In detail: do-it-yourself titanium repair from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.
A household water heater is an almost irreplaceable thing in the house, and its failure deprives us of exactly half of the amenities. Inexpensive models of water heaters that are installed in apartments are prone to minor problems. Do you always need to call a master or take the unit to a service center, paying for simple work? We offer you a brief overview of the main malfunctions of Termex water heaters, the repair of which will not be difficult and will allow you to reasonably save money.
The principle of operation of the Termeks boiler
In the eyes of an inexperienced owner, the body of a water heater looks unapproachable, but in fact, most models are close to a kettle with their device. Its main components are a tubular electric heater and a thermostat placed in a tank. In addition to them, magnesium anodes are used in Termex boilers. It is their wear that most often causes serious damage to the water heater. How does this happen?
The heating element is a fechral wire placed in a copper tube with a dielectric filler. Tap water serves as an ideal medium for ion exchange between the copper sheath and other metal parts of the Termex tank. In fact, it gradually destroys metals with high electrical potential, be it steel, galvanized or stainless steel, aluminum. To reduce this effect, a magnesium rod, the most active ion donor, is placed on the opposite edge of the container. When the magnesium decays, the copper eats away at the tank walls, and you cannot repair it on your own.
Video (click to play).
There is enough scratch in the Termex tanks with enamel coating for corrosion due to the small surface of the donor metal to come very quickly. To protect the enamel from damage associated with thermal expansion, a water shock absorber is required (a 100 liter 4-liter water heater is enough).
All Termeks water heaters are equipped with an emergency shutdown function. It works when the outlet or heating element is faulty. Some types of breakdowns may not give a signal for the emergency mechanism, and the process of destruction will be aggravated. If a water heater, after several years, suddenly began to heat the water weakly, to shock it is a sure sign that the device needs to be opened and the cause checked.
Repair of electric water heaters Termeks horizontal type is not particularly difficult. The work consists of the following stages:
1. Close the valve for supplying cold liquid to the boiler, unplug the device from the socket.
2. Drain the water from the tank using the hose attached to the drain connection. It is better to pour it down the toilet so as not to clog the drain of the bathroom or sink with accumulated scale.
3. Unscrew the hot water supply and open the check valve handle.
4. Having disconnected the hoses for supplying hot and cold liquid, you can remove the Termex water heater from the wall and conveniently place it upside down to make it easier to open the housing cover.
5. Unscrew a couple of self-tapping screws on the sides and the third, usually covered with a manufacturer's sticker. Remove the cover.
6. On the flange of the Termeks water heater there are heating elements, a thermostat and a magnesium anode. Visually assess their condition. Cracks, strong traces of corrosion and a thick crust of scale are a clear problem.
7. To replace the heating element, you need to disconnect three wires: red, blue and yellow.
8. Very carefully remove the thermal protection sensors and the regulator. The capillary copper tube is very thin and cannot be repaired if damaged.
9.Choose the heating element exactly for your model of the Termex water heater and in specialized stores to avoid fakes. Pay attention to how many holes for the thermostat on the old heating element - one or two?
10. Install the new heating element on the gasket in the same way. To avoid mistakes and "extra nuts", take step-by-step photos even when disassembling the boiler.
Rust destroys the flange if the water heater is idle with water. Do not neglect the simple rule of care for the Termex boiler: disconnect from the network, drain the water dry.
After disassembling the boiler, assess the degree of rusting of the flange. It probably needs to be cleaned and used further. The nut of the magnesium anode can also corrode.
The tank overheating sensor (black) is connected to the housing with gray thermal grease. If it is dry and cracked, it must be replaced.
How to get rid of it? First of all, do not allow the boiler to operate on hard water, install a pre-filter. And yet, the repair of storage water heaters from the manufacturer Termeks usually begins precisely because of scale deposits that impede the flow of liquid. In no case should mechanical cleaning of the walls and nozzles be used. Any scratches you leave on the tank will corrode it. Use cleaning products.
