In detail: do-it-yourself repair of an atmor instantaneous water heater from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.
Today, various water heating devices have become a completely natural phenomenon in our homes and apartments. Manufacturers in many countries produce a huge number of all kinds of models of this equipment that satisfy any consumer demand. But when purchasing a water heater or boiler, few think about meeting the requirements for the installation and operation of the device. As a result, this creates serious inconveniences and leads to significant costs in the repair process.
A significant number of manufacturers supply low-cost, low-quality products to the markets. Ambulance water heater breakdown This group does not come as a surprise, since even the minimum warranty obligations for the products are given. However, good-quality products, distinguished by their quality and reliability, may be repaired soon after purchase due to a number of factors that are not at all difficult to avoid.
The main causes of malfunction of the water heater hiding in our everyday life. Hard water and unstable power supplies have a detrimental effect on technology. Various salts are present in large quantities in our water. They are the ones that lead to the formation of scale inside the devices and working circuits. The installation of flow filters at the heater inlet will help to significantly reduce the salt content. In the supply networks of most regions, the voltage and frequency can change significantly in a short period of time. Connection of surge protectors or uninterruptible power supplies will solve the problem.
It is important to install and connect the device correctly. Many breakdowns occur precisely due to mistakes at this stage. Even ignoring the usual grounding can not only lead to electric shock, but will also contribute to the accelerated destruction of the magnesium anode and severe corrosion of all elements inside the tank. The optimum heating temperature is set at 60-70 ° C.
Video (click to play). |
Devices of the TERMEKS trademark are highly respected by consumers. It cannot be argued about their complete identity with other brands, but the construction and principle of operation of the units are very similar. Also, the designs of flow-through and storage heaters are the same, the former differ only in a more powerful heating element, the latter have a large tank. Therefore, having analyzed the main reasons for the breakdown of the Termeks water heater, it will be much easier to repair any other model yourself.
The most problematic part of a water heating device is its internal capacity. It is made of stainless steel or coated with titanium enamel. Stainless steel serves for 10 or more years, the enamel deteriorates twice as early. Tank leaking is often fatal to further use of the heater. In most cases causes of malfunction of the water heater and its leaks lie in the corrosion of the bulb. Manufacturers protect it by spraying various compounds and installing a magnesium anode, but this rarely saves. Sometimes it is possible to weld the container with argon, otherwise it is impossible to repair the unit. Therefore, timely replacement of the magnesium anode and annual descaling of the tank is so important.
There are various malfunctions of water heaters, which are identified and eliminated on their own:
- When turning on the device knocks out the RCD... Possible incorrect connection of the heating element (check), incorrect connection of the equipment to the power supply (check) or failure of the machine (replace).
- The water heater does not heat water. The thermostat (check, replace) or heating element (check, replace) could be out of order or poorly connected. The device is not well connected to the mains (check).
- Leaking from under the flange. The gasket was worn out or damaged (remove and look for a similar one - it is better not China), the flange itself is rusted and leaks (replace).
- Temperature not regulated, heater overheats (boils) and turns off... It talks about the failure of the thermostat (check the thermal paste under it and the device itself, replace it) or incorrect connection of the device (check).
- The device does not heat up at all or too heats the water slowly... Happens due to breakdowns thermostat water heater (replace), excessively scaled or burned-out heating element (clean, replace), failure of the control and monitoring unit (call the master, replace).
- Water heater housing electrocuted... The heating element is covered with scale, cracked and the water contacts the coil (replace) or the control and monitoring unit (replace) is out of order. The device is not grounded (ground).
- Unit does not turn on... The thermostat does not work (replace), the heating element has shorted or burned out (replace), the control board is out of order (replace), the mains power is not supplied (check).
- The device hisses, heats up for a long time, makes extraneous sounds. The phenomenon is observed when installing pipes that are too narrow (replace with wider ones). If the heater is used for a long time without preventive measures (clean it).
There are others malfunctions of electric water heatersspecific to certain models. Ways to eliminate any of them can be found on the Internet upon request.
