Boost switch on immersion heater

[PM1234]

Would anyone have any idea on how this works.

I have an immersion which works on a night saver timer. There is hot water in the morning but by evening, its regularly lukewarm. There is a booster switch on the immersion panel which I put on and the light goes on to say the hot water boost is on. However it doesn't heat the water very well. Even after being 'boosted' for up to two hours, the water, while it might be a little warmer is not hot.

I'm guessing its something to do with the timer? We had a new pump installed a couple of months ago and its working fine. When the plumber installed it, he checked the thermostat and said this was the right temperature for the size of the tank.

Would anyone have any ideas on how to get the booster to work?

Thanks.

 

[ClubMan]

There is hot water in the morning but by evening, its regularly lukewarm.

Because it was all used up or just because it cools down? We use a Nightsaver immersion and rarely run out of hot water during the day. Presumably your tank and pipes are lagged (ideally a factory fitted/sprayed on lagging jacket on the tank) and you're not wasting the hot water?

There is a booster switch on the immersion panel which I put on and the light goes on to say the hot water boost is on. However it doesn't heat the water very well.

Perhaps the element or wiring is dodgy? Often there is one element for the main heating and another for the boost.

Even after being 'boosted' for up to two hours, the water, while it might be a little warmer is not hot.

Certainly suggests that something is wrong...

We had a new pump installed a couple of months ago and its working fine.

Pump for what?

 

[Hoagy]

The timer doesn't control the temperature. After two hours of boost the water should be piping hot.
It depends on what system you've got.
If there are two immersions in the side of the tank, the bottom one heats up on night rate and the top one provides the boost during the day.
There will be a thermostat in each. Adjust the top one.
If there is only one immersion in the top of the tank there may be two thermostats in it. You will have to identify which one is controlling the short element and adjust it.
If there is only one thermostat then the short immersion element may be faulty.

 

[PM1234]

We're not here during the day so the water isn't being used (apart from short showers in the ams). The immersion is lagged, its built around it so is probably is the sprayed one you mentioned?

We had to get a new pump due to poor water pressure and when he was here, the plumber measured the temperature and said it was whatever it was supposed to be.

Its an apt. and the immersion tank isn't a full sized one so it won't hold as much hot water as the standard one and the boost is needed.

So an element for the boost then? Is this another job for the plumber or one for the electrician?

 

[PM1234]

The timer doesn't control the temperature. After two hours of boost the water should be piping hot.
It depends on what system you've got.
If there are two immersions in the side of the tank, the bottom one heats up on night rate and the top one provides the boost during the day.
There will be a thermostat in each. Adjust the top one.
If there is only one immersion in the top of the tank there may be two thermostats in it. You will have to identify which one is controlling the short element and adjust it.
If there is only one thermostat then the short immersion element may be faulty.

There is only one immersion I think. Actually I'm not entirely sure of this. Is there a way to know for sure? There are two switches on the side of the hotpress - one is a timer and the other is the switch for the boost. Should I be looking somewhere else?

 

[Hoagy]

There is only one immersion I think. Actually I'm not entirely sure of this. Is there a way to know for sure? There are two switches on the side of the hotpress - one is a timer and the other is the switch for the boost. Should I be looking somewhere else?

You should be able to see the flex or flexes going into the actual heaters.

 

[ClubMan]

We're not here during the day so the water isn't being used (apart from short showers in the ams). The immersion is lagged, its built around it so is probably is the sprayed one you mentioned?

Yeah - that's the type I meant - usually standard in Goldshield homes. If your water is cooling down during the day then there is definitely something wrong. Ours stays piping hot all day unless we go mad using it.

Its an apt. and the immersion tank isn't a full sized one so it won't hold as much hot water as the standard one and the boost is needed.

Ah - I see. Ours is a townhouse with a full sized immersion tank.

So an element for the boost then? Is this another job for the plumber or one for the electrician?

Well - you would need to establish what the problem is first if at all possible.

 

[ClubMan]

You should be able to see the flex or flexes going into the actual heaters.

If it's a half (?) sized tank then maybe there is a single heating element controlled by both the nightrate and boost if that's possible?

 

[PM1234]

Just scrutinised the tank. There are two pipes - one going into the top and one nearer the bottom and two cables each going into an immersion then?

I need to get something to open the top one with to adjust it. Is this ok for me to do myself as there is a cable coming out of it? Would you know what I should adjust it to when I do this?

You're right ClubMan - its GoldShield (I should have remembered that).

 

[ClubMan]

I need to get something to open the top one with to adjust it. Is this ok for me to do myself as there is a cable coming out of it? Would you know what I should adjust it to when I do this?

If you don't know what you're doing then maybe it would be better to call a professional!