Dripping hot water cylinder from upper thermostat... Is it safe?

[spretus]

Hello

I live in a rented flat and have noticed water dripping from the top thermostat of the water cylinder (see picture).

It worries me as there is clearly electric wiring nearby, and also another thermostat at the bottom that the water is dripping towards.

My landlord's plumber is difficult to get to come and have a look but he finally came around on Thursday (after notifying him on the Saturday before). He said he turned down the water temperature and hopefully that should fix it.

Any advice would be welcome, I have stayed up tonight and keep wiping it dry.

Many thanks.

 

[steadyon]

1. Your picture is of the top immersion heater, which does include a thermostat.
2. The cover of the immersion heater is not properly fitted, with wires showing.
3. It should not be dripping, and the water temperature has nothing to do with it.
4. The responsibility for fixing this is your landlord's, not yours. I would suggest:
4a. You contact the landlord in writing (letter, email or text) and tell him / her the top immersion heater in the hot water cylinder is leaking.
4b. Switch the immersion heater off, and tell the landlord that in consequence you have no hot water. It is his / her legal responsibility to ensure you have a hot water supply.
4c. Point out to the landlord that any damage caused by leaking water is entirely his / her responsibility, including flooding of any lower level properties.
4d. Point out that someone (landlord's plumber?) has left the immersion heater in an electrically unsafe condition.
5. If it were me, I'd be tempted to turn it on again from time to time to get a supply of hot water, but that's a risk I'd be prepared to take, you may not be.

 

[SJB060685]

Steadyon is bang on and posted that as I was writing similar.
It is an immersion heater and "adjusting the temperature" will do ABSOLUTELY nothing to your problem.
I suggest you find a competent plumber, one who is G3 registered as this is an unvented cylinder and should not be tinkered with by someone not qualified.

 

[snowhead]

Send the picture to the Landlord if you can and he can send it to a plumber, as above and not send his handyman to you again.

 

[spretus]

Wow, first of all thanks so much for your replies, you have been a great help!

I rang my landlord as soon as I saw your messages and he explained that the guy he sends around isn't qualified and is just a handyman. (Which is annoying as this has been like this for a good week now).

I have switched the boiler off at the wall. My landlord wants to replace the entire boiler, I am going away tomorrow morning but will be back Friday night so i'm hoping this problem is soon sorted.

I am a little worried that he might pick another of his mates to do the job but hopefully it will be someone qualified.

I live in Manchester City Centre and if anyone on here is happy to take the job on I can always pass this on to my landlord (as he did ask me to find someone at first but I said I didn't really know anyone).

Thanks again for all your advice.

 

[Murdoch]

Turning down the thermostat to stop a leak - well that's an odd suggestion to say the least.

 

[SJB060685]

Turning down the thermostat to stop a leak - well that's an odd suggestion to say the least.

If anything added heat often helps seal a wheel

 

[spretus]

Thanks again for your replies.

My landlord found a plumber that is able to examine and rectify the leak. Unfortunately that could be end of next week but I'm willing to wait if it means a proper job is done.

He has suggested his handyman to sort it as he wants it doing ASAP but I am adamant it must be a qualified plumber.

Thanks again.

 

[SJB060685]

Thanks again for your replies.

My landlord found a plumber that is able to examine and rectify the leak. Unfortunately that could be end of next week but I'm willing to wait if it means a proper job is done.

He has suggested his handyman to sort it as he wants it doing ASAP but I am adamant it must be a qualified plumber.

Thanks again.

Unvented cylinders are not a joke and can if left in the wrong hands result in serious damage. Stand your ground and insist a qualified engineer attends.