The main causes of boiler breakdown the same ones that disable water heaters (scale), although in these devices an important role is played by the fittings of devices: pipes, connections, taps, valves, valves, pumps. Here, the inner areas of the tanks are also prone to the formation of deposits, but most of them accumulate on the inner and outer surfaces of the coils (depending on what acts as a coolant). Frequent enough boiler breakdown - failure of its conductive tubes. Their welding is possible only with argon, but to carry out such a repair, you will have to remove the coil from the tank, and then hoist it back. Repair on your own is almost impossible here and contacting the service is inevitable.
An electric boiler is an effective solution to the problem of hot water supply for a private house. Such equipment, however, like any other, breaks down periodically.
If serious breakdowns have to be eliminated in a service center, then any more or less experienced craftsman can perform a small repair of the water heater with his own hands.
To minimize problems with the device, you should study its design and principles of operation. Usually, in private households, not flow-through, but storage models are used, which make it possible to use electricity more efficiently. Such a device consists of a heat exchanger tank, inside which a heating element is installed - a heating element, connected to the power supply.
An important part of the device is the thermostat. This element allows you to maintain a constant water temperature inside the storage tank. The water is piped to the heat exchanger. If its temperature is too low (and this is usually the case), then the thermostat gives a signal and turns on the heating element.
The water is heated until it reaches the required temperature. After that, the thermostat works again and turns off the heating element. Hot water is taken from the tank and replaced with cold water, the heating process is repeated over and over.This is a general diagram of the device and operation of a conventional storage water heater.
Flow models are arranged somewhat differently. They do not heat a static volume of water, but a stream. They use more powerful heating elements that start working when the water is turned on and stop when it is turned off. To study in more detail the operation and structure of a particular model, you need to carefully familiarize yourself with the accompanying technical documentation.
The heater tank is a sturdy stainless steel container, one or two millimeters thick. No matter how resistant this material is to corrosion, nevertheless, these processes periodically arise and develop, which leads to the flow of water from the device. One of the most common causes of such breakdowns is electrical corrosion.
To prevent it, you need to regularly, i.e. Replace the internally mounted magnesium anode annually. This element is specifically designed to prevent electrical corrosion. Over time, it wears out, and the owners of storage tanks lose sight of replacing this important part.
As a result, the tank, which has served well for some time, suddenly starts to leak. The incorrect state of the magnesium anode can also affect the state of the heating element. The outside of the storage tank is usually enclosed in a metal or plastic housing, and it also has a heat-insulating shell that prevents heat loss.
Damage to the outer shell and insulation is rare, usually due to careless handling of the device. Cracks and chips on the body of the water heater may not interfere with its operation, but this will lead to a deterioration in the properties of the heat insulator, and will negatively affect the functioning of the device as a whole.
Cold water inlet and outlet pipes - for hot water usually do not cause any problems if the installation of the heater is done correctly. Usually, a water heater is equipped with two thermostats, one of which is designed to control the water temperature, and the second monitors the state of the first device.
Sometimes a third thermostat is also used, which determines the good condition of the heating element. In any case, the broken thermostat will have to be completely replaced. There are capillary, rod and electronic types of thermostats. Their design is different, but the principle of their work is the same.
The insulating gasket not only serves to seal the connection between the elements of the water heater, it is also necessary as an electrical insulator. It is recommended to replace this element regularly at every maintenance of the water heater.
The thermostat shows exactly what temperature the water inside the device is heated to. If this element breaks down, the water heater will still perform its functions, although data on the degree of heating will not be received.
Breakdown of heating elements is a typical problem for both flowing and storage water heaters. This element works under high stress and therefore wears out quickly. If the power supply is connected, but the water in the tank does not heat up, most likely the problem has arisen with the heating element.
First, you should check if electricity is supplied to the heating element and the thermostat. In the places where the cable is connected, the presence of voltage is checked with a tester. If there is no voltage, you may need to replace the cable itself or check for a power outage throughout the house.
