Immersion Heater Cost

Want to know how much replacing an immersion heater will cost?

In this guide we discuss all costs of installing an immersion heater and also other topics such as what is an immersion heater, how an immersion heater works and how much an electrician charges to install one.

Installing an immersion heater will cost, on average, between £100 and £120.

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How Much is an Immersion Heater?

Although most UK homes only use immersion heaters as a backup source for hot water, they can be incredibly useful during the summer months when the central heating may be switched off, but hot water is required.

The average cost of replacing an immersion heater is between £108-£120 and can take between 1-2 hours. Electric immersion heaters are simply water storage cylinders which are heated by an electric coil and can provide hot water independent of the central heating system.

Depending on the size of the water storage cylinder may be up to 3 electric heating elements inside.

These elements can usually be replaced without replacing the storage tank and won’t add too much to your new immersion heater cost.

An experienced DIY enthusiast can do this, but in many cases, this is a job best left to a professional. The service on this website allows you to find reputable local tradespeople quickly and easily, even better, it’s completely free!

Immersion Heater Prices

Below are some estimated costs of installing immersion heaters, as well as their duration time.

Below are the average costs of unclogging and cleaning the drains.

Supply Only Costs

If you’re an experienced DIY enthusiast and are looking to replace your own immersion heater, then you’ll need to order the materials separately.

This would include the immersion heater element and a flat immersion heater spanner, which you can purchase online for between £5-£15. Below is the average supply cost of each type of immersion heaters.

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Additional Costs

At My Job Quote, there are a variety of articles helping you price up jobs within your property.

Other jobs you may need to complete when replacing an immersion heater include having to remove and replace a radiator for up to £200, install a bathroom extractor fan for around £300, or install underfloor heating for an average cost of £800. To secure your home, it also may be worth applying for an electrical safety certificate for £120.

However, if after reading this article, you’ve decided that an immersion heater may not be for you, there are other water heating options to consider.

These include the opportunity to install a new boiler for around £2,000, installing an oil boiler for approximately £2,700, install solar panels for £5,000, or lastly, install an air source heat pump for up to £8,000.

Labour Costs and Timescales

A tradesperson will typically charge no more than a standard rate of £100 for this type of work unless other issues take place, causing a longer job.

This job will typically take 1 to 2 hours depending on the ease of access for tradespeople, and in case the immersion tank needs to be emptied entirely (most of the time, this won’t be the case). When it comes to choosing a new electric heating element, make sure that you choose a new element of the same size, shape and power rating.

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Cost Factors of Replacing an Immersion Heater

Although we have provided a general outline of the average cost of replacing an immersion heater, there will be several factors that may affect your budget. Below is a general list of cost affecting factors that you may encounter when replacing your immersion heater.

Type of Heater

The type of heater you choose will influence your budget and pricing, although most are within a similar price range. Copper immersion heaters typically cost between £20-£30, whereas titanium immersion heaters typically cost between £30-£40.

Running Costs

The running costs of an immersion heater can be fairly pricey as it’s using electricity for a fuel source which is a higher price than natural gas. Below is a table featuring the average running costs of an immersion heater based on size.

Size of Heater

The size that you pick for your immersion heater will also affect the price. When selecting and buying your heater, the supply only costs will add up.

An 11-inch copper immersion heater can cost around £10, whereas a 27-inch copper immersion heater can cost around £15, the price increase isn’t too drastic but can lay up with other factors.

What's Involved in Replacing an Immersion Heater?

Often when the immersion heater burns out, your house will be plunged into darkness due to the short-circuit. If you call an electrician, he will identify the fault is with the immersion heater and may recommend a plumber!

If hiring a plumber to do this job for you, then you should look for proven track records and also ensure that they are registered with a professional trade body and have a checkable work history. It’s also a good idea to check that they are fully insured and offer a comprehensive guarantee on their work.

Unless the tank is leaking or badly corroded leading to discoloured water, the usual problems with immersion heaters can be solved by replacing either the heating element or thermostat.

If you’re confident with electrical wiring, then replacing an immersion heater can be a relatively straightforward task and can be completed in just a few hours. When undertaking this task, you want to make sure that your consumer unit/fuse board isn’t to blame for any issues.

