Efficient Geysers Save Money!
April 21, 2022
Thermostat Troubleshooting
July 1, 2022
Troubleshooting Part 1: Element not heating up properly
XTEND elements have a no questions asked returns policy and we receive quite a few elements that are ¨not heating up properly¨, yet when we test them on our test bench, we find the element working normally.
While there may be one or two elements at fault, the more likely cause of the problem is going to be a faulty thermostat or tripping circuit breaker. These relatively inexpensive pieces of equipment can affect the performance of the XTEND element.
XTEND elements also have a stronger in-rush current, compared to standard resistive elements. This is due to the fact that XTEND elements are heating up ceramic chips and not resistive wire which is relatively small and easy to get to temperature. XTEND elements require a high current on start-up to get the ceramic chips to operating temperature. This ¨spike¨ does not last for long and most 20A or 30A circuit breakers will not trip. However, if the circuit breaker or wiring is faulty, it may cause a problem, leading to no hot water.
The same can be said for thermostats, especially those from a bad batch, and this can also led to problems with heating as the thermostat is tripping or not reading the correct temperature.
It is important, when installing XTEND elements, that the thermostat and circuit breakers are checked and that you turn the element on and off a few times to check that both are working correctly.
Setting the thermostat is also important with XTEND elements and we advise turning the stat down by 10oC to 15oC depending on hot water usage and the location of the thermostat. The lower the thermostat location and the fewer the number of hot water users, the lower you can set the thermostat. A lower thermostat has been proven to provide more efficient heating. In addition, XTEND elements are also more efficient due to the larger surface area and its low watt density.
Troubleshooting Part 2: Element tripping the earth leakage or circuit breaker
XTEND elements also have a stronger in-rush current, compared to standard resistive elements. This is due to the fact that XTEND elements are heating up ceramic chips and not resistive wire which is relatively small and easy to get to temperature.
XTEND elements require a high current on start-up to get the ceramic chips to operating temperature. This ¨spike¨ does not last for long and most 20A or 30A circuit breakers will not trip. However, if the circuit breaker or wiring is faulty, it may cause a problem, leading to no hot water. This also applies to the earth leakage.
There are a number of reasons that this can be happening:
- Element is faulty
- Circuit breaker is faulty or very old
- Wiring is loose around circuit breaker
- Connecting wires are too small or loose
- Thermostat is faulty
- Circuit breaker is too small
- Dead short in the cable
- Water inside the element shorting inside. (this can also trip the entire DB)
As you can see there are a number of items to check before returning the element as it is often one or more of the other 7 more likely reasons.
So before you return an XTEND element, please check the entire electric pathway for any potential faults.
Troubleshooting Part 3: Setting the thermostat correctly
XTEND elements are at least 25% more efficient and the location of our thermostat is very low in the geyser.
Heated water is less dense and will always rise above cold water meaning that the lowest part of a geyser is also the coldest. If you do not adjust the thermostat accordingly, it takes a very long time to turn off as the bottom of the geyser is the last place to get hot.
However, if the thermostat is on for too long, the water at the top of the geyser will become too hot and the TP (temperature/pressure) valve will open and release steaming hot water out of the geyser, to allow cold water to flow in again, reducing the pressure.
If this happens, your thermostat setting is too high. If you do not have enough hot water, your thermostat setting is too low.
Most houses set thermostats around 60oC, some at 65oC, others at 55oC
With XTEND elements it is possible to set the thermostat 10oC to 15oC lower than standard, depending on the location of the thermostat and the number of hot water users. The lower the thermostat location and the fewer the number of hot water users, the lower you can set the thermostat. A lower thermostat has been proven to provide more efficient heating. In addition, XTEND elements are also more efficient due to the larger surface area and its low watt density.
With Kwikot geysers, it is sometimes possible to twist the element, so the thermostat is slightly higher, however, it is far easier to manage the element with a thermostat and timer.
