[stuartb]

I’m about to drill my hole for my immersion heater in my 500ltr upright tank. Problem is I can only reach about two thirds down to hold the mechanical flange. Will the water heat up ok if it’s installed their? Has anyone managed to install it lower in a tank the same as mine?

[nathankaye]

Lower it down on some string and put your fingers in the cut out hole to grab hold and secure.
Thats what i did

[stuartb]

How can I hold it though when the the immersion heater is in the hole. I’ve bought the same bits a squeaky clean Dave and drilling a 64mm hole. Just don’t see how I can hold the flange which is out of reach?

[nathankaye]

The flange secures into the hole and then the immersion screws into the flange. Its like you have a threaded hole for it to fit into, if that makes sense.

[stuartb]

Think you have a rubber seal on the flange side? I don’t have one. I was drilling a 64mmhole that the immersion fits into perfectly with the rubber seal on the outside of the tank

[Dave Willis]

Flange ring should have a couple of pips on it which should bite into the plastic and stop it spinning as you insert the male part. It’s a bit fiddley. Just don’t fit it back to front like Nathan did 😉

Mine is as low as I could fit it. Don’t forget to hoover out the bits of plastic from the tank afterwards. My tank was too thick to include the rubber ring so smeared the surfaces with plumbers mate.

[stuartb]

Having to make the hole big enough for the flange to pass through like Nathan has done. Doesn’t work the way squeaky clean Dave did it. There’s not enough sticking through the hole to attach the flange to and it starts to break the bit of thread that sticks out as you tighten it. Managed to buy some o rings though so should be ok. Just making the hole bigger now for the flange to pass through

[Dave Willis]

Don’t make the hole bigger!

Assemble it first (loosely), look at it, think about it. The hole only needs to be fractionally bigger than the male threaded insert to fit through. The ring goes inside the tank with the pips facing the tank wall. The other part screws into that. When it’s all fine and dandy the immersion element can be screwed in with the appropriate immersion spanner whilst someone holds the flange firm with something like a filter wrench.

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

Have you actually purchased a mechanical flange or are you trying to fit just a slim flanged back nut?

[KS Cleaning]

Like Peavey says, do you have a mechanical flange? They are quite difficult to source, I got my one from plumb nation, 2 1/4” mechanical flange.

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

This is a mechanical flange

https://www.toolstation.com/mechanical-flange/p38614#full-desc

It's in 2 parts, you might just see the red washer separating the 2 parts. This mechanism makes a solid, independent fixture that a standard immersion element then fixes into.

[stuartb]

Done it! I hope it works 🙂.  Done it nathans way.  Made the drilled hole bigger to accept the flange and searched around for the correct rubber seal for it. Found one at Tippers. The vans filling at the moment, then we’ll see if it heats up. What temp do you guys set yours at? Mines got I think 40, 65 and 80 something degrees?  Thanks for all the advice folks. Much appreciated. Stu

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

Mine has no rubber seal, no sealer or sealant of any type at all. Not had a single drip in 8/9 years of use!! I think there may be a fibre washer where the actual element fits to the boss.

[stuartb]

When you turn on the immersion heater how long does it take before you can feel the tank getting warm?

[KS Cleaning]

When you turn on the immersion heater how long does it take before you can feel the tank getting warm?

Depends on the ambient temp of the water, amount of water, and how many KW your heater is. If you just want to know that it’s working, take the lid off the tank and have a look at the element, you will notice if it’s working or not.

[jd services]

Can I ask what immersion heater you guys are buying and where from?

[david mark]

Any body have 3 k.w immersion heater fitted in a 250 litre upright  tank what temperature do you set it at and how many hours overnight to heat it up

[Spruce]

Any body have 3 k.w immersion heater fitted in a 250 litre upright  tank what temperature do you set it at and how many hours overnight to heat it up

Its easy!

3.5 hours raising the temp from 10 degrees to 40 degrees C.

Just over 5 .2 hours using a 2kw heating element.

http://processheatingservices.com/handy-heating-calculators/water-heating-time-calculator/#timeRequired

This obviously calculates the time with no other factors involved such as heat loss etc.

[david mark]

Thank you for your reply mate