To destroy the limestone on the surface of the heating element and the tank, solutions of organic acids (citric, acetic) or an industrial composition for cleaning washing machines are used. Acid is taken in a ratio of 3-10% to 100% water. The solution must be hot. The container is washed with it, and the heating element is immersed in a suitable tank.
In the future, in order to prevent the formation of scale, you can install a magnetic converter on the Termeks water heater. The cheapest method of control is to reduce the heating in the tank. Calcium and magnesium salts boil at + 80 ° C, which means that by setting the temperature on the thermostat to + 60-70 ° C, you will eliminate the conditions for the development of limescale.
According to reviews, repairing a Thermex boiler with your own hands is quite simple if you read the instructions in advance and have minimal locksmith skills.
There are cases when the repair and maintenance of water heaters should be carried out only by specialists in the service center.
Your Termex boiler is still under warranty. Do not remove the branded sticker, otherwise you may be denied free service.
An emergency shutdown has been triggered in the new apparatus. Small-capacity (5-20 liters) Thermex boilers are distinguished by such a defect. If this happens, do not set it to maximum power, but call the master.
Failure of settings in the thermostat unit. In the event of a sudden power outage, the electronics can reset the set program. A specialist must restart it.
Water heaters with a volume of up to 150 liters of inexpensive domestic brands are in constant demand in city apartments and in suburban areas. The cost of repairing Termex Flat Plus IF 50V in service centers differs, but on average, it will cost 30% of the cost of the boiler with diagnostics and a call to the master. To prevent the water heater from becoming "golden", it is necessary to install it correctly and take measures against corrosion in advance.
VIDEO It happens that an incorrect installation system dooms the Termex water heater to permanent breakdowns. Such implicit errors include the formation of a galvanic pair inside the boiler. Ions move not only under the influence of an electric field, but also along the flow of a liquid. This means that the contact of copper through water with any foreign metal leads to its decomposition. A magnesium electrode is required to neutralize the argesive effect of the heating element sheath. Do not allow copper and aluminum (or steel) to come into contact at the joints. If they are inevitably present in the system, then the copper element must be downstream.
All Termeks storage tanks are made of steel (galvanized or coated with enamel), and flow tanks are made of copper.Such tanks are not afraid of scale and do not need a magnesium anode, but they require careful installation. Aluminum radiators and fittings cannot be combined with a water heater. With proper operation, even an inexpensive boiler will serve for a long time and with high quality.
VIDEO
Our reader and author Anatoly Matveichuk continues to share home secrets. This time he tells how to repair a burned out heating element without additional costs.
The second heating element that burned out in a year in a home water heater suggested looking for the causes of frequent breakdowns. After draining the water and dismantling the electrical circuit, he unscrewed the clamping flange nuts. With difficulty, he pulled out the heating element block covered with scale. After cleaning the copper pipes of the heating coils, I found a longitudinal crack on the low power heating element. I checked the main one - it works. It was the same a year ago: a lot of scale, a torn copper pipe and a trip to the store for a new one.
The apparent root cause is hard water from the well. Installing a calcium salt softener last year did not help. The presence of a magnesium electrode also did not increase the service life.
The second reason is low-quality spirals of electric heaters. After polling neighbors and acquaintances, it turned out that replaceable heating elements from the manufacturer of the most common water heaters in our country seem to be specially made for quick breakdown, because if the factory works for 3 years, then after replacement - only 6-8 months. I hypothesized that placing the two coils, two temperature sensors and a magnesium electrode too close together would accelerate overheating and failure.
The third and main reason is that domestic realities are not taken into account in the design of water heaters. Let foreign manufacturers not be offended: imported water heaters are 90% unsuitable for the hard mineralized water of the Russian hinterland. Apparently, Mendeleev came up with a table of chemical elements while researching drinking water in Tobolsk.
Upon examination of the internal 30-liter tank, I found that it consists of two cylindrical tanks of 15 liters, connected by welded 20-mm pipes.
