I had a plumber who came and installed a "burnout element" in my immersion heater but when he left the switch that the immersion heater is connected to, started to spark and smoke and nearly caused an electrical fire. He claims that he never touched the switch and that him changing the element, could not have caused the problems with the switch!
2006-12-21 07:58:30 · 13 answers · asked by Lorraine 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Perhaps the new element draws more current than the old one an that can cause the switch to malfunction.I am sure that the plumber forgot to check the switch if it was strong enough for that new element.Bad plumber!!!!
2006-12-21 09:49:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The plumber had to touch the switch to switch off or he would have to connect the element live and that i doubt but it sounds like a separate fault with the switch and i agree that the changed element would not cause this problem
2006-12-25 07:53:29 · answer #2 · answered by stephen b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why did you ask him to install a "burnt out" element why not a new one.
I assume you meant he installed a new one and I agree with him that installing a new element would not make the switch faulty. What is more likely is that the switch was faulty and this cause the fault with the heater. Once a new unit was installed the switch was once again in use the fault in the switch finally caused the fire
2006-12-21 08:07:04 · answer #3 · answered by Maid Angela 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ask the plumber for the old heater and have an earth insulation test also measure the resistance of the element as the fault could have been the switch in the first place. electrician 40 yrs in trade
2006-12-21 19:38:17 · answer #4 · answered by james h 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sound`s like this guy has wired the element up wrong !
Contact a corgi registered plumber get him to check it out , if he say`s it was the other guy`s fault then report him to corgi !
They will seek prosecution !
And you can try to claim back the money you paid him !
The max you should pay a corgi registered guy for the job is £40 labour only . and the job should take no more than 35 minute`s .
2006-12-21 08:51:36 · answer #5 · answered by charlotterobo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Switch it off while away. When home switch it on for two periods every day. Morning for about an hour and evening for the same. Mine comes on, by time switch, at 6am as I am on economy 7 which gives me power at around 5pence per KW/hour before 7am. If you leave it on all day the heater will go on and off all day as it makes up for the standing heat losses that occur from the tank and the localised pipework. Even on a well lagged tank, these heat losses can mount up during a day and on your quarterly bill can add a significant amount. If your not on econ7 then you are paying around 16 to 20 pence per KW/hr. Enjoy your time away.
2016-03-29 02:54:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't see why he would have touched the switch to change the element, he would only have to disconnect the wires at the element end to to replace it. I think the wires in the switch had worked loose naturally and started to arc
2006-12-21 08:56:05 · answer #7 · answered by L.R.O. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
S_ _ T HAPPENS,Even if he turned the switch on and off it would not cause the switch to fail. Nor would a larger element. It was ready to go anyway and he just happened to be the last one to use it. If it is directly on the heater, their crap anyway. Most have bypassed long ago.
2006-12-24 00:47:36 · answer #8 · answered by mountainriley 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good idea getting a plumber to change an element, I know an electrician who'll change your taps for you.
2006-12-21 08:10:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well to replace these elements he had to wire it up to the power... which of course since he isnt qualified he shouldnt have touched...and YES this could have caused a short which produced the sparks... in question...BTW I've wired many of these.. myself....AFTER the plumber installed it...they never should wire them up!
2006-12-21 11:15:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