Does anyone have a timer on electtic immersion heater?

[deadbeat]

Our water is heated by our stove but in summer when its not on we have an immersion heater. What i find a pain is having to turn it on first thing and wait for it to heat to get washed.

I didnt realise you vould get a timer for them.

Does anyone have one? Are they easy to fit?

That was meant to say electric and could not vould! Annoying tiny phone keyboard

They are about as easy to fit as any other electric switch. There needs to be about 100mm slack in the cable.

An immersion heater timer does not have a plug and socket. Get one that has a 30-minute override or "boost" so that you can turn it on for a top-up and it will not continually use electricity if you forget to turn it back to Timed.

Immersion heaters are not very powerful so it may need to come on an hour before use. Make sure the cylinder has at least one, preferably two, red insulating jackets round it - they were subsidised to £3 during the winter and you may still find some at that price.

If you get an electrician in to fit it, ask him which Competent Person scheme he is in (so you can check it) and how long he has been a member, and is he a Domestic Installer (this is the minimum qualification level). He is expected to test and certify his work.

Unless the house was recently and correctly wired, the bonding may need to be updated and an RCD may need to be fitted.

p.s.

A well-insulated cylinder will stay hot for at least 12 hours, and still be usable after 24 hours, so part of your problem may be poor insulation. A jacket will save enough energy to pay for itself in a few weeks. You can lag the hot pipes at the same time.

If you happen to have Economy 7 or similar cheap night time electricity, use it to heat the cylinder to "bath" level overnight, and top it up during the day only if required. An E7 installation will often have two immersion heaters to make this easier.

DH fit our timer (background in electronics). Maplin??
We like having an airing cupboard so don't want tank fully insulated, but does mean the hot water doesn't necessarily last all day. Depends how long timer is on for & I think DH doesn't have it on long enough .
Boiler as backup does the trick.

thanks piglet John and adventure!

Tank is well insulated but it is small which i think is half the problem.