Once this has been thoroughly checked, you’ll need to detach the circuit from the fuse board and turn the immersion heater off to avoid any safety hazards and begin the task, safely.

After everything is safe and ready to go ahead, you’ll need to test your heating elements with an electrical test meter to ensure all power is off and disconnect any electrical wiring.

After this, you’ll have to inspect your thermostat and examine the continuity of the resistance over each terminal. Once you’ve completed all your checks and inspections, remember to drain the tank completely before removing your immersion heater.

Things to Consider:

• When buying a new replacement immersion heater, you need to make sure that the parts and serial numbers are eligible for your home or you’ll also have to order an element of the correct size. If not, you may waste a lot of time and money which could have been done easily with a professional.
• If you’re tackling the wiring work, you must make sure that all of the electrical connections are solid and compact before you restore the power, refill with water and turn on. This can often be tedious, and if you know you don’t have the time or patience, then it may be best to hire an electrician or electrically qualified plumber for the job.

Can I Replace an Immersion Myself?

If you decide to replace them yourself, then you should know that you will often have to drain the tank before replacing the heating element which will increase the time taken for this job.

You may be lucky and find just the top element needs replacing so the tank may not need to be completely emptied, but sod's law dictates it will be the bottom element which is defective!

If you have a spanner which will fit the heating element, it is not too difficult to do this job on your own as long as you have easy access to the water cylinder. But you will probably find in most properties the hot water storage tank is hidden away in the most awkward of spaces!

Do not attempt this job as a DIY project unless you are 100% sure that you have the skill level and confidence required to complete the job safely. Make sure you have all the correct tools required, in particular a special spanner which will likely be necessary to fit the immersion heater.

Things to Consider:

• Over time heating elements will simply burnout
• Immersion heaters can be changed without changing the water cylinder
• Check the circuit breakers before buying a new immersion heater
• The water cylinder will need to be at least partially emptied

Types of Immersion Heater

There are different types of immersion heaters to choose from, and they all serve a different purpose.

In general, an immersion heater is simply a water tank with an electric heating element inside, essentially the same as an electric kettle but on a larger scale! Below is a list of the different types of immersion heaters with a pros and cons list for each.

In-line Heaters

In-line heaters can also be called circulation heaters, this type of immersion heater comes in a range of materials including stainless steel, titanium, and standard steel.

In-line heaters offer indirect heating where the fluid is flowing through a loop which is closed around the heating element until it achieves the desired temperature.

Pros

• ✔ Different material options
• ✔ Easy installation
• ✔ Efficient and versatile

Cons

• ✖ Higher initial cost
• ✖ May need additional maintenance

Flange Heaters

Flange immersion heaters are extremely versatile and can heat all kinds of fluids such as oil, fuels, water, gas, and thermal fluids, coming in shapes including straight or L-shaped.

This type of heater combines together a variety of compounds which resist against corrosion and offer longevity.

Pros

• ✔ Easy installation process
• ✔ Simple control options
• ✔ Works for high kW applications

Cons

• ✖ Not the most eco-friendly option

Screw Plug Heaters

Screw plug immersion heaters can heat both static or circulating water and oils. They contain tubular elements in an intertwined hex plug, and the galvanic insulation lowers the probability of an electric leakage.

This type of immersion heater heats different fluids, liquids and gases with direct contact.

Pros

• ✔ Versatile
• ✔ Low-maintenance
• ✔ Energy efficient

Cons

• ✖ Limited element space

Over the Side Heaters

Over-the-side immersion heaters are installed on the top of a tank with the heated elements directly engaged either on the side or bottom of the tank.

These offer lots of working space for the inside of the tank as they’re small and accessible.

Pros

• ✔ Take up little space
• ✔ Easily removable (great for servicing)
• ✔ Easy to clean

Cons

• ✖ Longer time needed to reach the required heat temperature

Alternative to Immersion Heater

Immersion heaters are not always the right choice for certain households and can sometimes be dated. If you’re looking for different alternatives to an immersion heater, we’ve put together a list of different kinds of ways to heat your properties water with a pros and cons list.

Air Source Heat Pump

An air source heat pump shifts around heat that is consumed by external air into an indoor setting.

