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Home > Archive > Plumbing forum > June 2005 > Water Heater Problem
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Water Heater Problem
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| Hi
We run our hot water heater on Economy 7 (cheap overnight electricity
in uk) and the last heater element I installed lasted just a couple of
months. The one before that lasted less than 12 months and on
inspection the guy in the shop thought it was a few years old due to
all the scale.
Any thought?
Thanks
Dave
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| John G 2005-06-16, 2:27 pm |
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"Dave" <ilovedspamasakidbutnotnow@spamfree.com> wrote in message
news:3nv361dfo8vttbuc8hoivuo5a6tlgtp5h6@4ax.com...
quote:
> Hi
>
> We run our hot water heater on Economy 7 (cheap overnight electricity
> in uk) and the last heater element I installed lasted just a couple of
> months. The one before that lasted less than 12 months and on
> inspection the guy in the shop thought it was a few years old due to
> all the scale.
>
> Any thought?
>
> Thanks
>
> Dave
Hi Dave.
Replacing the element with a stainless steel one instead of copper should
lengthen greatly the time between changing.
It seems also that you are in a hard water area and should consider some
kind of scale control gadget or water softener.
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| Christian McArdle 2005-06-16, 2:28 pm |
| > We run our hot water heater on Economy 7 (cheap overnight electricity
quote:
> in uk) and the last heater element I installed lasted just a couple of
> months. The one before that lasted less than 12 months and on
> inspection the guy in the shop thought it was a few years old due to
> all the scale.
Where in the UK do you live?
If it is scaling up, then consider a water softener. It's not just your
immersion that's being affected. You're probably scaling up all your kitchen
appliances and pipework, too. The ongoing costs of the softener salt is
easily offset by the savings in detergents before you even consider the
damage that the soft water is doing to your appliances.
Also, what temperature is the immersion set to? Scaling gets worse with
temperature, which is why kettles are particularly affected by it. Turning
your immersion stat down to 55C or thereabouts may reduce the problem,
particularly if it was quite high (i.e. 70+C).
Christian.
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| On Tue, 19 Apr 2005 09:53:21 +0100, "Christian McArdle"
<cmcardle75@nospam.yahooxxxx.co.uk> wrote:
quote:
>
>Where in the UK do you live?
>
>If it is scaling up, then consider a water softener. It's not just your
>immersion that's being affected. You're probably scaling up all your kitchen
>appliances and pipework, too. The ongoing costs of the softener salt is
>easily offset by the savings in detergents before you even consider the
>damage that the soft water is doing to your appliances.
>
>Also, what temperature is the immersion set to? Scaling gets worse with
>temperature, which is why kettles are particularly affected by it. Turning
>your immersion stat down to 55C or thereabouts may reduce the problem,
>particularly if it was quite high (i.e. 70+C).
>
>Christian.
>
Hi Christian
I live in Ellesmere Port on the Wirral; when speaking to guys at our
local plumbing specialist they wondered if I lived in Elton (very
close to EP and apparently prone very much to this problem). Can you
tell me more about softener salt and its method of use?
Thanks
Dave
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| On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 13:15:17 +0100, "John G"
<john@gould2104.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
quote:
>
>"Dave" <ilovedspamasakidbutnotnow@spamfree.com> wrote in message
>news:3nv361dfo8vttbuc8hoivuo5a6tlgtp5h6@4ax.com...
>
>Hi Dave.
>
>Replacing the element with a stainless steel one instead of copper should
>lengthen greatly the time between changing.
>
>It seems also that you are in a hard water area and should consider some
>kind of scale control gadget or water softener.
>
Hi John
I have been told to use an incalloy element...is that the same as a
stainless steel one? What scale control or water softener would to
suggest and how would it work?
Thanks
Dave
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| AutoTracer 2005-06-16, 2:28 pm |
| Though it sounds like a straight hard water problem but there is another
possibility.
If for some reason the heating element were allowed to operate partially
submerged in the water, the water would boil off its surface causing
premature mineral build up and excessive heating leading to premature
failure. Not knowing what kind of heater you have or any installation
details I could only guess as to why.
If you do not have evidence of hard water mineral build up elsewhere like on
your faucet spout or inside the tea kettle or inside the toilet tank then
your heater may be doing something like the above description to concentrate
the minerals onto the heater element. Anywhere water is regularly left to
evaporate should leave mineral deposits if the problem is as significant as
your heater problem indicates. You should also be able to get your water
quality tested to know exactly what is in it
Search on "water softner" and choose a website that allows you to download
manuals and other literature to learn more about the cost and maintenance
involved in such a system. It is a significant appliance and requires
regular monitoring and maintenance.
"Dave" <ilovedspamasakidbutnotnow@spamfree.com> wrote in message
news:g9ia619gq2dggd1mbce2a1van7jh2mqc4q@4ax.com...
quote:
> On Tue, 19 Apr 2005 09:53:21 +0100, "Christian McArdle"
> <cmcardle75@nospam.yahooxxxx.co.uk> wrote:
>
kitchen[vbcol=seagreen]
Turning[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> Hi Christian
>
> I live in Ellesmere Port on the Wirral; when speaking to guys at our
> local plumbing specialist they wondered if I lived in Elton (very
> close to EP and apparently prone very much to this problem). Can you
> tell me more about softener salt and its method of use?
>
> Thanks
>
> Dave
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| Christian McArdle 2005-06-16, 2:28 pm |
| > If for some reason the heating element were allowed to operate partially
quote:
> submerged in the water, the water would boil off its surface causing
> premature mineral build up and excessive heating leading to premature
> failure. Not knowing what kind of heater you have or any installation
> details I could only guess as to why.
With the type of water heater usually used in the UK, it is close to
impossible for the heating element to emerge from the water.
quote:
> Search on "water softner" and choose a website that allows you to download
> manuals and other literature to learn more about the cost and maintenance
> involved in such a system.
As well as proper "ion-exchange" water softeners, there is a much cheaper
option. It is most definitely second best, but may help in the specific
case. They work by having a phosphate dosing capsule plumbed into the water
line (after any drinking water spurs have been taken off). They don't
actually soften the water, so you still need loads more detergents and
soaps. However, they have cheaper running costs, and MUCH cheaper purchase
costs and should prolong the life of heating elements.
The other alternatives are magnetic and electronic water conditioners. These
require even less money, but rely entirely on faith and gullibility, as they
are simply bolt on pieces of plastic (sometimes with an LED to make it look
like they do something) sold by charlatans at a large mark up.
Christian.
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| Red Jacket 2005-06-16, 2:28 pm |
| Ok....what's a Whirall ?
It sounds exciting.
"Dave" <ilovedspamasakidbutnotnow@spamfree.com> wrote in message
news:g9ia619gq2dggd1mbce2a1van7jh2mqc4q@4ax.com...
quote:
> On Tue, 19 Apr 2005 09:53:21 +0100, "Christian McArdle"
> <cmcardle75@nospam.yahooxxxx.co.uk> wrote:
quote:
> I live in Ellesmere Port on the Wirral; when speaking to guys at our
> local plumbing specialist they wondered if I lived in Elton (very
> close to EP and apparently prone very much to this problem). Can you
> tell me more about softener salt and its method of use?
>
> Thanks
>
> Dave
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