When a stubborn immersion element wont budge!

[Gavin John Hyde]

I have had to admit defeat today on a dodgy immersion element, tested it and found its cause of rcd tripping, so try to get the element out...
easier said than done, I tried usual box spanner, taps with hammer, plenty of wd40, still not come loose... its been in since 2002 according to the customer as he recalls the football world cup being on at the time in japan!
heat gun is not viable due to amount of foam and insulation surrounding the tank... would be just my luck to end up burning the place down.

I have told him now that if i keep trying to get this thing out then he runs risk of me damaging the tank, possibly beyond repair, so he needs to call a plumber to either get it out or if hes skilled enough make a hole for a new replacement element, leaving the old in situ... I will then return to connect up.
This is the bit where it gets funny... he already called a plumber who said its an electricians job! but is now going to call a proper plumber!
Whats peoples methods for getting the stubborn old ones out of the tank?

Some times i think its best to admit defeat, go home and relax. I have once before seen a tank split where somebody used a tube to get extra leverage on the box spanner and yanked so hard it pulled the tank out of position and tore the metal. I did not want it to be me this time, especially as i only included £60 + materials for this part of the job. The other bits I have done and charged for apart from this.

 

[Pete999]

I have had to admit defeat today on a dodgy immersion element, tested it and found its cause of rcd tripping, so try to get the element out...
easier said than done, I tried usual box spanner, taps with hammer, plenty of wd40, still not come loose... its been in since 2002 according to the customer as he recalls the football world cup being on at the time in japan!
heat gun is not viable due to amount of foam and insulation surrounding the tank... would be just my luck to end up burning the place down.

I have told him now that if i keep trying to get this thing out then he runs risk of me damaging the tank, possibly beyond repair, so he needs to call a plumber to either get it out or if hes skilled enough make a hole for a new replacement element, leaving the old in situ... I will then return to connect up.
This is the bit where it gets funny... he already called a plumber who said its an electricians job! but is now going to call a proper plumber!
Whats peoples methods for getting the stubborn old ones out of the tank?

Some times i think its best to admit defeat, go home and relax. I have once before seen a tank split where somebody used a tube to get extra leverage on the box spanner and yanked so hard it pulled the tank out of position and tore the metal. I did not want it to be me this time, especially as i only included £60 + materials for this part of the job. The other bits I have done and charged for apart from this.

You could try cracking it the other way(tightening it) just a smidgen to break the Plumber's Mate seal, I suspect that is what is holding it tight, of course this could prove damaging to the tank, your call Gavin.

 

[marconi]

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

I tried tightening to break seal already @Pete999 I have tried all the usual tricks. Hence why I have admitted defeat, this way I can avoid responsibility if it all goes wrong and splits. He has a plumber coming out tomorrow to have a go.... I have said to him im happy to come back to connect it up as i have tested the circuit and its all compliant.. so guess its a case of wait for the plumber to try and get it out...
Not all bad though as hes paid for the new element already, just he cant currently use it!

 

[davesparks]

Use a hacksaw blade to cut the old fibre washer out all around it.

 

[Midwest]

Plumbers job. Always a potential to rupture the tank, so he'd have to get a plumber in then.

 

[davesparks]

I agree it should always be a plumbers job, they’re fully insured for flooding houses.

 

[dean.diy]

one of them jobs that merits a premium for when
it does go wrong. No heat, leave it full, immersion
heater spanner and stillsons.
Once pulled a thermostat off and immersion started weeing
at me, the sleeve had a hole.

 

[Pete999]

one of them jobs that merits a premium for when
it does go wrong. No heat, leave it full, immersion
heater spanner and stillsons.
Once pulled a thermostat off and immersion started weeing
at me, the sleeve had a hole.

Don't know about you Dean but if I was removing an immersion heater I would enpty the Cylinder.

 

[davesparks]

Don't know about you Dean but if I was removing an immersion heater I would enpty the Cylinder.

