OSO hotwater boiler_Issue heating the water

[marconi]

Well, I'm confused to be honest I worry if the plumber makes things worse and end up without hot water at all.

How is it possible that after he changed the parts it worked for a day and then the next day nothing? That's what I don't understand. What could that mean?

Please describe in more detail if you can.

I just feel that if I don't understand a little bit what is happening then I don't know if I can understand whether he knows what he is doing or not.

Could it be a problem with the switches and not the water tank at all?

Yes it could be a problem with switches or their connections but at the moment I reckon not.

 

[marconi]

Nicole_ Hello. I wondered if you had an update?

 

[Nicole_]

Hi, I've been meaning to give an update but I've been so busy with life and frustrated with this water heater situation that I didn't want to think about it anymore. I cannot believe that basically it took us 3.5 weeks since the issue started and the issue is still there. I'm only a tenant and shouldn't really been bothering with all this, but my landlady does try to be honest.

So, basically the plumber came on Saturday and changed both immersion heaters and the thermostats. Photo attached. He said that he changed everything that he could on the cylinder and if there are still issues then an electrician needs to have a look.

Again, if I switch on the "Water heater" it works for one hour and then it stops. If I switch on the "Night Immersion" it works only if you sort of play with it a little bit which I'm scared to even touch.

Would you think that an electrician needs to come and have a look at the switches? Like all this time maybe the issue was with that?

If it was up to me, I would have just replaced the cylinder to begin with.

I'm just conscious if these people are just lying so they can take the money knowing that the issue cannot be resolved.

 

[marconi]

Thank you. I will reply today Tue 28 Mar 23.

 

[marconi]

From what you said in your last message it looks like the Night Immersion Switch is faulty or there is a loose connection. When you played with the night immersion switch did the orange light illuminate?

 

[marconi]

Do the hands of the Grasslin timer switch show the correct time?

At the moment the picture you sent of it shows it on in these periods when timer mode is selected and the correct time is set on the hands:

1000-1200

1800-2030

2130-2230

2330-2400

(You may have changed these times in which case please send me a new photo).

Does the vertical cable from it still go to the top element?

For the timer to keep the correct time the left hand water heater switch must be left on. You can then use the three position slider switch near the hands to control the top heater, the three positions being timed mode, off and permanently on.

 

[marconi]

Nicole_ I hope you are just busy and not that you are tired of all my questions ;-)

I want to give you some questions for an electrician to answer once he/she has visited and inspected what's what - because there will need to be a visit paid for by your landlady. But just need a little more information first. We can bowl out the tank and its heaters now as the problem.

There are female electricians if you would prefer one to visit. We can also see if a trusted forum member is near by.

 

[Nicole_]

Hi marconi! Sorry I didn’t reply, I was just busy. Thanks again for all the info though. So to answer the questions.

Night Immersion- The orange light doesn’t illuminate. It actually goes on and off. Like it’s flashing sometimes. But, the majority of the time it’s off.

Grasslin timer- I changed the times today because my landlady asked me to do so to check if it’s going to work. I did but still it doesn't work. Just to say again though, that this timer I have it on the permanent position which means that it doesn’t matter anyway what times I put there. If a photo is still needed then let me know.

Vertical cable- I don’t know exactly where it goes to because they get mixed under that white thing and then I don’t know where it ends up.

Electrician- My landlady said she has asked the plumber to bring an electrician. But, yes if there is a trusted forum member I could consider and pass the info to the landlady.

What questions would you recommend asking the electrician?

 

[marconi]

What is your district in Liverpool so I can make some enquiries about forum electricians in your area?

The items I have highlighted in bold are what you need to address with the electrician.

The flashing orange light is not right. Please leave that switch turned off for now. It needs an electrician to investigate.

If the hands of the Grasslin timer are not moving and keeping correct time then it is duff and requires replacement. But as you say in constant on mode that provides power to the immersion top heater controlled by the left hand switch. But you only heat the volume of water above the heater as heat rises. To keep the correct time it needs the left hand switch to be left on - is this what you have done?

Your installation is lacking a way of turning the bottom element on and off to match off peak electricity rates. An electrician will have to provide another time switch for the bottom element. See my recommendation at the end.

You are on the wrong type of tariff for electric water and space heating because you have no periods of off peak electricity. Have a chat with a neighbour who has electric water and space heating and find out what scheme of off peak tariff they use, the two most common be Economy 7 which is night time only and Economy 10 which is night time and some day time periods also. Study this link and then think about which is best for you:

What is Economy 10? A complete guide to Economy 10 meters and tariffs - https://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/guides/economy-10/#:~:text=How%20Is%20Economy%2010%20different,hours%2C%20usually%20in%20the%20afternoon.

The good thing about E7 and E10 is that they apply to all the flat's electricity consumption during the periods of lower rate which means one can with an eye on the clock or using timer functionality in the appliance run washer, dryer, dishwater or cooker and benefit from cheaper electricity. If your meter is not capable of dual rate then it will have to be swapped for one that is by your electricity supplier.

I want to see if your Landis and Gyr E470 electricity meter is capable of dual rate. Please would you follow what this short video tutorial shows and tell me what the display toggles between:

For Megan, who had a problem with her electric heating control we fitted this single timer which can control both the top and bottom elements and arrives preset with the common economy rate tariffs like E7 and E10 so all the electrician has to do is select the one you have arranged with your electricity supplier. Nice and simple to use. A rocker switch to select the bottom element Always off/timed and a button to press to increment a boost period time duration for the top element in steps of 1/2, 1 and 2 hours which can be cancelled after selection should one wish. Two lights indicate which element is on. See:

Sangamo Powersaver Dual Flexi Timer and Boost | Sangamo (PSDF2) - https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/SGPSDF2.html

 

[Nicole_]

So, the electrician came and he said everything looks fine. He took the cover out of the switches to check the cables and he said there is nothing wrong. He set the times and raised the temperature on the thermostat. Will keep an eye to see if the water gets heated etc now.

For the flashing light, he said it’s just the neon that is not working.

About the grasslin- If I have it on the constant on mode, then does it matter if the time is wrong when I switch it on?

I need to look at the tariff.

I need to dedicate an evening reading through all this information you have provided and understand things better. All these are so new to me and I’m trying to understand.