It does this through the wet central heating systems that heat up radiators and supply hot water.

Pros

• ✔ Cheap to run
• ✔ Generates less CO2 emissions
• ✔ Low-maintenance

Cons

• ✖ Noisy
• ✖ Extra costs for underfloor heating
• ✖ Lower heat supply

Ground Source Heat Pump

Also known as a geothermal heat pump circulates a combination of water antifreeze around the ground loop in your garden. Then, the heat from underneath your garden surface can be absorbed into the fluid and flows through a heat exchanger, landing at the heat pump.

Pros

• ✔ Saves space
• ✔ Low-maintenance
• ✔ Also provides cooling in summer as well as heating in winter

Cons

• ✖ Pricier than air source heat pumps
• ✖ Needs an expert installer
• ✖ Energy is specific to location

Solar Thermal

A solar thermal is an excellent option for those looking for an eco-friendly heating alternative as it provides energy and carbon savings. It works by utilising the energy from the sun and transforming it into heat for your home as either space heating or hot water.

Pros

• ✔ Eco-friendly
• ✔ Endless energy for free
• ✔ Cheap to install

Cons

• ✖ Requires regular maintenance
• ✖ Needs a new hot water cylinder
• ✖ Only able to heat water

Do I Need to Replace My Immersion Heater?

It’s usually not that difficult to tell if you need to replace your immersion heater or if your immersion heater is not working.

Typically, your house will emerge into darkness when the circuit gets cut out because the element’s protective covering has failed and let water in. As I’m sure you’re aware, water and electricity are not a good combination, and this may throw your circuit breaker into the consumer unit.

However, this is the worst-case scenario, you’ll also be able to tell if your immersion heater needs replacing if your water is taking a long time to heat up and generally running slow or hiccupping.

If you’re ever unsure, never attempt any electrical work by yourself or without professional assistance, this can be extremely dangerous, especially when there’s water involved.

Other signs you may need to replace your immersion heater include:

• You’ve had your heater for a long time
• It’s making unusual noises
• Your water heater is leaking
• Your water is staying cold

Removing an Immersion Heater Cost

You may need to remove your immersion heater completely if you have any of the issues noted in the above paragraph. There are many ways you can get rid of your old immersion heater and help someone else out at the same time.

You will need to call in a professional to remove your heater safety and securely by cutting the power, shutting off the water and draining the tank, removing the water tank. Below is a list of disposal options which may work for you.

Donation

If your heater is still working and in stable condition then you can help someone out by donating it to a donation centre for free, or set up an online advertisement to see if someone can come to pick it up. This is a great way to help out your local community and be eco-friendly.

Recycling

There are lots of recycling centres which will utilise your heater and recycle the scrap metal parts. This is a great way to help out the environment and make sure that no parts go to waste and usually is free of charge.

Skip Hire

Skip hire can be included in the price of a contractor if you’re hiring them to remove the immersion heater. However, if you’re looking to organise a skip hire yourself, this can cost around £60 for a 2-3 yard skip, or £100+ if you need a larger skip.

Hiring Someone to Replace an Immersion Heater Checklist

Before you hire someone to replace an immersion heater in your home, there are several things you may need to consider first when weighing up different contractors in your immersion heater cost replacement.

Below is a simple step-by-step guide for you to contemplate when hiring a professional to carry out the job:

• Seek out a few options. It’s a good idea to speak to several different electricians and ask for a handful of quotes before settling on one company/tradesman. Even if you think you have a good deal straight away, you should always weigh up other options.
• Double-check that the electrician is authorised to replace an immersion heater and has completed similar jobs to this beforehand. Always ask for references and pictures from their previous clients.
• Make sure to complete a written agreement before any work takes place. This will ensure you have a clear outline of the job specification and what services will be included in their quote.
• Always make sure that your tradesperson is insured and offers a guarantee for their work, as well as being registered with a reputable trade body.
• Last but not least, remember to ask for a receipt or payment confirmation to protect you against possible future disputes.

FAQs

Sources

https://www.easyflow.co.uk/immersion-heater-replacement.html
https://durexindustries.com/over-the-side-immersion-heaters