For more information you can always call our XTEND Hotline on 087 057 9126
Troubleshooting Part 1: Element not heating up properly
XTEND elements have a no questions asked returns policy and we receive quite a few elements that are ¨not heating up properly¨, yet when we test them on our test bench, we find the element working normally.
While there may be one or two elements at fault, the more likely cause of the problem is going to be a faulty thermostat or tripping circuit breaker. These relatively inexpensive pieces of equipment can affect the performance of the XTEND element.
XTEND elements also have a stronger in-rush current, compared to standard resistive elements. This is due to the fact that XTEND elements are heating up ceramic chips and not resistive wire which is relatively small and easy to get to temperature. XTEND elements require a high current on start-up to get the ceramic chips to operating temperature. This ¨spike¨ does not last for long and most 20A or 30A circuit breakers will not trip. However, if the circuit breaker or wiring is faulty, it may cause a problem, leading to no hot water.
The same can be said for thermostats, especially those from a bad batch, and this can also led to problems with heating as the thermostat is tripping or not reading the correct temperature.
It is important, when installing XTEND elements, that the thermostat and circuit breakers are checked and that you turn the element on and off a few times to check that both are working correctly.
Setting the thermostat is also important with XTEND elements and we advise turning the stat down by 10oC to 15oC depending on hot water usage and the location of the thermostat. The lower the thermostat location and the fewer the number of hot water users, the lower you can set the thermostat. A lower thermostat has been proven to provide more efficient heating. In addition, XTEND elements are also more efficient due to the larger surface area and its low watt density.
Troubleshooting Part 2: Element tripping the earth leakage or circuit breaker
XTEND elements also have a stronger in-rush current, compared to standard resistive elements. This is due to the fact that XTEND elements are heating up ceramic chips and not resistive wire which is relatively small and easy to get to temperature.
XTEND elements require a high current on start-up to get the ceramic chips to operating temperature. This ¨spike¨ does not last for long and most 20A or 30A circuit breakers will not trip. However, if the circuit breaker or wiring is faulty, it may cause a problem, leading to no hot water. This also applies to the earth leakage.
There are a number of reasons that this can be happening:
- Element is faulty
- Circuit breaker is faulty or very old
- Wiring is loose around circuit breaker
- Connecting wires are too small or loose
- Thermostat is faulty
- Circuit breaker is too small
- Dead short in the cable
- Water inside the element shorting inside. (this can also trip the entire DB)
As you can see there are a number of items to check before returning the element as it is often one or more of the other 7 more likely reasons.
So before you return an XTEND element, please check the entire electric pathway for any potential faults.
Troubleshooting Part 3: Setting the thermostat correctly
XTEND elements are at least 25% more efficient and the location of our thermostat is very low in the geyser.
Heated water is less dense and will always rise above cold water meaning that the lowest part of a geyser is also the coldest. If you do not adjust the thermostat accordingly, it takes a very long time to turn off as the bottom of the geyser is the last place to get hot.
However, if the thermostat is on for too long, the water at the top of the geyser will become too hot and the TP (temperature/pressure) valve will open and release steaming hot water out of the geyser, to allow cold water to flow in again, reducing the pressure.
If this happens, your thermostat setting is too high. If you do not have enough hot water, your thermostat setting is too low.
Most houses set thermostats around 60oC, some at 65oC, others at 55oC
With XTEND elements it is possible to set the thermostat 10oC to 15oC lower than standard, depending on the location of the thermostat and the number of hot water users. The lower the thermostat location and the fewer the number of hot water users, the lower you can set the thermostat. A lower thermostat has been proven to provide more efficient heating. In addition, XTEND elements are also more efficient due to the larger surface area and its low watt density.
With Kwikot geysers, it is sometimes possible to twist the element, so the thermostat is slightly higher, however, it is far easier to manage the element with a thermostat and timer.
