Help! Water heater

[Tanito279]

My brother has just moved into a new rented flat with this water heater. There are no instructions and we can't find it online. Does anyone know how it works? Does he need to do anything?

[GlitterGlue]

Try this. www.bristol.gov.uk/documents/20182/34400/Hortstmann%20Economy%20Seven%20Quartz%20Water%20Heater%20Control.pdf/bba8a1d0-7b62-41fa-86d5-970d82b6809a

[dementedpixie]

should be the instructions

[dementedpixie]

Xpost!

[PigletJohn]

the thing you are looking at is the timer for an immersion heater. There will be a hot water cylinder nearby. What colour and size is it?

Presuming that there are no faults, it will be best to set it to run overnight, every night, to fill the cylinder using half-price offpeak electricity. Some tariffs include an afternoon top-up offpeak period. When the cylinder is fully heated, the thermostat will turn off the element so it stops using electricity.

Only if all the cheap hot water has been used up should you switch on the daytime heating. It will take roughly one minute for each litre of water it heats, at daytime cost of about 35p per hour, and a night-time cost of about half that. A cylinder will usually be at least 100 litres (enough for a bath) so will take a bit over an hour and a half. A bigger cylinder is better as it is less likely to be used up.

The start and end times of the offpeak periods vary somewhat, but can be identified by observation of the meter. The meter's timer may automatically turn on offpeak circuits for storage heaters.

A photo of the cylinder will be informative. It may have an upper and a lower heater.

Your brother should look at the electricity tariff he has signed up to, to check it includes a cheap offpeak rate.

[Tanito279]

Wonderful, thank you! I'll do more investigating and try to get a picture of the cylinder.

[specialsubject]

Any chance of contacting the landlord and asking for info on how things work in the flat?

[Tanito279]

Specialsubject the landlord hasn't been particularly helpful so far. No smoke alarm, dirty flat, no window keys, other tenants parking over garage and refusing to move... thank goodness for the internet! If anyone knows anything about 2 electricity meters (or getting them combined) that would be great too.

[PigletJohn]

Please post photos of the meters, and the cables around and between them, and any box that is also connected. Take the meter readings and see how much they change in 24 hours.

Get registered for online access to the electricity account. Depending on supplier it may show meter serial number and latest meter reading, possibly previous meter readings.

You need to take start meter readings whenever you move in, and final meter readings whenever you move out, including water, if metered.

[specialsubject]

No smoke alarm breaks england /wales law. Have you been given the how to rent guide? Have you read it?
Two meters may mean you have two rates, economy seven or similar.