On Wed, 28 Dec 2016 10:27:15 +0000, GB wrote:

I need to replace an immersion heater that's been in the cylinder for
over 40 years. It looks well crusted in place. So, how much force can
you put on it to unscrew it without rupturing the cylinder? Is there
anything I can do to ease it, or is brute force the way to do it?

Also, the cylinder is full of hot water. I'll need to drain the cylinder
through a hose at the bottom. Will an ordinary garden hose be okay with
piping hot water, or do I need to cool the cylinder down first by
running off the hot water?

You can tell that this is not a job I've done before.

Not much help directly, but I would be prepared to replace a 40 year old
cylinder on general principles because of the risks of something breaking
if you do anything.

If a hard water area it is likely to be clagged up anyway, and modern
cylinders tend to be better insulated.

I would run the hot water off anyway (perhaps over a period which allows
me to use it).

I assume that you have a drain tap at the bottom :-).

Garden hose will cope with hot water (we have used one to fill a water bed
from the hot tap).

Ummm....if you have hot water, why do you have to replace the immersion
heater?

Or is this the best window of opportunity?

Cheers



Dave R

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