For more information you can always call our XTEND Hotline on 087 057 9126
Troubleshooting Part 1: Element not heating up properly
XTEND elements have a no questions asked returns policy and we receive quite a few elements that are ¨not heating up properly¨, yet when we test them on our test bench, we find the element working normally.
While there may be one or two elements at fault, the more likely cause of the problem is going to be a faulty thermostat or tripping circuit breaker. These relatively inexpensive pieces of equipment can affect the performance of the XTEND element.
XTEND elements also have a stronger in-rush current, compared to standard resistive elements. This is due to the fact that XTEND elements are heating up ceramic chips and not resistive wire which is relatively small and easy to get to temperature. XTEND elements require a high current on start-up to get the ceramic chips to operating temperature. This ¨spike¨ does not last for long and most 20A or 30A circuit breakers will not trip. However, if the circuit breaker or wiring is faulty, it may cause a problem, leading to no hot water.
The same can be said for thermostats, especially those from a bad batch, and this can also led to problems with heating as the thermostat is tripping or not reading the correct temperature.
It is important, when installing XTEND elements, that the thermostat and circuit breakers are checked and that you turn the element on and off a few times to check that both are working correctly.
Setting the thermostat is also important with XTEND elements and we advise turning the stat down by 10oC to 15oC depending on hot water usage and the location of the thermostat. The lower the thermostat location and the fewer the number of hot water users, the lower you can set the thermostat. A lower thermostat has been proven to provide more efficient heating. In addition, XTEND elements are also more efficient due to the larger surface area and its low watt density.
Troubleshooting Part 2: Element tripping the earth leakage or circuit breaker
XTEND elements also have a stronger in-rush current, compared to standard resistive elements. This is due to the fact that XTEND elements are heating up ceramic chips and not resistive wire which is relatively small and easy to get to temperature.
XTEND elements require a high current on start-up to get the ceramic chips to operating temperature. This ¨spike¨ does not last for long and most 20A or 30A circuit breakers will not trip. However, if the circuit breaker or wiring is faulty, it may cause a problem, leading to no hot water. This also applies to the earth leakage.
There are a number of reasons that this can be happening:
- Element is faulty
- Circuit breaker is faulty or very old
- Wiring is loose around circuit breaker
- Connecting wires are too small or loose
- Thermostat is faulty
- Circuit breaker is too small
- Dead short in the cable
- Water inside the element shorting inside. (this can also trip the entire DB)
As you can see there are a number of items to check before returning the element as it is often one or more of the other 7 more likely reasons.
So before you return an XTEND element, please check the entire electric pathway for any potential faults.
Troubleshooting Part 3: Setting the thermostat correctly
XTEND elements are at least 25% more efficient and the location of our thermostat is very low in the geyser.
Heated water is less dense and will always rise above cold water meaning that the lowest part of a geyser is also the coldest. If you do not adjust the thermostat accordingly, it takes a very long time to turn off as the bottom of the geyser is the last place to get hot.
However, if the thermostat is on for too long, the water at the top of the geyser will become too hot and the TP (temperature/pressure) valve will open and release steaming hot water out of the geyser, to allow cold water to flow in again, reducing the pressure.
If this happens, your thermostat setting is too high. If you do not have enough hot water, your thermostat setting is too low.
Most houses set thermostats around 60oC, some at 65oC, others at 55oC
With XTEND elements it is possible to set the thermostat 10oC to 15oC lower than standard, depending on the location of the thermostat and the number of hot water users. The lower the thermostat location and the fewer the number of hot water users, the lower you can set the thermostat. A lower thermostat has been proven to provide more efficient heating. In addition, XTEND elements are also more efficient due to the larger surface area and its low watt density.
With Kwikot geysers, it is sometimes possible to twist the element, so the thermostat is slightly higher, however, it is far easier to manage the element with a thermostat and timer.
For more information you can always call our XTEND Hotline on 087 057 9126
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