It’s best to get it started a fraction of a turn just to break it free before draining the cylinder, the weight of the water helps hold the shape of the cylinder and stop it buckling or splitting.

 

[sparksfly]

as per Dave , Tank should be full and use a monument spanner with a lump hammer works every time, I have replaced elements in already buckled tanks but always prepare the customer with worse case scenario !

 

[littlespark]

Drain the tank, wreck it, then high tail it to local scrap merchant.
Coppers got a good price these days

 

[Adam W]

I had one of these recently - immersion kept tripping, suspected corroded element. The cylinder had 2 sacrificial anodes in it which were meant to be changed every 6 months or so but apparently had never been done. Neither elements nor anodes would budge.

We got a plumber in to replace the cylinder.

 

[telectrix]

you need to use this type of spanner,

a flat one and a lump hammer. otherwise the force is not direct to the element hex. several quick sharp taps always works for me. ans a s pervious opsts. keep tank full till lock is cracked.

 

[Andy78]

Don't know about you Dean but if I was removing an immersion heater I would enpty the Cylinder.

Don't be so daft .....

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10154195711236577

 

[telectrix]

oh, and i never drain the tank, just turn off the flow into it. syphon a bit off when the element is out.

 

[Des 56]

With the coal strike in its prime I had work up to my eyeballs installing immersions for coal mining folk

When the blank or old element would not move, cutting a hole and sweating a boss into the tank was a easy job,a lot less stressful than worrying about distorting or tearing a thin copper tank
Its best left in situ if its a pig of a job to remove

 

[Des 56]

Remember the old prefabs

Unscrew the element and out with it,the mate would catch the flow in his bucket
Screw the new one back in before the bucket was filled

Start and finish of the job was about 10 minutes total
Was paid for time draining down and all silly things like that

 

[buzzlightyear]

for any faulty emer heaters , I always tell the customer to get a wet pants in ,because I'm not swing on a F.F spanner like a orange tan .

 

[ipf]

for any faulty emer heaters , I always tell the customer to get a wet pants in ,because I'm not swing on a F.F spanner like a orange tan .

I know they do some daft things but I've never seen an Essex girl swinging on a spanner.

 

[buzzlightyear]

I know they do some daft things but I've never seen an Essex girl swinging on a spanner.

WHAT ,JOEY ESSEX !

 

[7029 dave]

Forget those stupid box spanners, chains will do it, or big steelies.

 

[Marvo]

We remove elements from unvented commercial and industrial water heaters. We use the correct size socket (think it's 76mm from memory) and a cordless 3/4 inch drive impact tool.

We used to struggle with box spanners in the old days but thankfully no more.

 

[Marvo]

I like Daves idea of using a hacksaw blade to remove the fibre washer, unfortunately it wouldn't work on the cylinders and heat exchangers we work on because the element is usually recessed at least 50 mm below the outer casing meaning lack of access and swinging room.

 

[sparkdog]

You could try singing this little song.
Oh! Mr Plumber
What shall I do
I've tried to get the immersion out
But it really won't unscrew
I've tried a great big hammer
And a Stilson too
Water's running down the stairs
And the ceiling too
Oh! Mr Plumber
Its over now to you!.............sorry, nothing else to do.

 

[Squid]

I usually found that the airing cupboard is built around the tank and the first shelf is usually about 6" from the top of the element so it won't pull out anyways.

 

[telectrix]

shelf modifier:

 

[Wilko]

You could try singing this little song.
Oh! Mr Plumber
What shall I do
I've tried to get the immersion out
But it really won't unscrew
I've tried a great big hammer
And a Stilson too
Water's running down the stairs
And the ceiling too
Oh! Mr Plumber
Its over now to you!.............sorry, nothing else to do.

That has made me smile. Sometimes tough in the morning. I can imagine it set to this tune

 

[a-z electrics]

If cylinder is empty, try filling it again and have another go. Youl be surprised how much stronger it is and resistant to buckling. Bit like loosening wheel nuts before jacking car up..
Of course, don't unscrew it Completely until emptied..