From the first tank through the heating element mounting hole, I managed to wash the scale lumps. And in the second half, everything remained the same. I had to pour in four packs of citric acid and, while stirring, wait for the complete dissolution of the accumulated stalactites. To give 1,200 rubles for a new standard heating element in the conditions of the economic crisis and falling wages did not raise a hand. Therefore, I found a free way to restore - I simply cut off the tubes of the burnt spiral and plugged the holes formed with bronze bolts with rubber gaskets.
As a result, the hot water appliance is already working. For a 30-liter storage electric titanium, 1.5 kW is sufficient. This is how the goal of the renovation was achieved with a positive economic effect.
And I also wrote a plan for preventive acid washings for myself, posted a mode of using hot water with shutdown at night and ... put a pig-piggy bank on the supply of clean water from the city network.
1. Dismantle the heating element. The reason for the failure is visible to the naked eye: a thick layer of scale caused the cell to overheat.
2. After cleaning, it became clear that the small heating element had burned out, and the more powerful one was not damaged.
3. I had to cut off the burnt element and plug the holes left after it with bronze bolts.
4. Now there is more free space between the heating element and the temperature sensors - and scale will not accumulate between them.
5. Bronze bolts with rubber gaskets are installed as plugs in place of the heating element.
6. The heating element is ready to work again. For a 30-liter tank, its power of 1.5 kW is quite enough.
When a colleague of mine moved, someone cut the power cord from a practically new instantaneous water heater. There are suspicions that this is the work of her ex-husband.But whoever did it, plugging in the heater will no longer work. We need to fix it.
In the workshop, they asked for only 2,000 rubles for installing a new wire. But the amount seemed to my colleague too high. I took over the repair. Everything you need was found on the nearest radio market. After a thorough study of the insides of the heater, it turned out that the screws that fix the wire at the exit from the case have a tricky head. You can't unscrew them with a simple screwdriver - you need a "horned" bit. This one was found in the stall where I bought the wire. You can start repairing.
Here's what I needed for the repair.
The heater body can be opened easily, the lid is fastened with two plastic latches.
Such a piece was sticking out of the body. I must say, he was very useful to me. Having “cut off” a piece from it, I went to choose a new wire. It's very convenient when you have a sample: you definitely won't make a mistake when buying!
Before installing a new wire, it is better to photograph the wiring, for example, with a smartphone, so that you do not confuse which wire to connect to.
We unscrew the screws in the connector block to remove the old wire cut.
We unscrew the screws that fix the wire at the output.
Using an ordinary clerical knife, we strip the ends of the new wire.
We insert the stripped wires into the block and fix them by tightening the screws.
We insert a new wire and fix it at the exit.
We put the case on the wire.
To do this, unscrew and tighten three screws. We also fix the wire with a strap with two screws.
I recommend that you additionally secure the plug body to the wire. We wind some electrical tape on the wire.
Now the body has sat down with an interference - you cannot pull the wire out of the plug.
The wire is connected - you can install the heater in its place.
But there is also a hole in the old woman, and a moment may come when the heater stops heating, or heats up weakly. It can also start to flow, which is also not particularly pleasant. And now the moment comes when, willy-nilly, you have to think about repairing the water heater.
This can be understood beforehand without disassembling the device itself.
The main malfunctions of electric water heaters are:
the device does not turn on;
short-circuit protection (RCD) is triggered;
the water heater does not heat the water, or does not comply with the heating rate;
the boiler leaked.
If a leak appears, it is necessary to find out where it is flowing. If the heating element gasket has leaked, then such a defect can be easily eliminated. You just need to replace it with a new one, especially since they cost a penny.
It is possible to preliminarily understand that it is the heating element that has failed by such indirect signs:
protective automatics are triggered;
knocks out the machine on the counter;
water does not heat up, or the device heats up poorly;
the hissing of the water heater and the release of water of a cloudy consistency with an unpleasant odor.
With these symptoms, the most likely is the failure of the heating element. This can be determined by the appearance of the heating element itself - the shell is damaged.
If the ohmmeter shows infinity at the terminals, then the nichrome spiral is broken.
If zero, then there is a short circuit somewhere. In any case, such an element needs a replacement.
In some cases, the heating element fails for the following reasons:
The heating element has fulfilled its term;
the unit was turned on without water;
the water heater was turned off for a long time, but the water was not drained;
sudden voltage drops in the network.
