DEDICATED PRESSURE SYSTEMS LTD.
New Works, R/O Shops, 9-19 Manor Green Road, Epsom, Surrey KT19 8RA
Telephone 01372 803 675, Fax 01372 803 678
Email dps@heatweb.com   Internet: http://www.heatweb.com

Hot water keeping you up ?

Installing an electric hot water cylinder is simple and inexpensive, but there is a catch. Running costs of the system are generally higher than gas fired systems, and it is important to take full advantage of any economy electricity tariffs that are available to keep the running costs down.  Typically, electical companies offer cheap rate electricity during overnight periods.  This can be as low as 25% of the normal rate, and timing the elements in the hot water cylinder to come on during these periods saves a great deal on electricity bills.

There is another catch.  To ensure that the hot water cylinder is heated thoroughly, the heaters need to come on early in the economy rate period and this can be as early as 12.00 a.m. With standard immersion heaters installed, the noise that can be generated during overnight heating times can be annoying to anyone trying to sleep.   The noise is generated by water on the surface of the element expanding rapidly as it starts to boil. Even early on in the heat up cycle while the body of the water surrounding the elements is still cool, the temperature on the element surface will cause this effect.  Cracks in the surface of the element worsten the problem, as will scale.

A simple solution is to use low noise immersion heaters, oftern refered to as low watt density heaters.  They have a much larger surface area of element than a standard heater of the same output, with the result of a lower surface temperature. The effect greatly reduces the noise generated duing heating, and also reduces the rate scale builds up on the element.

DPS Low Noise immersion heaters are availiable as 3kW in both 11" and 27" versions as standard. The immersion heaters have incaloy elements for further protection, and come complete with an integral temperature control thermostat.  The cover is made from strong electrically insulating plastic, and we have also added an option to provide indicator lights. A  green neon light provides a visual indication of when the heater has a live supply, and a red neon light indicates when the heater is switched on by the control thermostat.

The heaters are CE approved and guaranteed for 3 years, making them a very sensible choice for both the installer and the end user.

Written by Richard Hanson-Graville MA FIOP, Managing Director DPS, May 1999.
Total number of words: 386