How to replace immersion heater 

Great video tutorial, thanks. Thanks for the tip to drain the cold water tank because the gate valves are prone to fail. Screwfix and monument don't do those old fashioned cast iron solid immersion spanners anymore I had to order one from eBay.

Well explained mate. Thanks buddy

Great tutorial thank you. 👍

I wish all immersion heater changes went as easily as your demonstration!! Many time I have had to use heat to undo the immersion and a big hammer!! Draining is simple - switch off the top tank filler and run the bath hot tap till it stops. There might be a small amount of water to mop up with a vac. I disagree with using paste on a fibre washer for two reasons. A fibre washer is designed to expand if it gets any water on it so makes a watertight seal even if the immersion face is slightly damaged. Putting paste on both sides negates this ability and will make the immersion almost impossible to remove next time.

No need to smear the threads with paste, think about the next guy/gal that has to change the immersion heater. Paste both sides of fibre washer and that’s it.

Hiya, great video, what paste did you use?

Hi, very useful video - thanks. Just a quick one. I have a gate valve between my cold water cylinder and the hot water, and also the second outlet for a pumped shower the same as this. In order to drain down as you suggest, does that result you essentially draining the cold water storage tank fully, and then the top of the HW cylinder will drain?

I have a question on the hot water outlet on top. I want to install an immersion heater but the 22mm copper pipe runs across the nut where the heater will be installed. Would it be okay to rise the pipe up about 6" to make room for the heater? or is there a reason why the 90deg bend is thigh to the top of the cylinder? A Great tutorial by the way

They have a reset button linked to the thermostat. If engaged it wont heat. If you have a range cooker that heats water the water my get too hot and reset the immersion if you have forgotten to switch it off

If the cold feed gate valve is open, does that mean that cold water is going into the cylinder as you are working? Or did you run the shower to the extent that you used it to empty the cold tank and drop the level in the cylinder as well?

Is that boss white?

Some really handy tips here Luke, thanks very much. When the tank is old and the thread is corroded and weeping a bit (like the one I've got to change!), do you ever apply a bit of heat? Or is it just WD40 and gentle persuasion...