In any case, the heating element needs to be changed. Of course, the easiest way is to use the services of a master, but it is quite possible to change the heating element yourself.It is necessary to warn that repairs must be done in a certain sequence so that there is no confusion. This is an important precondition for a successful renovation.
Preparation before repair is as follows:
Disconnecting the water heater from the network. Unplug the plug from the socket.
Close the non-return valve and water supply valves.
The cold water hose is disconnected and the fluid is drained. There will be a small amount, only residues in the system.
The hot water hose is disconnected and the water already in the tank is drained. If there is no separate pipe for draining water, a check valve is used as it, although the water in this case is drained for a long time.
It is necessary to completely drain the water, after which the water heater is removed. It is best to do this together, because the weight of the water heater is large enough without water.
Read the article on how to properly replace the heating element in the Thermex water heater here.
It should be noted that sometimes the screws are labeled on top. Before starting to dismantle the thermostat, it is better to take a photo or sketch the connections.
The following is the sequence:
the contacts of the heating element are disconnected;
fastons are released from the thermostat contacts;
the nut holding the thermostat is dismantled and removed away;
the thermostat sensors are removed from the tubing of the heating element;
the nuts of the heating element mounting plate are unscrewed;
The heating element is checked by external inspection for the integrity of the shell;
The heating element is called by the tester for open and short circuit.
Before installing a new heating element, it is strongly recommended to thoroughly clean the water heater tank.
This must be done as carefully as possible so as not to damage the inner surface. It is necessary to inspect the magnesium anode as well, most likely it will also have to be replaced. In general, there is a recommendation that the anode needs to be replaced annually.
Read the article on installing and connecting a Thermex water heater with your own hands here.
After reading this article, you will learn how to properly disassemble the Thermex water heater.
It should be noted that the new element must correspond as much as possible to the burnt one, especially in the part in which it is attached to the water heater body, and the number of tubes for thermostat sensors must also correspond to the old one.
The assembly is carried out in the following sequence:
a silicone gasket is installed, it is best to install a new one, its cost is quite low, and a fresh gasket will ensure the tightness of the connection, otherwise there may be leaks;
the magnesium anode is inserted into the appropriate place on the heating element;
the assembled heating element is inserted into its place in the body of the device;
the mounting bar is put in place, the heating element is pressed against it and the nuts are tightened;
thus, the assembly takes place as a mirror image of the dismantling. Next, using a photo, an electrician is connected and the lid is screwed on.
The fully assembled water heater is returned to its place on the wall. Here, again, it is advisable to do this operation together. Moreover, installation is a slightly more complicated operation than removal.
Then the tank is filled with water, and you need to make sure that there are no leaks. If everything is normal and no leaks are observed, you can perform a test switch-on. The water heater is ready for use again.
Watch a video in which an experienced user explains in detail how you can repair a Termex water heater with your own hands:
VIDEO
According to BusinesStat estimates, about 22 million domestic water heaters are currently in use in Russia, and by 2014 their number will be close to 25 million.Quite a lot, isn't it? Many of these water heaters have been serving for more than a year, and sooner or later the owners will face the issue of repair. What, then, to do? Call the technician from the service center? Perhaps this is the easiest and most expensive way.
You can go the other way, i.e. repair the water heater with your own hands. How can this be done? Not so difficult as it seems at first glance, carefully read the purpose of the main elements, arm yourself with the necessary tools and, following the recommendations from the article, proceed with the repair.
Let's look at the main elements of electric water heaters, both storage and flow type. Let's make a reservation right away that we still won't repair the gas water heater - the cost of an error can be very high. Therefore, it is better to entrust the repair of gas water heaters to authorized service centers.
So, if we are to, for example, repair a storage-type Ariston water heater, we need to know its main components. The picture above will help us with this, on it all the elements are indicated and named. To repair the Termeks water heater with our own hands, we will take a closer look at their purpose in the boiler:
VIDEO
In addition to the above, some water heaters are equipped with electronic monitoring and control circuits. In the event of a failure, the boiler will not work, but at least basic knowledge of electronics is already needed to repair it. If they are, then in most cases, you can repair the Ariston water heater with your own hands. The description of the operation of the electronic circuit and the methods of repair is not included in the plans of this article, perhaps in the near future we will consider this too.