If there is electricity and the cable is working properly, then problems have arisen with the heating element, which will have to be replaced, or with the thermostat. To figure out what exactly broke, you need to remove the thermostat and check it with a tester. Testing the health of the heating element is carried out as follows. First, the measuring scale of the device is set to the interval of 220-250 V. Then the resistance is measured at the terminals connecting the heating element to the mains.
If there is voltage, disconnect the heating element from the network and check the potential at the terminals of the heating element. Lack of response from the tester will indicate that the device is defective. If there is a reaction, you need to continue the diagnosis. First, disconnect the water heater from the power supply. Then the heating element is disconnected from the thermostat so that the contacts of the heating element remain not isolated.
Tester contacts are applied to them and the reaction is monitored. If it is, the heating element is working, if not, it needs to be replaced. In this case, it does not matter what kind of numbers the tester produces, only the presence or absence of a reaction is important. These troubleshooting methods are suitable for both storage electric water heaters and flow-through models.
To check the serviceability of the thermostat removed from the water heater, you need to set the adjustment knob to maximum and measure at the inlet and outlet of the device. If the needle of the tester remains calm, i.e. its position does not change, which means that the thermostat is faulty and needs to be replaced.
If the arrow deviates, then you need to continue testing. Now you should set the minimum position on the thermostat and attach the test leads of the tester to the contacts. It will not be easy to continue the diagnosis alone, the probes will have to be fixed or asked someone to hold them in the correct position for a while.
After that, you need to take a lighter and heat the tip of the temperature sensor. If the thermal relay is triggered, the circuit will open, and the resistance on the tester's scale will sharply go down, then the thermal relay can also be considered serviceable. If the system does not respond to heating, then this element is damaged and needs to be completely replaced.
Occasionally, the water heater can stop working due to a blown thermal fuse as a result of dangerous overheating of the device. It is enough to correctly adjust the operation of the device for it to start working as usual.
If the check showed that both the heating element and the thermostat are in good order, most likely problems have arisen with the control board. It is almost impossible to repair such an element at home. It will have to be replaced with a new one, and you will have to use the help of a specialist who will help you set up the electronic equipment. Most often, you just need to contact the service center, where the required element will be selected and installed correctly.
A tank leak is a serious problem that cannot always be corrected on your own. In some models, either the tank or the entire heater will need to be replaced. Sometimes the leak can be sealed, but care must be taken to restore the integrity of the outer casing and the thermal insulation layer. Usually such measures are insufficient and short-lived, and soon the leak will reoccur.
The water heater tank most often leaks if:
- damage to the internal tank has occurred;
- the heating element has deteriorated;
- leaky gasket.
If water flows at the place where the heating element is attached, it may not be necessary to repair the tank itself. A special gasket is installed in this place, the leak can be caused by its damage. The gasket is replaced and thus the problem is solved.
A water heater tank leak usually occurs due to neglect or untimely maintenance, which also includes the replacement of the magnesium anode. Another common problem is lack of grounding. This can also lead to the development of corrosive processes and the occurrence of leaks.
If you need to replace the gasket or heating element, it is best to first dismantle the faulty element in order to take it with you and find an exact analogue. Obtaining parts by eye can result in unnecessary costs. This replacement is relatively straightforward.But if problems arise with the tank, you will at least have to contact the service center. Immediately it is necessary to find documents for the water heater and clarify the warranty periods and service conditions.
Regardless of the nature of the breakdown, before starting repair work, you first need to turn off the power supply, remove the protective cover, disconnect the wires, pipes and drain the water. Wall-mounted models are usually removed from the brackets. The protective cover that hides the place for connecting the electrical wires and the fastening of the heating elements may have a different position depending on the model.
On horizontal devices, such an element is usually located on the left, on vertical heaters - at the bottom, and on small models - in front. On some devices, you first need to unscrew the main mounting bolt located in the center. Sometimes this element is hidden under a decorative sticker.
