Henry Water Heater issues !!!

[Firkle]

My local caravan dealer installed a Henry water heater in our 2000 Bailey Pageant Moselle last August / September time, after the original Carver Cascade blew up.

The heater has not been used since, until we went to Scotland two weeks ago, and we believe that the unit does not to perform correctly.

We only used the electrical heating facility and noticed the following:-

The water temperature does not reach 70 C, even after the unit has been switched on for 24 hours. I can comfortably hold my hand under the hot water whilst it is running from the tap, which I could never do with the original Carver.

Also, we can only just get a sufficient quantity of water in the caravan sink to wash up, without having to add any cold water whatsoever. We do not use the caravan shower and I doubt whether there would be an adequate hot water supply if we wished to do so.

I've sent an email to the distributor but they have not bothered to reply so far and the dealer appears to be growing sloping shoulders over this one.

Has anybody else got experience of these heaters?

Many thanks

Firkle

 

[gary]

Two simple things you can try, first how hot is the tank? regardless of the tap water temperature

Second, with drain bung removed can you poke a slim screwdriver more than 4ins into the drain hole. What I'm thinking is either the non-return valve in the cold water inlet is missing or jammed, as it's about 3.5ins back your screwdriver should prove the first part. As the heater has not been used the possibility is a present non-return valve could be stuck and prevent correct water flow though the heater. Prodding around with the screwdriver has been known to free a few, particularly with the pump pushing water through at the same time as prodding.

These are standard Carver version faults, the Henry being a copy will suffer the same problems.

After that try it on gas and if that's ok then the element or it's thermostats are faulty.

One more thing, cold goes in at the bottom and hot out the top, as a new installation it's just possible as is having the non-return valve at the top instead of the bottom.

 

[Firkle]

Thanks Gary.

The non return valve seems to work OK and the holt and cold connections are the correct way round. On electric, there does not seem to be any difference in temperature between the tank and the hot water coming out of the tap and I've measured the latter at 50C not 70C as per the spec.

The heater element has a resistance of 66 ohms which is correct for its quoted spec of 870 watts. I can hear the electrical thermostat switching and this corresponds with the "kettle" noise from the tank stopping and starting.

On gas the water temperature is 69C at the tap which is close enough for me.

My guess is that I have a thermostst which is switching at 50C instead of 70C so now back to the dealer.

Many thanks for your help

Firkle

 

[gary]

Just to say the temperature wil be stamped on the alloy base of the stat, also the good news about Henry stats is they are the common screw fitment and therefore replaced for pennies from Maplins etc

 

[Firkle]

Just to say the temperature wil be stamped on the alloy base of the stat, also the good news about Henry stats is they are the common screw fitment and therefore replaced for pennies from Maplins etc

Many thanks for the tip Gary.

I don't have a Maplin locally and will have to order from their web site. Would you happen to have their relevant part number please?

Best regards

Firkle