Leaking immersion element, help.

[berks1234]

Hi, I,ve got an economy 7 hot water tank.
The bottom element is giving us some serious problems. Wecan't get it to form a water tight seal and have taken it out three timesnow!!! Each time we replaced the gasket and on the final attemptwe put plenty of ptfe and lsx around it.
When we filled the tank it looked ok, but we are nowgetting the odd bubble rising from the element seal and it drips.
I don’t know what to do?
I could call out a Plumber but what could they dodifferently?
I’m thinking should I just get a new tank because it wouldbetter than paying someone £200 to try to fix an element leak.
Please help.

 

[rocketmanbkk]

Yep, sometimes a nightmare, water will always find a way out if there's a chance.

Very frustrating also, I feel for you mate.

 

[Noxer]

hmm, are you tightening it in with a immersion spanner?

 

[berks1234]

Yeah water is a pain. I don't know what to do. My Dad is no slouch with heaters and even he can't understand it.

 

[billychuff]

go with what Noxer said.

I use nearly a whole roll of PTFE plus i put silicon grease below the gasket and around the gasket & PTFE once i've finished with the PTFE. Defo need an immersion spanner

 

[JAP&H]

Is the leak deffinately getting through the threads between immersion and boss?

I only ask as I've known one or two cylinders to have hairline cracks/pin hole leaks around the immersion boss.

 

[berks1234]

Yes I have a box wrench spanner.

 

[berks1234]

I think it is. But it's hard to tell because you can't see behind it. How could I tell if their is hairline crack behind the boss. It could be something like this.

 

[Noxer]

Yeah i usally use slictite and loctite on the threads, on a new install. havent had any troubles, maybe just plug off the immersion, if you dont ever use it and see how that goes im assuiming your dads a plumber. or buy a new immersion or just buy a new tank

 

[jtsplumbing]

Have you given the spanner a knock with a hammer to tighten in the heater, could be face of boss is out of shape ! dont think plumber will charge £200. just make sure tank is empty B4 he calls, as for replaceing the cylinder, do you know how much an Econ 7 cylinder is ?

 

[tamz]

Eat some more protiens and tighten it properly.

 

[Bottletrap]

Is the leak deffinately getting through the threads between immersion and boss?

I only ask as I've known one or two cylinders to have hairline cracks/pin hole leaks around the immersion boss.


God dont I know this.

my advice would be to remove the immersion heater, clean the cylinder up around the immersion and the threads to a very high standard, check for any damage to the cylinder or the thread. if everything looks ok then go and buy a new Immersion and fit it.

​

 

[AaronC]

Did you use Boss White? Normally works for me.....

 

[SafeGasInstall]

Hi, I,ve got an economy 7 hot water tank.
The bottom element is giving us some serious problems. Wecan't get it to form a water tight seal and have taken it out three timesnow!!! Each time we replaced the gasket and on the final attemptwe put plenty of ptfe and lsx around it.
When we filled the tank it looked ok, but we are nowgetting the odd bubble rising from the element seal and it drips.
I don’t know what to do?
I could call out a Plumber but what could they dodifferently?
I’m thinking should I just get a new tank because it wouldbetter than paying someone £200 to try to fix an element leak.
Please help.

well if you are not willing to pay for the professional to sort it out then you going to enjoy your drip drip drip drip drip

 

[Best]

Boss White is brilliant for sealing immersions & the more heat it gets from the hot water, the better it seals. Trouble is it makes the immersions harder to remove later.
Needs the immersion fairly tight, but by that I mean tighten firmly until it locks up & then a tiny bit more of a turn.

 

[AaronC]

Boss White is brilliant for sealing immersions & the more heat it gets from the hot water, the better it seals. Trouble is it makes the immersions harder to remove later.
Needs the immersion fairly tight, but by that I mean tighten firmly until it locks up & then a tiny bit more of a turn.

Nothing a gas torch can't deal with 😉

 

[Best]

Nothing a gas torch can't deal with 😉

Yea, great fun using a gas torch on a foamed cylinder! :grin:
We have the smarter solution in Northern Ireland - the Willis heater. Not only is it a better, faster heater, we can simply replace the entire heater (if wished) without touching the cylinder!

