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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Plumbing Questions >> Immersion heater blanking plug https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1404140864 Message started by SimonF on Jun 30^th, 2014, 4:07pm

Title: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by SimonF on Jun 30^th, 2014, 4:07pm

Hi,

Got a conventional indirect hot water cylinder, but (long story) it is no longer connected to the boiler, so only heated by the "boost" immersion heater at the top of the cylinder. This has been OK up till now, just a minor irritation if two people want a shower as the second person has to wait for about 1/2 hour for the water to heat back up. But with 2 daughters approaching teenage I can see this becoming more of an issue...

The cylinder has brass blanking plate near the bottom of the cylinder which looks like it should be for a lower down immersion heater, but try as I might I cannot shift it. Its got a 32mm hex head, but putting an adjustable spanner on that and hitting it as hard as I dare it won't budge.

Any suggestions - or do I just have to budget on a new cylinder at some point....

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by thescruff on Jun 30^th, 2014, 4:21pm

Hi,

Are you bashing it anti-clockwise, the best way is a 2ft bar or something as a lever.

Posting a pic may be an idea so we can ID it.

You have to be a little careful that you don't damage the cylinder when doing this.

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by SimonF on Jun 30^th, 2014, 4:41pm

Thanks for replying so quickly :)

I'll take a photo when I get home this evening.

I tried giving it a bash in both directions in the hope that it might loosen it up. I also tried to squirt a bit of WD40 behind it (more in hope than expectation) but that also didn't do anything...

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by SimonF on Jun 30^th, 2014, 5:58pm

Here's the pics of the hot water cylinder, and a zoom in of the blanking plug.

[gallery]SimonF/1404147238.jpg[/gallery][gallery]SimonF/1404147233.jpg[/gallery]

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by thescruff on Jun 30^th, 2014, 10:43pm

Definitely anti clockwise.

Have you tried a long bar for a bit of extra leverage, you do need to be carefull though, maybe even have the funds in the kitty before you give it a bit of GBH

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by Lectrician on Jul 1^st, 2014, 6:32am

Always worth giving it some heat with a blow torch then trying to crack it with a good sharp bang, anti-clockwise, on your spanner tool.

Sometimes these come out in seconds. Sometimes they take hours, sweat and swearing.

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by SimonF on Jul 1^st, 2014, 2:44pm

I take it I need to drain the tank before heating it (all the online howto's always seem to suggest loosening the immersion heater with the tank still full as it has less chance of rupturing the tank. Although I must say the thought of splitting a tank containing 240L of water doesn't fill me with too much confidence.)

A friend at work commented that the plate looks similar to the oil sump on a car - wondered if I could get hold of a car mechanics rattle gun...

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by thescruff on Jul 1^st, 2014, 3:55pm

Heat may work, but both your comment are valid and personally I don't think heat will help too much if at all, as you can't heat the right place/part

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by SimonF on Jul 1^st, 2014, 4:33pm

Assuming I really cant get that blanking plate to shift, what are my options?

As far as I can think of my choices are:-

(1) Replace the cylinder with a new one
(2) Find some way to connect the indirect side of the existing cylinder up to the new boiler (could be a lot of work as boiler is on diagonally opposite corner of the house)
(3) Get the shower replumbed to get its hot water directly from the boiler rather than the cylinder.

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by thescruff on Jul 1^st, 2014, 5:26pm

Or get a plumber to try.

There's a few things in the first pic that doesn't look right and slightly worrying, mainly the pump.

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by SimonF on Jul 1^st, 2014, 6:46pm

I think you are right - The amount of force involved is getting past my comfort zone.

Which pump were you thinking looks wrong- the shower pump or the heating pump.

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by SimonF on Jul 1^st, 2014, 7:15pm

OK - Plumber is coming round Friday morning...

Here are a couple of pictures of the pump from other angles
[gallery]SimonF/1404238347.jpg[/gallery][gallery]SimonF/1404238353.jpg[/gallery]

does that show your concern?

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by thescruff on Jul 1^st, 2014, 10:33pm

It looked like the booster pump was serving the cold feed into the cylinder, clearly it isn't but changing direction is the heating pipework connected to the cylinder anywhere

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by SimonF on Jul 22^nd, 2014, 1:13pm

No - no joy...

After about an hour of banging and grunting our local plumber concluded "that aint gona shift mate". The cylinder is at least 15 years old so has had plenty of time to get well and truly stuck.

He offered to quote to get the tank connected up to the new boiler (I think he said Y-plan but I might have remembered the letter wrong) , but considering the boiler is on the other side of the house, and on the other side of 2x 3ft thick stone walls I think its not going to be worth it.

Will just have to make a rota for who gets the shower first....

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by thescruff on Jul 22^nd, 2014, 1:24pm

So where abouts are you located

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by SimonF on Jul 22^nd, 2014, 2:28pm

Near Wellingborough, Northamptonshire

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by thescruff on Jul 23^rd, 2014, 8:39am

Iv'e asked a mate to see how busy he is. I'll email his phone number yo you if he can look at it.

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by SimonF on Jul 23^rd, 2014, 11:07am

Thanks - really don't want to put someone out of their way.

Its really only a minor nuisance as it is at the moment (could even make a virtue of it - it's an incentive to be the first person to get up in the morning as you get the warm shower...)

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by thescruff on Jul 23^rd, 2014, 1:25pm

And there's always the risk you'll need a new cylinder.

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by thescruff on Jul 24^th, 2014, 10:00am

IF you want Razor (Ray) to have a look his mob is 07894 452061.

He wouldn't be free and as said there's always a chance of the cylinder getting damaged, You are in his patch by the way.

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by SimonF on Jul 24^th, 2014, 10:33am

Thanks for that, but I think I will leave it, at least for the time being. I have already had one plumber round who concluded it wasn't going to shift without damaging the cylinder.

I guess my best solution for me longer term would be to get the ensuite shower connected to the combi boiler rather than the hot water tank, that shouldn't be too bad a job to do and would give a bit of redundancy in case the immersion heater in the current tank fails.

Title: Re: Immersion heater blanking plug
Post by thescruff on Jul 25^th, 2014, 12:53am

No Problem Simon, if you need a good guy he comes recommended and you have his number