Schematic diagram of switching on a "conventional" boiler
If the problem is in the electronic board, it can be circumvented and the boiler will work. As you can see from the schematic, the board is connected in parallel with the heating element power circuit. If you want and have basic concepts in electrical engineering, you can turn it off and connect the circuit as in conventional water heaters. But if you do not have such skills or you doubt the success of your plans, you should not start experimenting.
The circuit for switching on a boiler with an electrical board is indicated by number 6.
Other designations: 1 - control thermostat; 2 - control thermostat; 3 - indicator of turning on the heating element, a light that glows when water heating is turned on; 4 - heating element; 5 - grounding.
The device of instantaneous water heaters is practically identical to that described above. The main difference is the absence of a storage tank and more powerful heating elements. Therefore, we will not consider the units of an instantaneous water heater and will not repeat ourselves.
Heating element for repair of water heaters Real
The water heater is included in the network, but the indicator lamp for the heating element does not shine and the water does not heat up? Then the procedure for determining the malfunction is as follows:
We take a combined measuring device (tester), set it on the voltage measuring scale of 220-250V and make measurements at the terminals of the cable and thermostat connection, if the voltage is normal, we measure the potential directly at the heating element terminals. If the voltage at the terminals of the heating element is normal, most likely the heating element itself is out of order.
We disconnect our water heater from the electrical network and put the tester on the resistance measurement scale (Ohm), disconnect our heating element from the thermostat (in most models, a rather simple procedure - we remove the terminals with wires so that the ends of the heating element are "bare"). We measure the resistance at the contacts of the heating element, while accuracy is not important to us, this is not a motor winding. If the element is working properly, the device will show us a certain amount of resistance, if there is no indication, we remove the heating element and go to the store for a new one, it cannot be repaired. You can find out in more detail how to replace the heating element in a water heater from the article on our website.
This procedure for determining a malfunction of a heating element is identical for all types of water heaters, both instantaneous and storage.
Signs of a malfunction of the thermostat and thermostat are the absence of the heating element turning on in the presence of voltage, as well as if the control thermostat is triggered. To check the operation of the thermostat, we will have to remove it, how - you can find out from the article, which describes the procedure for installing and repairing water heaters, it is on the website.
So, the thermostat was removed. We take the device, put it on the measurement of resistance (Ohm). Set the position of the adjusting knob to Max and measure it on the thermostat contacts (input / output). If our tester does not respond, the element is defective, it cannot be repaired. It will be necessary to purchase and install its analogue.
If the control thermostat is triggered, then the procedure for determining the malfunction is as follows. We put the removed thermostat in the Min position and fix the measuring probes of the device on the contacts, if you are not alone - let someone hold it. Take a lighter and heat the thermostat flask / rod. If it is working properly, the picture will be as follows: the thermal relay is triggered and opens the circuit, the resistance on the contacts should tend to infinity, i.e. such as if the test leads of the device are spread apart. If this does not happen - the thermal relay is scrapped, we go to get a new one, because this item cannot be repaired.
The most common malfunction, in addition to the electrical components of the boiler, is a leak. There may be two reasons:
tank leak;
leak from under the flange, which secures the heating element.
The reasons that caused the tank to leak can be: lack of grounding (which accelerated electrical corrosion), lack of proper maintenance, natural wear and tear.
VIDEO
It is not possible to repair the tank for the following reasons:
the outer casing and the tank are practically inseparable, dismantling, so that it is almost impossible not to damage the shell;
the inner tank is usually made of stainless steel with a thickness of 1 - 2 mm or in more expensive models made of copper, in rare cases it is made of plastic. There is very little you can do with the latter. You can still tinker with a copper tank and try to solder it, but, as a rule, such tanks are very durable due to their increased resistance to corrosion. Welding such a thin stainless steel at home is not realistic, so you should not waste time and effort.
to everything else, the modern coating of tanks in storage water heaters is glass enamel, which is damaged during welding. It is not realistic to restore it at home, which means that the leak is inevitable in the near future.
