can i have hot water with no central heating??

Question

Hi i have a potterton 30e prima boiler in my kitchen.If i put the gas on....i'll be able to have hot water.Anyway,as i am a single mother and have a payment card for my gas,i sometimes run out of gas and therefor have no HOT WATER.(so have to fill the kettle numerous times)...I have a tank in my airing cupboard!and have been told i should be able to have electric water system as a back up if my central heating goes?how do i do it?i cant find a switch in the airing cupboard to turn it on!!! there is a wire coming from the tank that leads to a switch on the wall but,the switch is covered up(confused now?)...PLEASE TRY AND HELP...ANYONE.thanks,tessa xx

thanks to all the replies so quickly.ok,i have a switch downstairs in my kitchen next to my boiler which says water heater.That is on?then there is one that says boiler isolation and that is on?(what is boiler insolation)there is a timer unit thing(dont know what you call them) in the airing cupboard.the only time that is on(which is set to hw and ch) is when i push the switch in the airing cupboard which says central heating.(bear with me).....when thats on i have hot water and heating together but,ONLY if i have gas?sorry if im confusing and thanks for everyones help tessxxxxx

thanks to all the replies so quickly.ok,i have a switch downstairs in my kitchen next to my boiler which says water heater.That is on?then there is one that says boiler isolation and that is on?(what is boiler insolation)there is a timer unit thing(dont know what you call them) in the airing cupboard.the only time that is on(which is set to hw and ch) is when i push the switch in the airing cupboard which says central heating.(bear with me).....when thats on i have hot water and heating together but,ONLY if i have gas?sorry if im confusing and thanks for everyones help tessxxxxx

Answer 1

DONT KNOW, DONT CARE

Answer 2

There something definitely wrong with your Central heating system if radiator water is coming through your taps. Central heating is designed so that Radiator water is heated and then recirculated through the system radiators this water should never encroach into the Hot water pipes as it will severely contaminate a Clean fresh water supply. A valve called a "Zonal valve" is fitted to a Central heating system to prevent cross contamination, it is probably stuck or broken. Have a central heating engineer look at it, he may be able to free the mechanism or replace it, it's quite an easy job to do and not very expensive. Under no circumstances drink water from the tap until you get the problem fixed.

Answer 3

Two possibilities here

There might be a switch somewhere on the boiler which allows you to choose between having water and heating or just water.

Secondly there might be an electric immersion heater and this may be what you have found in your cupboard. It should have a working switch.

Without being able to see what you are talking about it is not easy to help much more :)


OK the switch in the kitchen that says water heater sounds like your electric immersion heater. That will heat water and you don't need your boiler on
HOWEVER it will be less expensive for you if you don't use that but instead just use the boiler to heat water on its own without the heating. That sounds like the one in the airing cupboard that says water and heating, try to see if it has just a water setting

Answer 4

If you have a wire coming from the tank it MAY be going to an immersion heater, the 'covered up' bit will be a blank cover over the connections.
IF this is the case then you should have a switch somewhere, normally in the kitchen (possibly marked 'WATER HEATER' ) that you can use.

The wire may only be a connection to a cylinder thermostat, is it thick or thin and what does it go into??

ADDED ++ The switch marked WATER HEATER would appear to be for an immersion heater, has it got a red light ? If it has, and it lights I suspect a fault in your immersion heater, element or stat. If it doen't light check the fuses/breakers. The boiler isolation switch is to isolate the electrical supply to the boiler/timer/valves/thermostats etc. etc. That should remain on.

Answer 5

READ THIS TESSA!!!!!

Looks like you have got a gas boiler with an electric immersion heater as back-up.

Turn you gas heater off and drain all hot water off the system.
(open your hot water taps).
If your immersion heater is not coming on the fault is electrical. (if it works it should start getting warm, or you might even hear it boiling just like your kettle).

Now check the following.
Fuses in your fuse cupboard. (if ok continue)
Make sure your isolation switch is on.
The timer function. Set all switches to the same setting. (if the electric heating element comes on the setting have been wrong, if not then set all switches to opposite setting).

If you can't get it to work, you best get a plumber or an electrician in to have a look.
DON'T open any electrical circuits yourself.

Hope this is helpful, all though confusing.

Answer 6

The 'Switch' in the tank cupboard may just be a connection box with the switch located elsewhere.
Start by checking in the consumer unit for a 16A (blue) circuit breaker than may be turned off. Also look for an immersion time switch in the tank cupboard and consumer unit area.

Answer 7

Hello

I agree it sounds like you probably have an immersion water heater, but as others suggest it's always best to get it checked out.

You say that you pay for your gas by card, do you also pay for electricity this way; using a prepayment meter? Immersion heaters are very expensive, compared to gas to run, it may be a good idea to keep an eye on your meter readings.

From what you have said I think you could really benefit from some energy efficiency advice, your local energy efficiency advice centre should be able to help, you can get their details from the EST's website (below).

Also, you may be eligible for free or discounted energy efficiency measures for your home. If you own your home or rent it from a private landlord try visiting the Eaga link below who will be able to advise about a grant from the government.

Your fuel supplier should also be able to advise you, whether you own your home, rent privately or rent from the coucnil or housing association. Check your fuel bill,statement or their website for contact details. Many suppliers also have some advice about energy on their websites.

I hope this is helpful and you manage to get things sorted out. Good luck

Answer 8

Hi Tessa,

I had a gas tank for my heating when I lived in Kilmore( which is in Eastern Vic in the bush) witch meant if that ran out we had no heating. We relied mostly on tank watter but we had a gas hot watter heater and the gas was provided by the local gas company.

I would ether call your land lord or your local electricity company and ask for help, If there's a tank there that allows you to have an electric hot watter system than they will be able to get it going for you.

FOR GOODNESS SAKE DON'T TOUCH ANY WIRES OR SWITCHES IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING, LEAVE IT TO THE PROFESSIONALS!!!! Or you will risk injuring or blowing your self up then who will look after your little one.

Keep safe and good luck

Hugs Filly

Answer 9

Put your Central Heating thermostat to its minimum setting.....job done.....

Answer 10

if you can afford it get a professional in to sort it out water and elec dont mix

Answer 11

Hello, you will need to get a corgi plumber round to check it for you to see if it is live, i may have been disconnected for some reason! maybe speak to your landlord they might help you!