After that, you need to carefully remove the thermostat, and then remove the tubes of the temperature sensor. They must be handled with great care. If the integrity of the thermosensor tube is broken, liquid filler will leak out. As a result, the water heater will simply have to be thrown away and a new device bought.
If there are stickers on the body with the serial number indicated, they must be kept, even if it interferes with the maintenance and repair of the product. This can affect the manufacturer's fulfillment of the warranty obligations, as well as facilitate the work of the service center employees.
The fact that there are problems in the operation of the device may indicate some changes in the mode of its operation. For instance:
- increasing the time for heating water to a predetermined temperature;
- the appearance of unusual sounds accompanying the operation of the device;
- the appearance of impurities in tap water, a change in its color, smell or taste.
If at least one of these signs is observed, the water heater should be cleaned immediately. To do this, you will have to perform the following operations:
- Disconnect the device from the power supply.
- Remove the protective cover.
- Disconnect the contacts of the electric wires.
- Shut off cold water supply.
- Remove residual water from the tank using a hose.
- Unscrew the screws that hold the heating element.
- Remove the heating element and descale it.
- Clean the inside of the drive from dirt and scale particles.
- Rinse the device thoroughly.
- Check the health of the magnesium anode.
- If necessary, replace this element immediately.
- Wait until the cleaned tank is completely dry.
- Install the heating element in place.
- Reassemble the device.
- Check the tightness of all fasteners.
- Connect the water heater to the power supply.
- Check for grounding.
The heating element should be removed from the tank carefully, the bolts may be too stubborn, sometimes the heating element is difficult to remove due to too much scale layer. The heating element is cleaned by mechanical or chemical means, as is the removal of contaminants from the tank. If a large amount of scale is found inside the device, you should consider revising the operating mode of the water heater.
This phenomenon is often observed when the device has been operating at maximum power for a long time. It is recommended to set the maximum heating temperature not higher than 60 degrees in order to increase the life of the device and reduce the number of breakdowns. If the body of the heating device shocks, it is possible that the heating element is deformed and ruptured, or there are breakdowns in the control system.
A detailed video on diagnostics of the condition, maintenance and self-repair of domestic water heaters can be viewed here:
It is not so difficult to repair a water heater when it comes to replacing some of its elements. In the event of a serious breakdown, it would be wiser to contact a specialized service center.Correct use of the device and its timely maintenance will save you many problems and costs.
It is difficult to imagine comfortable living conditions without hot water supply. Nevertheless, you will hardly surprise anyone with systematic interruptions in the supply of hot water on schedule or without a schedule. Tired of enduring the temporary lack of hot water in a city apartment, doing without a warm shower in your country house, or just wanting to improve your life in a private house? All these problems are solved by an elementary installation of a flow pipe or a boiler. One provides an uninterrupted supply of water when needed, and the other, solving a similar problem, will also help to save on paying electricity bills.
Currently, there are a huge number of brands engaged in the production of instantaneous water heaters. The Israeli brand Atmor enjoys a good reputation. The instantaneous water heater produced by this company has good performance indicators, is convenient and safe to use. Features of Atmor water heating equipment, installation instructions, DIY repairs and customer reviews - read about all this below.
When you need to buy large household appliances, you always want the choice to be right. It is for this reason that one should carefully study the performance characteristics of the offered products.
As for the choice of heaters, here you should first of all pay attention to the power of the device, which affects the pressure force, the number of serviced parsing points, and the installation option. The best option is a 5000 W device. If a storage water heater is required, then the tank capacity is added to these parameters.
It is equally important to understand the difference in the principle of operation of both types of water heating devices. Instant heating of a cold stream with flowing equipment is carried out by equipping such devices with heating elements. When the heating element is turned on, it starts to heat up. As a result of water jets hitting the heating element, they almost instantly warm up to the temperature parameters set by the user.
That is, as soon as you open the tap, you can already start using hot water. Without using a special tank, like in boilers, where within an hour or two the water will gradually warm up to the desired temperature, it is not necessary in principle to wait for the "readiness" of water with a running water heater.
VIDEO: Electric water heater ATMOR Basic