 

[AaronC]

Yea, great fun using a gas torch on a foamed cylinder! :grin:
We have the smarter solution in Northern Ireland - the Willis heater. Not only is it a better, faster heater, we can simply replace the entire heater (if wished) without touching the cylinder!

And if you have a spare pair of hands, ye can do it live saving a drain down 😀

 

[SafeGasInstall]

doit live dont turn water off ....... enjoy living on the fast lane 🙂

 

[Best]

And if you have a spare pair of hands, ye can do it live saving a drain down 😀

You might need a "spare pair of hands" to help you fight the customer if you flood their house! :smile:
A quality full bore valve on the bottom pipe is the right way they should be done, - a new element or complete Willis changeover would be so easy. Sadly few fit them or else some idiots fit those leaky restrictive slotted screw service valves.

 

[Mike Jackson]

There's some very dodgy advice being given on this thread. Do not use Boss White on an immersion heater as it is not suitable for wholesome water. Certainly don't try using a whole roll of PTFE and tube of LSX as recommended either. Using excessive PTFE tape can distort the cylinder boss and will certainly make it very difficult to turn the immersion heater in.

You need to take the immersion out, clean up all the threads and clean the mating face on the cylinder. Now check the face on the cylinder is completely flat. Try running the immersion in and out a few times to make sure that the thread is clean. The seal between the immersion and the cylinder is the large flat washer and not the thread. Check for pin holes or cracks around the mating surface. If you've used PTFE on the thread of the immersion it's possible that you've split the flange. In an ideal world the washer should be all that is required but I generally put a smear of jointing paste either side of the washer just to make sure. As a last resort you can put a few turns of ptfe tape on the thread but don't over do it.

 

[Best]

Not really "dodgy" advice to use Boss White providing its not with drinking water. Sadly Boss White is one of the best ways to seal some things, especially on hot plumbing. Hardens though, with heat, which is a pain to remove later.
Agree ptfe tape can cause problems with splitting things, so have to be careful not to put much on.

 

[Mike Jackson]

Hot water is classed as wholesome water so Boss white shouldn't be used with it. Boss white can be used on heating systems or gas. There are plenty of other jointing materials that can be used with wholesome water.

 

[stevetheplumber]

Hot water is classed as wholesome water so Boss white shouldn't be used with it. Boss white can be used on heating systems or gas. There are plenty of other jointing materials that can be used with wholesome water.

yes theres plenty of other pastes that can be used with wholesome water the problem is ive yet to find one that works like boss whiteif your that bothered put two turns of ptfe on the thread this is sufficent to seal the threads to stop the layer of boss white reaching the wholesome water put it on both sides of the washer

 

[leepoll]

I'm sure boss universal can be used on drinking water fittings and is wras approved.

 

[Mike Jackson]

If two turns of ptfe will stop the wholesome water contacting the boss white then the boss white isn't needed as the ptfe is obviously doing the sealing. If it leaks without boss white then the water will obviously be in contact with the boss white when that is used to stop it leaking.

 

[tamz]

Many people use the name boss white as a generic name for any type of paste. A bit like calling a vacuum a hoover.

 

[Bernie2]

Err! Graphite paste, washer and hemp. That would probably fix it, but you would probably not get it out again. 🙂

 

[tamz]

Since we are talking old and potentially hazardous ..........some boss white or stag mixed with some red lead and a hemp shangy. That will work but don't drink the bath water :lol:

 

[PlumbBobBob]

Since we are talking old and potentially hazardous ..........some boss white or stag mixed with some red lead and a hemp shangy. That will work but don't drink the bath water :lol:

or even possibly wash in it either

 

[Bernie2]

No you can wash in it, millions of people did so before they found some of the pastes where poisonous. Actually I do not think graphite paste is classed as poisonous, one Gee graphite paste says its okay for potable.

Anyway I know you Southerners have some queer ways, but do you actually drink your bath water? Perhaps you do in the droughts you have been having. :8:

 

[tamz]

Perhaps you do in the droughts you have been having. :8:

Not this weekend :lol:

 

[jtsplumbing]

Dont think you can use normal Boss White on gas as it dries out and can cause leaks.

 

[tamz]

You can

 

[mikegas]

I'm sure boss universal can be used on drinking water fittings and is wras approved.

Yeah Boss white universal can be used on potable water