The only way out of this situation is to replace the internal tank with a new one if your model allows such a replacement and, moreover, if you find an analogue. But it will be easier to buy a new water heater.
If a leak is detected from under the flange, then there are no particular difficulties for repairing the Termeks water heater, or any other. It is enough to drain the water from the water heater, remove the gasket and visually determine its wear or damage. We take it with us and go shopping in search of a similar one. Changing and using the boiler further. By the way, Onyx offers pipeline parts, including steel flanges, at reasonable prices.
These are the main malfunctions of electric water heaters. As you can see, flowing ones will have less of them, but it also costs more.
There is a large selection of electric heaters on the market: Termeks, Oasis, Ariston, Elenberg. The water in each of them may stop heating up if the heating element malfunctions. As a rule, the heating element in the boiler is vertical, located at the bottom. The heating element of the water heater has direct contact with water and can oxidize or burn out. If plugs are knocked out on the dashboard, this can also serve as a malfunction indicator. In addition to cold water and knocking out plugs, a short circuit sensor or an electric shock through the water will notify about problems.
The heating element fails if:
The water heater was turned on without water, and the overheating protection system did not work;
The heating element is located under a thick layer of scale;
A sudden power surge has occurred;
The heating element has expired.
If the boiler stops heating the water, you need to find out about the performance of the heating element. To do this, use an Ohmmeter. If in resistance mode the device shows an infinite number, the spiral is burned out. On the device zero - a short circuit has occurred. In both cases, the heater must be replaced. Dismantling it is quite simple.
The main reason why the Termeks water heater has broken down may be the operation of a residual current device (RCD). The main task of this device is to protect a person from electric shock.
In addition to a short circuit, titanium may not turn on for the following reasons:
There is no electricity supply to the boiler. To clarify this reason, you need to check the cable for damage.
The water pressure measuring sensor could be out of order. The problem can be solved by replacing the sensor.
The Termex water heater may refuse to turn on if you have low water pressure. This problem is solved by installing a pump.
Send your contacts. It happens that they oxidize or burn. If this happens, the contacts must be cleaned or replaced.
Temperature sensor defective. We check it with a tester. Change if necessary.
These are the most common reasons why the boiler will not turn on. These reasons are quite capable of eliminating yourself. The main principle of inspecting a water heater is to observe safety precautions.
Sometimes, when the boiler is turned on, the indicator shows the letter "E", which signals an error. This does not mean that the titanium is broken. Such messages from electric water heaters cannot be simply ignored, as this will lead to a malfunction of the water heater.
Here is a list of possible errors:
E1 ( Vacuum ) - signals that the boiler has not turned on completely filled with water. As a result, the water heating element may burn out. To correct this deficiency, you need to stop the operation of the apparatus and wait until it is filled with water.E2 ( Sensor ) - a signal indicating a malfunction of the temperature sensor. The boiler can be restarted. The problem may be resolved. If not, check the sensor with a tester. The sensor failed the test? We change it.E3 ( Over Heat ) - such a code may appear on the monitor if the water temperature has risen to the maximum mark of 95 ° C. When the boiler mentions such an error, you will soon need to contact the service center. Thermostat needs replacement or installation. They are available not only at 95 ° C, but also at 105 and are marked WQS105.
Be very careful when errors occur.You can't just walk by, because in addition to stopping the operation of the device, ignoring errors can lead to an explosion of the water heater. For example, the e3 error, indicating heating to the maximum, urges us to turn off the device. If this is not done, the boiled water will turn into steam and the boiler will explode from the increased pressure.
A boiler, like any household appliance, tends to fail. This certainly doesn't make anyone happy, but you can repair it yourself. Everything has its own service life, water heaters are no exception. Reliable electric water heater Termeks RZB sometimes leaks.
Reasons why the water heater could leak:
The boiler has never undergone maintenance since the installation.
