can at least ensure you have hot water for showering and washing until your heating engineer arrives.
Have you considered renewable energy?
Are you concerned about the need for greater use of renewable energy? More and more climate conscious homeowners are looking to the benefits of fitting solar panels on their property, especially so if their home’s water is electrically heated. Renewable energy technology is improving all the time. Normally, if your solar energy panels produce more electricity than is used, the surplus is directed to the National Grid.
Recently however, No1 PHD solar power engineers have been called to fit an increasing number of properties with solar power diverters (SPD). These pieces of high tech kit can automatically divert the excess electricity generated to your immersion heater, instead of the National Grid. Effectively heating your hot water for nothing.
Minimising the cost of your hot water
There are a few things you can do to run your immersion heater as economically as possible.
- Make sure your water cylinder, is lagged with a high quality cylinder insulating jacket at least 80mm thick. Even if your home has a pre-lagged foam jacket, if you can feel the warmth from the tank, lag over the top with the new thermal jacket.
- If your immersion heater doesn’t already have a built in thermostat, contact No1 PHD systems, and ask if they can supply and fit one. Your water needs to be hot (65°C), but who wants scalding water coming out of the taps. A properly regulated thermostat will keep the temperature constant and save you money.
- Finally, if your home is all electric, ask your PHD heating engineer to make sure your immersion heater operates during off peak, usually midnight to six am.
Contact Us
For all your immersion heater questions, queries, and upgrades, please contact No1 PHD on 08006906777 or email us on; info@no1phd.co.uk
So for all your immersion heater needs, just give us a call. With nationwide coverage we’ll be at your door as soon as you need us.
emergency service
0800 690 6777
After noticing that the house was unusually cold, we found that the heating wasn’t coming on and that our hot water had also failed. We called the team at No 1 PHD who dispatched an engineer to investigate. After discovering that the culprit was a faulty boiler part, they ordered in a new part and got it fitted as quickly as possible. The guys were great, and we couldn’t be happier.
Mr Lincoln
For days, we’ve noticed a foul smell coming from outside and a gurgling sound coming from one of the drains. Whenever it would rain, the area around it would flood slightly and take ages to drain. We tried buying drain unblockers, but none seemed effective. Eventually, we turned to No 1 PHD and were left wondering why we didn’t do this sooner.
Mrs Griffin
