Leaking Water Through Top Of Immersion Heater Out Of Cylinder All aspects of plumbing questions and answers, help, tips and information

[verulam123]

Please can someone give me any clues as to why I now have water leaking through the top of my immersion heater after the plumb changed my old copper direct cylinder to a indirect one. I do not have any central heating connected to this new cylinder, neither did I for the other. It seems to be a case of too much pressure inthe cylinder causing water to force through top where immersion is wired. I have had 4 brand new immersions fitted and after 10 months this has happened. Did the tank get installed properly? Does the pressure need to be checked and how? Rather than loose anymore money shall I go back to a basic copper tank? My house is 1960s so it doesn't have modern plumbing. I am considering solar panels so what cylinder do I need for those for the hot water to be heated direct?

[proptech]

Hi
If you are saying that water is leaking through the heater itself, rather than a joint, I would suggest this is a defect in the heater's thermostat housing. The heater will have to be replaced.
The water pressure is only the distance to the tank above, and cannot be changed, nor can it be too high.

I have to ask why the cylinder was changed to an indirect when the coil is obviously not connected to anything.

For a solar system, you would need a special cylinder, this would be installed with the controls by the specialist installers.

[verulam123]

Thank you for your reply. I am considering going back to a direct copper tank now as this tank has never been right. Spoken to tech dept of Gledhill who say with their steel cylinders you must have an immersion heater made with stainless steel as copper ones erode tank. Seems that my new immersions are being eroded causing leak. I did try stainless steel immersion but this stI'll leaked after 9 months. Perhaps the tank has started to erode inside so no matter what I put in will erode. Gledhill say it's a big problem with copper and steel not working well together. Had copper tank for 40 years with no issues.