The magnesium anode in the heater tank is not installed or has been waiting for replacement for a long time. It needs to be changed once a year as it serves to prevent corrosion.
A manufacturing defect can lead to a leak at the beginning of the device's service.
The composition of the heated water is very poor.
Increased pressure in the pipes can lead to deformation of the water heater body. If the pressure exceeds 2 atmospheres, experts recommend installing a reduction gear.
Deformation of the body can occur in the absence of a relief valve that relieves the overpressure.
Leaks can appear in different places. The boiler can flow from the top or bottom. The main action when a leak is detected is to disconnect the water heater from the network. Next - substitute a container for collecting water. Locate the leak with a flashlight. The safety valve is usually leaking. In this case, the water must be drained. If the boiler leaks at the pipe threaded joints in the water heater itself, reconnect it.
VIDEO
Electric water heaters Termeks have long earned the trust of consumers. Unlike other companies, Termex produces only water heaters, which increases the reliability of the products. On average, boilers last 5-8 years, and with regular maintenance they are quite capable of living for 10 years. You can fix minor breakdowns yourself, while large ones often lead to the replacement of an entire tank. In any case, it is necessary to monitor the operation of the water heater and eliminate minor problems in a timely manner.
Boilers Termeks have long established themselves as reliable and unpretentious household appliances. But, like any other technique, they are prone to malfunctions. Some of the breakdowns can be eliminated with your own hands, and in case of other malfunctions, the repair of the Termeks water heater should be done by a master.
Before disassembling the device, you need to have at least a little understanding of its design and principle of operation.
body material is sheet steel with anti-corrosion coating ;
alloy steel, durable and resistant to corrosion, used for the manufacture of the inner tank;
the elements of the device (heating element, magnesium anode and thermostat) are installed on a metal flange;
magnesium anode is a rod covered with a covered magnesium alloy - this part protects the tank from corrosion;a drain pipe through which hot water is discharged (the intake takes place at the top of the tank, where the water temperature is higher);
the space between the outer shell and the tank is filled with polyurethane foam for good thermal insulation - due to this, the liquid in the switched off unit retains the temperature for a long time (like in a thermos);
heating element is used to heat water;
when the water heats up to a certain temperature, the heating turns off thermostat located at the bottom of the apparatus, it also turns on heating when the liquid cools down;
a tube is installed at the bottom of the tank through which cold water flows.
The water heater is running by convection principle :
through the supply pipe, water enters the storage tank;
the thermostat turns on the heating element to heat the liquid to the temperature set on the thermostat;
due to the physical law of convection, warm water begins to rise;
in the upper part of the tank there is an entrance to the pipe for the intake of heated water, which is supplied to the consumer;
when the hot water is used up and the temperature in the tank drops, the thermostat will turn on the heating again and the process will be repeated.
The design of the water heater is quite simple and there may be several causes of malfunctions. There are breakdowns in which it is possible to repair Termex water heaters with your own hands:
the device does not heat the liquid;
the unit heats the water slowly;
the boiler often turns off or does not turn on;
water flow from the tank.
When the liquid in the device does not heat up, then a possible cause may be a malfunction of the heating element. Signs of its failure, in addition to the lack of water heating, may be as follows: knocking out the automatics on the dashboard, permanently turning off the RCD (residual current device), receiving an electric shock through the water.
The heating element can come out of the three if:
the unit was turned on without water and the overheating protection did not work;
The heating element was “overgrown” with a thick layer of scale and was out of order due to overheating;
there was a sharp jump in the voltage in the network;
the heater has expired.
To check the heating element for damage, you need use a tester (with a special measuring device). If the device, switched to resistance mode, shows infinity, it means that the heater coil has burned out. If zero is displayed on the device, a short circuit has occurred. In both cases, the heater must be replaced.
Heater Replacement Procedure in a 50 liter Termex boiler is not difficult, but requires patience and attention.
Before draining water from a failed Termeks water heater, the unit should be de-energized. After that, release water from the container of the device, and unscrew all hoses or pipes from the nozzles.
Remove the device from the wall and turn it over.
