Leaking from lower immersion heater

Hi Mike,
I found your site a few years ago when I first moved in, and was successfully able to repair the sensor problem I was having.
Things have worked perfectly since then for almost 3 years.

Now though I'm having a different problem, I think you might mention it on your website, I think it might be point 6, Immersion heater leaking.
There is a drip forming approximately once every 20 seconds or so from the off-peak immersion heater. I cannot tell whether it is from the seal or not.
I was wondering whether, in your experience, this is ever as easy as tightening the nut around it or whether I'm more likely going to need to replace it? If this is the case, your description states that I'd need a new immersion heater and thermostat. Is this something that should be left to the pros or could it be done myself? If so, is the thermostat the "Rod Thermostat"? Do you know how I could source one?

If not, then as I am in Wallingford, in your area, perhaps you could quote me for a repair?
Thanks,
Matt

Hi Matt

Generally if the off peak element is leaking, the on peak won't be far behind it. We would always change the elements as a pair as it's not cost efffective for our customers to simply change one (you would have to drain the unit completely to replace the off peak element anyway).

Try having a look in the section of this website where Gledhill specialists advertise their services, you might find someone close to you.

Hi,
My mother (who has recently died) lived in a retirement flat where the hot water is supplied to each flat by a pulsacoil PC/BP150. 3 weeks ago we noticed that the unit is leaking onto the floor. We got the Gledhill engineer in (my mother had insurance cover) who said that although we mustn't repeat this, it happens all the time and is due to the original installers (Gledhill's!) not flushing the system out so the acid in the flux used to seal the joints gets into the tank and causes pinholes. This is the third flat in the development of 30+ to develop this fault.

If this is the case, we are extremely unhappy, as the unit is only 5-6 years old and has only been used for just under 5 of those.

Does anyone know if this could happen? What is the average lifespan of a unit like this?

Southerner

I would say around 9 years, now i've checked and based this on 550 replacements we have done. I cannot say this is the national average as no one would have this record. This is the life span of units which have been replaced. If you add this to the thousands, it could push to 15 years or even 20 depending on the model.

For information on the replacement BP systems, I would recommend the links below:
Pulsacoil BP
Pulsacoil BP Manual
Pulsacoil Replacement