Emersion tripping Electricty

[jomeara1]

My emersion has started to trip my electricy and as a result I have no hot water. Is there any obvious things I should check/do before I call out an expensive electricial?
Thanks
Jacinta

[deggers316]

sound like its caput
they only last around 6 to 10 years its not a big job if your competent but best left to an electrician if your not,
cost of the apart aprox £25.00,but then labour , get a quote

[Buenchico]

Don't call an electrician as many of them don't have the special spanner which is needed to remove and replace an immersion heater. They'll have to go to a hire shop to get one and they'll probably charge you a lot extra for doing so.

If you want the job done cheaply, ask around for the name of a good PLUMBER.

Alternatively, as long as you hire the necessary spanner, it's a really easy job to replace an immersion heater. (You can buy a replacement immersion heater at any plumbing store). Simply turn the power off at the mains. Disconnect the leads from the old heater. Unscrew it. Screw the new one into place. Reconnect the leads and turn the power back on. (It might be necessary to partially drain the tank first, by turning the water off at the stop tap and then opening a hot water tank. If so, remember to let the tank fill up again before switching on the immersion heater).

Chris

[vauny]

Make sure it is the immersion heater thats tripping the RCD - sometimes there may be a slight problem on another appliance or circuit - not enough to trip the breaker - but when a heavier load is applied i.e. cooker, shower,kettle,immersion, it may trip the breaker.
Pull out all the fuses or isolate the breakers except for the immersion and turn it on and see if it continues to knock off the electric.

[jomeara1]

Thank you all for your help
Regards
Jacinta