Carefully, using a screwdriver, pry up the decorative plugs and remove them.
Video (click to play).
It should be noted that a screw is hidden under the sticker, often due to which craftsmen, when trying to disassemble the unit, break the cover.
In order not to confuse the location of all wires in the future during assembly, they must be marked with construction tape (by signing them), or photographed.
Now you need to unscrew the nuts holding the flange. In this model of the unit, there are 4 of them on each heating element.
Remove the retainer washer. If it is stuck, you can use a screwdriver.
Remove the heating element. It also often sticks to the body and requires a slight pry with a screwdriver to detach it.
The second flange contains more wires. They all need to be disconnected.
After disconnecting the wires, unscrew all nuts, remove the washer and remove the heater.
Now you need to completely unscrew the entire electrical part, which is held by 4 screws.
There is also a screw hidden under the board, which must be unscrewed.
After that, the decorative cover can be easily removed. The method of replacing heaters in the 80 liter Termex boiler is not much different from the above.
This is a fairly common malfunction that appears during prolonged operation of the device without preventive cleaning. If you hear noises coming from the tank when the boiler is on, and the water heats up for a long time, this means that the heating elements are “overgrown” with scale. Its thick layer interferes with the full transfer of heat from the heater to the surrounding liquid. This can cause the cell to overheat and burn out. With such a problem, it will be easy to make repairs with your own hands.
How to disassemble a water heater to replace heating elements has been mentioned above. In a situation when the heating elements are in good order, but they have a large layer of scale, then it must be removed from the heaters. Mechanical cleaning (with a file, sharp objects and sandpaper) is not recommended due to possible damage to the heating element housing.
For safe descaling, you can use chemicals specially designed for this. You can buy them at a household chemicals store or service center.
For descaling, prepare a container, the depth of which will be slightly deeper than the heater itself, for example, a bucket.
It is necessary to dilute the descaler (which is acid) in a bucket, observing the percentage of concentration , which is indicated in the instructions. If the concentration is less, then the cleansing will be ineffective.
Dip the heating element in the acid solution and time it. Dissolution may take from several minutes to 2 or more hours. The cleaning time depends on the thickness of the formed layer and the properties of the solution.
It is important to follow the instructions for the descaler and not to overexpose the heaters in acid. After cleaning the heating elements, it is enough to rinse it with running water.
The reason that the Termeks water heater turns off without reaching the desired temperature, or does not turn on at all, may be faulty thermostat ... It is checked with a resistance tester. If it is missing, the part should be replaced. To do this, just remove the bottom cover of the device, disconnect the wires and replace the thermostat.
If a leak is detected from the container, the problem is solved by replacing it. Here you should calculate how much it will cost you to replace or repair the tank, and what is the price of a new unit. It is recommended not to spend money on repairs, but to purchase a new boiler.
If you nevertheless decide on an independent repair of the Termeks boiler tank, then the following difficulties should be taken into account:
when dismantling the tank from the outer casing, you will certainly damage the shell;
if the device has a plastic reservoir, it cannot be restored.
if the material of the container is copper or stainless steel, then you can try to solder it, but it will be problematic to do it efficiently without a special tool at home.
Some models of water heaters have glass enamel coated containers. When you try to repair such a tank by brazing, you will inevitably damage this layer, after which it will be impossible to repair it.
In a situation where water seeps out from under the flange, the problem may lie in rubber gasket that has worn out. To replace it, you need to de-energize the unit, drain the water, disassemble the device according to the above instructions and replace the gasket.
Some types of malfunctions of the Termex boiler can only be eliminated by a master, and it is highly discouraged to make repairs on your own in such cases. Problems that can only be solved by a specialist:
incorrect operation and emergency shutdowns of new equipment for which the warranty service has not expired;
the settings on the electronic thermostat are reset;
RCD often turns off the unit;
a tank leak, although the effectiveness of such a repair is questionable - it will be cheaper to purchase a new device.
But before calling the service, make sure that in the line through which cold water is supplied, there is a pressure ... There are models of units that turn off the boiler in the absence of pressure in the supply line.
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