Immersion heater issues

[Johno82]

Hi

i recently replaced a very old cylinder for a customer, he had a very old direct cylinder, which had split and was leaking, I couldn't get a direct cylinder straight away so after speaking to the merchants he recommended I install an indirect cylinder and cap off the unused coil, which I did, however I have replaced the immersion 3 times in the space of 2 months now, due to immersion heaters corroding! Starting to wonder whether the immersion could be touching the coil and causing a reaction, has anyone had this issue before? The electrics going to the immersion are also very old, I'm also concerned there could be an issue with this? I've installed many a cylinder before, never had this issue. Can anyone advise, help, would be much appreciated

regards

 

[drip-dry]

Next time put a Incoloy one in,I always do ,the standard ones are s cheaply made and maybe nip to the scrap yard and get a bit of aluminum window frame to stick in the bottom of the cylinder as a sacrificial anode ..........

 

[townfanjon]

maybe nip to the scrap yard and get a bit of aluminum window frame to stick in the bottom of the cylinder as a sacrificial anode ..........

Lol I have heard it all now lol

 

[Johno82]

Put a price of aluminium in the actual cylinder? The reason being?? Sorry for asking, it's just I've installed a lot of cylinders in my tears and I've never heard of doing this??? But if it cures it then thanks ��

 

[kozak1968]

Try the titanium ones next!

 

[Johno82]

Yea I will be, never had this issue though, that's what's bugging me

 

[drip-dry]

To do with the probable hard water and the effect electrolysis is having on the immersion heaters you are fitting,Aluminum is a less noble metal and will take the corrosion away from the immersion heater and draw to itself..you can use other metals such as zinc but these are to soft really and corrode away to quickly leaving the item you want to protect ,in this case the immersion heater at risk again

 

[Best]

I wouldn't recommend you putting aluminium into the cylinder! All the cylinders that used to come with an Anode in them, actually had an aluminium rod connected to a copper rod from base of cylinder with a plastic sleeve. Unfortunately this "protective" rod rotted and fell into the base causing a chemical reaction & the cylinders corroded very fast. Was great getting loads of new houses with easy to replace cylinders. :smile:

 

[townfanjon]

To do with the probable hard water and the effect electrolysis is having on the immersion heaters you are fitting,Aluminum is a less noble metal and will take the corrosion away from the immersion heater and draw to itself..you can use other metals such as zinc but these are to soft really and corrode away to quickly leaving the item you want to protect ,in this case the immersion heater at risk again

Is it April the first ?

 

[Johno82]

Thanks for the info chaps, appreciate it, clearly townfanjon is a plumbing God and knows everything

 

[townfanjon]

Thanks for the info chaps, appreciate it, clearly townfanjon is a plumbing God and knows everything

Cheeky git, if you think going to the scrapyard and bunging in a lump of ally is going to save your immersion heater , off you go.!!!
Anodes were fitted to save the cylinder not the immersion heater

 

[drip-dry]

Cheeky git, if you think going to the scrapyard and bunging in a lump of ally is going to save your immersion heater , off you go.!!!
Anodes were fitted to save the cylinder not the immersion heater

Ignorance is bliss

 

[lame plumber]

plus dropping a bit of ally on the bottom of the cyl may well cause a localised reaction and rot the cyl bottom out even quicker!!!

 

[townfanjon]

Ignorance is bliss

Please enlighten me with your comment are you saying I am wrong.

 

[lame plumber]

Please enlighten me with your comment are you saying I am wrong.

if the cyl needs an anode, buy a cyl which the manufacturer decides that they need to put one in, dont be thinking for yourself.

 

[kay-jay]

Ignorance is bliss

you must be a pretty blissful individual!

 

[efficiencyman]

you must be a pretty blissful individual!

Yea gets paid before it goes wrong again, again, again ----

Blissful all that repeat work ! He even get`s quicker each time !

If he is paid before he does it again !

 

[Best]

The sacrificial anode (aluminium rod) that cylinders were fitted with was not linked directly to the copper base & therefore the two metals didn't touch. A plastic sleeve was used. Still didn't help as the rod rotted, fell off & caused a reaction with the base of cylinder. It put a "green soup" of gunge in base.