Old Fashioned Immersion Heater Thermostat

[Vasquoy]

I have just got my electric bill in and my night time useage is through the roof!  I have long suspected a problem so tonight I investigated.

Having taken the thermostat out of the immersion tank (a bottom fitted one - not a top) I have found that it doesn't look like the ones in Screwfix!

It is about 5-6 inches long in its entirety and it has a black box which has the temperature dial on (in farenheit) and the bit that actually fits into the sheath is less than a pinkie finger long, about 1cm in diameter and seems to be made of a ceramic type material.

It is named a Maclaren type W, 15amp, 260 Volt.

Can I still get these?  If so, where or am I looking at having to replace the entire tank?????

 

[Tweed]

If you have night time economy electricity, then you should have two immersion heaters. If you suspect that the thermostat is the problem, then try swapping the thermostats. Most immersion heaters accept the standard thermostat size, unless it is a particularly unusual or old type. If you have just moved into a new home with night time storage heaters and are wondering why the bills are so high, then that's just the way it is.

[Vasquoy]

Its obviously an old tank that has been converted to E7 at a later date as it only has one thermostat.

My 6 months bills were fine then they suddenly doubled - after i turned the storage heaters off for the summer so it can only be the immersion heater.

I have spoken to a few experts and they have recommended just replacing the whole thing.   Sigh....