Advice on scale removal in hot water tank

[Paul Wilson]

I am having some problems with my hot water tank, immersion heater is on for hours but we run out of hot water after the bath is 3/4 full. I have changed the immersion heater and put a new one in with no improvements so i am thinking that there is scale build up in the bottom of the tank stopping the water from being heated properly. Can someone help me with how to remove the scale or any ideas what the problem might be?

 

[JAP&H]

Hi Paul, welcome.

Before renewing immersion did the problem appear gradually or suddenly?

Have you renewed the immersion or just the thermostat?

Is the immersion 11" or 27" and what temperature is it set to?

 

[jtsplumbing]

If you have that much scale in your tank replace it B4 the bottom drops out !! then invest in a Water softner,

 

[Paul Wilson]

we moved in about 5 years ago and we would always have had to keep the immersion on for a while to get a good bath but only recently did it get just as bad as it is now. the immersion stopped altogether 2 weeks ago so i replaced the whole thing, both old and new are 27". When replacing the immersion we tried to drain the tank a bit but when opening the bottom valve on the tank nothing came out so had to change it without draining, this is what makes me think that there is scale build up inside the tank

 

[PlumbBobBob]

it's more than likely that the washer in the drain valve is stuck which prevented you from draining down

 

[Paul Wilson]

Thanks SteveB, have you any idea what would be stopping the whole tank warming up?

 

[BLOD]

If the new 27" immersion fitted in the cylinder ok without the limescale being in the way at the bottom then there should be a fair amount of available water in there.
You could try a new thermostat in the immersion and see how that works.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

could there be a fuse blown? is there any sign of the cable to the immersion being burnt or charred?

 

[JAP&H]

have you any idea what would be stopping the whole tank warming up?

Whats the temperature setting of the new immersion? If set too low could be the reason your not getting amount of HW required.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

i agree check the temperature