Immersion heater - water leaking

[plumworld]

I came home to find water dripping from the ceiling! After turning off the water supply I looked in cupboard housing the immersion heater but I could not find the leak - other than what appeared a leak from the immersion heater.

The immersion heater is a tribune premier by IMI Water Heating and seems to be leaking at the seems. Is this normal for it to leak from here or should I investigate further? What could have caused it to suddenly leak after 18 years?

Is it possible to replace this easily? As IMI have gone insolvent what alternatives are available and how much is this likely to cost or can I do it myself?

Thank you all replies in advance.

 

[Best]

When you say immersion heater, - I take it you mean unvented hot cylinder?
Afraid it will need replaced if the body of cylinder has a fracture.
If it is unvented cylinder, then work must be done by a G3 plumber.

 

[townfanjon]

Its an easy replacement, but as “ Best “ above says you need a G3 registered plumber

 

[Best]

Any brand of unvented cylinder would do as a replacement. The price ranges from approx £500 up to well over £1000 for your cylinder kit cost, plus a few copper pipes & fittings, plus a plumbers charge.
25 year warranty on most new units against leaking, if you have them serviced once a year, so should be good for a long time

 

[plumworld]

I have attached some photographs of the cylinder - it appears to be leaking near the bottom.

What is the likely cause of the leak? Could it be freezing? What is a good brand? Thank you.

 

[Best]

The cause of the leak is not something you can do much about. The joints can fracture on stainless steel and some of the quality of the metal can vary.
Apparently there are more superior stainless steels - Duplex, that claim to resist corrosion or fracture.
Unvented units all require a means for water expansion and there are two types of designs of unvented units. Most have an external expansion vessel, (but some, like Megaflo, have an internal air gap with a floating baffle. This however means you having to replenish the air gap at times. Megaflo is overpriced.)
Just get a known brand that your G3 plumber recommends. No need to go too expensive.

 

[plumworld]

If I changed my boiler to a Combi boiler can I do away with the cylinder? So would it work out more cost effective for me to change the boiler (existing one is 18 years) to a combi and save replacing the cylinder? Thanks

I have a two bed house with two baths and showers and the heating/water works of the mains.

 

[townfanjon]

Its a longshot pal , but just carefully check all the pipe connections, especially the top one, any of them can leak and then the water can get behind the insulation and come out of the bottom .

Otherwise , sorry its a new one

 

[townfanjon]

Are you sure its a combi ?... miss read sorry

 

[plumworld]

Sorry, to be clear. The current one is a normal boiler of 18 years. I am just asking that instead of replacing the cylinder could I replace my boiler for a combi and then remove the cylinder altogether?

 

[Best]

Yes, you could most likely replace boiler to a combi and then no need of unvented cylinder.
Just be aware that combi boilers do not give same flow rates as unvented cylinders and therefore combi boilers aren't best suited for houses with several bathrooms and several people living there.

 

[steadyon]

You could replace both the cylinder and existing boiler with a combi boiler. However, you'd be hard pushed to run two showers at once with a combi.

The system you have is probably the best option, and best suited to operating two water outlets at once. If it were me, I'd replace the unvented hot water cylinder, and then the boiler in due course.

A combi boiler requires a reasonable water pressure and flow rate to operate satisfactorily. You most likely have both given your present unvented hot water system, but do get them tested before you embark on the combi route.

 

[heliotrope]

That is in the area of the drain valve on that appliance.

May not be a serious problem but you should it looked at by someone with the appropriate qualifications to work on unvented cylinders.

 

[plumworld]

So a repair is possible? I thought they couldn't be repaired? thanks

 

[plumworld]

Can anyone tell me how much should it cost for the Labour for a cylinder to be replaced? My one has good access and I think it should be straightforward to swap. I've been quote £600 plus cylinder and parts in London. Is this steep?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Sounds ok but is he G3 / unvented registered that's the key as it must be registered with building control etc

 

[heliotrope]

£600. Way over the top. A rip off.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

£600. Way over the top. A rip off.

what are you charging for a day to day and a half labour then in london?

 

[plumworld]

The guy said it would take half a day.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I would say a day also the floor looks very wet

 

[Chuck]

I've been quote £600 plus cylinder and parts in London. Is this steep?

The only way to tell is to get another quote.

There is no 'right' price for one-off small jobs. The price is what someone competent and qualified is willing to do it for. Even the same person may vary the price they charge for a given job depending on how it fits into their schedule at the time they quote.

 

[Stigster]

If you've got the room to have an unvented cylinder (as you do already) my advice is to always go with a cylinder. Combi's are great for one bed, one bath situations but any more than that I would almost always recommend keeping or installing a cylinder.