Immersion help?

**earwig999** · 5th February 2011, 19:17

If you have not already seen our boiler is currently out of action.

On our hot water tank there is an immersion heater but it just goes into a fuse spur, which then goes to a connection box.

How can I switch the immersion on, or check if it is working??

** Edit - Think I've found it. There is a switch near the consumer unit that was off. Must have always been off and just run it off the boiler lol. Fingers crossed we might get hot water soon.

**parker13** · 5th February 2011, 19:38

That sounds right mate, you would only usually turn it on when you need extra hot water, lots of baths for example, bear in mind it's expensive to run, think of it as one big kettle,

Parks

**Evastar** · 5th February 2011, 19:40

i have my immersion switched on all the time, as i always heard it was cheaper to leave it on than to keep switching it on and off and letting the water cool and have to be heated from scratch again

**parker13** · 5th February 2011, 19:52

I spose it would be if you always needed more hot water than the header tank can produce ?

**Spikeman** · 16th February 2011, 00:52

Originally Posted by Evastar

i have my immersion switched on all the time, as i always heard it was cheaper to leave it on than to keep switching it on and off and letting the water cool and have to be heated from scratch again

If you use Gas Water Heating yes keeping the hot water on was always a good money saving tip BUT thats the gas water heating not the immersion. Immersions are expensive to run.

If it is your only form of water heating then I can see the economy in it but i'd be looking to get a combi boiler installed.

With todays insulated ECO friendly

tanks you can keep water warmer so the same economies may not exist as in older ones - although I haven't investigated it recenetly.

Same goes for central heating in the house. I keep mine on all day and night set at 19 degrees. it just kicks in every now and then to top up and not run the whole house to temperature for an hour or so etc.

**cactikid** · 16th February 2011, 01:03

i used to have immersion on all the time,its now switched off,i use the gas to top up the heat in cylinder.also invested in the solar panels to heat the water which i find good even in winter

**Spikeman** · 16th February 2011, 01:28

I've been wondering about adding solar but as its likely that I'll be moving over to canada for sometime I've left off. Out of interest what set up did you put in and the cost?

Also been looking into rain harvesting systems for waste waters.