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JohnB · Joined: 26 Jan 2004 Posts: 11 Location: Leicestershire

Hi
I have a central heating system called Imstor. Don't know if any one knows of this type of heating, but a quick description would be this:- It's a 500 gallon tank built into the house when it was erected. It has 6 immersion elements 3 for Off Peak electricity and 2 for Peak rate electricity for boosting the system when very cold, the 6th element is a spare.
At the time the house was built (25 years ago) there was no gas in the village (we now have gas) so this was a very effective alternative to solid fuel/oil or LPG. It has proven to be very efficient (surprisingly low running cost) and apart from a replacement check valve and a new pump has needed no servicing whats-so-ever.
My problem is this, I discovered that the tank was leaking around one of the lower immersion elements and the metal flaking away quite badly, this went un-noticed due to the huge amount of insulation wrapped around the tank and the heat evaporating the leaking water.
I have had quotes to have the tank ripped out and a gas boiler installed but will need to have the gas laid up to the house also.

Do you think it would be possible to get the tank repaired, does anyone do that type of thing nowadays? or should I just bite the bullet and have it taken out which would involve taking a wall down (non-load bearing), cutting up the tank, re-plastering and re-fitting out the kitchen.

Sorry this is a long post but everyone I speak to about this has no knowledge of this type of system. I should add that I have contacted the original designer/supplier of the system and find that he has retired and the company no-longer supply or maintain these systems.

Any advise would be appreciated.

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4680 Location: Bath

If it was an open top tank it could be fibreglass lined, but to be honest it sounds like it should go, certainly never seen anything like it.

Can't you just drain and leave it in place.

scruff

JohnB · Joined: 26 Jan 2004 Posts: 11 Location: Leicestershire

Thanks for the reply, you've just confirmed what I suspected. I'ts such a pity the system is'nt made any more because it's so simple and economical. Our tank is so big because we were a test site for the company, after extensive tests they discovered that a tank that would fit in an understairs cupboard would have been big enough to do the job, and this is a large 3 bedroomed detached house. Plus you get controlable radiator heating where normally people would have to put up with storage heaters or a big oil tank in the garden.

If it's usless I'll have to have it out or the little lady would complain cause it takes up a quarter of the kitchen space and what woman doesnt want a bigger kitchen given half a chance.

By the way can I congratulate you on a brilliant site I came across it while researching installing a replacement shower, did'nt know it existed until yesterday.

Best regards

JohnB

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4680 Location: Bath

Glad you like the site, keeps us out of mischief and out the kitchen.

Consider an unvented cylinder and condensing boiler, Don't have a combi unless you have time on your hands.

scruff

JohnB · Joined: 26 Jan 2004 Posts: 11 Location: Leicestershire

LoL

We already have plenty of domestic hot water supplied from an immersion tank seperate from the heating tank (when you think about it we have tons of hot water in this house) so have been quoted for a condensing boiler.
I'll let you know how we get on I think the tank will have to be torched to get it out, I spoke to a neighbor who has already had his out and a disk cutter had no effect on the tank. (should be interesting, and very mucky)

Regards

JohnB

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4680 Location: Bath

The immersion tank you have is probably Direct and not Indirect.

scruff