Cost of Immersion Heater

How Much is a New Immersion Heater?

The average cost that you pay for a replacement immersion heater will depend on several factors, such as the size of immersion heater that you need, the type that you need, and your location in the UK.

Those based in the London area can expect higher labour costs than those based in the north or other parts of the UK.

If you are looking for a copper immersion heater, this will cost around £108-£140, an incoloy immersion heater will cost around £113-£120 and a titanium immersion heater will cost around £120-£215.

What else can affect the overall cost of the job?

Some other factors that may affect the cost include the ease of access and the heating engineer’s labour rates. If the contractor is very skilled and has a lot of experience, then they may charge more for the labour portion of the job.

Immersion Heater Prices

Below is a table highlighting the average cost of replacing an immersion heater:

What are the Supply Costs of an Immersion Heater Replacement?

If you are planning on installing an immersion heater as a DIY job, or if you would like to purchase the immersion heater before hiring a contractor to install it, then you may be interested in the supply costs alone.

Below is a table showing the average costs that you can expect to pay for the various immersion heaters:

What are the Additional Costs of Replacing an Immersion Heater?

There are several additional costs that may come up with this type of work. Below is a list of the additional things that you may need to think about when replacing your immersion heater:

New Thermostat Cost

A thermostat can be very useful in modern homes. There are three main types of thermostats – a manual thermostat, a programmable thermostat, and a smart thermostat.

A manual thermostat will cost around £110-£140 to install, a programmable thermostat will cost around £140-£170 to install, and a smart thermostat will cost around £250-£400 to install.

New Radiators Cost

If your radiators are quite old or if you notice that your home isn’t as warm as usual, then it may be time to get some radiators replaced. You will need to hire a heating engineer or a plumber to remove and replace a radiator.

The average cost to remove and replace a radiator in your home is around £95-£850. The price will vary depending on the type of radiator that you choose, the ease of access, and your location in the UK.

Underfloor Heating Cost

If you want to warm your home very efficiently, underfloor heating is a great option. There are two main types of underfloor heating – a wet system and an electrical system.

A wet system is connected to your water supply and this can cost around £2,500-£4,500.

An electrical system is powered by your home’s electricity supply. This can cost around £1,000-£2,000 to install.

Tradesperson Costs for Replacing an Immersion Heater

If you are replacing an immersion heater in your home, it is recommended that you hire a professional to do the work for you. If you are planning on buying your immersion heater separately, then you may be interested in the labour costs alone for this type of work.

You can usually expect the labour costs for replacing an immersion heater to be around £90-£100. However, this may vary depending on your location, and the contractor’s experience and qualifications.

If the contractor comes upon any complications or if the area is difficult to access then this may add some additional fees. The contractor will usually work these out as hourly fees and the typical rates are around £50-£80 per hour.

How Long Does It Take to Replace an Immersion Heater?

If you are hiring a professional to do this work for you, you may be interested in how long you can expect the work to take.

On average, it will take around 1-2 hours to replace an immersion heater. This is subject to the contractor not coming across any complications with the removal or installation.

The ease of access may also add some additional time onto the job as this may make the job more difficult to complete.

Types of Immersion Heater

If you are replacing an immersion heater, it’s important to choose the right type of immersion heater for your hot water cylinder.

Below is a list of the different types of immersion heaters:

Copper Immersion Heater Cost

Copper is usually the cheapest and most budget-friendly type of immersion heater. You can expect this type of heater to cost around £18-£30 on average.

These heaters are suitable for soft and natural water areas such as domestic hot water tanks. You can usually get these heaters in 11-inch, 14-inch, or 27-inch sizes.

Copper immersion heaters are easy to install, however, they are not compatible with thermal store units, unvented cylinders, or stainless steel tanks. If copper is used with stainless steel, this may cause the copper parts to corrode and can lead to some costly repairs.

Pros

• Easy installation
• Various sizes to choose from

Cons

• Incompatible with thermal store units
• Can corrode if used alongside stainless steel

Incoloy Immersion Heater Cost

An incoloy immersion heater is made up of a mixture of superalloys that work in both hard and soft water areas. This type of water heater is a mid-range option that costs around £23-£30.

One of the main benefits of this type of immersion heater is that it is highly resistant to corrosion and this makes it a perfect option for hard water areas. This type of immersion heater is also very robust and can withstand high-temperature environments while also resisting oxidation.

These heaters should not be used in very hard water areas as they can’t withstand the pressure of the water intake.

Pros

• Withstands corrosion
• Ideal for high temperatures

Cons

• Only suited to hard water areas

Titanium Immersion Heater Cost

A titanium immersion heater is a premium type of immersion heater. This variety is usually best in hard water areas and will usually cost around £30-£115.

One of the main advantages of this type of immersion heater is that it is very long-lasting as it has the ability to withstand scalding temperatures.

It is also highly resistant to limescale build-ups and so they require less maintenance and offer the best value for money. These models are more expensive than other immersion heaters as they are harder to manufacture than other metals.

Pros

• Limescale resistant
• Low maintenance
• Many different designs and styles to choose from

Cons

• Harder to manufacture
• Expensive

Benefits of an Immersion Heater Replacement

There are many advantages of installing a new immersion heater. Below is a list of the main benefits of this type of work:

Automated Controls

A major benefit of immersion heaters is that they usually feature thermostats that automatically switch the heating element when it reaches the desired temperature. This allows you to save money and prevents you from wasting electricity.

Low Maintenance

Immersion heaters usually require very little maintenance, unlike boilers. This means that they are a lot easier for homeowners. This also allows homeowners to save on a significant amount of repairs and maintenance.

Hot Water Efficiency

Another benefit of immersion heaters is the fact that they keep water hot for a significant amount of time. This is especially true if your cylinder has high-quality insulation installed on it.

How much Does It Cost to Remove an Immersion Heater?

When you are replacing your immersion heater, you will need to remove your existing heating system first. Alternatively, you may need to have it disconnected if you are having a gas system or a boiler installed instead.

Regardless of the method, you can expect to pay around £45-£50 to hire a professional heating engineer to complete this work for you, and dispose of your old immersion heater. It will usually take around an hour to remove your old immersion heater.

If the contractor comes across any issues or if the area is difficult to access, then the job may take a little bit longer. If it does take longer, then you may have to pay a little bit more for the work.

FAQs

Q: How long does an immersion heater take to heat water?

A: It usually takes around two hours for an immersion heater to completely heat a full tank of water. However, this will depend on the size of the cylinder and the amount of water that the cylinder holds.

Q: How does an immersion heater work?

A: An immersion heater has a jacketed heating element that inserts into the water cylinder. This is usually controlled by an adjustable thermostat. Sometimes, however, it may work via just an on or off switch or timer. The element heats the water in the cylinder just like the element in a kitchen kettle.

Q: Why is my electric immersion heater not working?

There are several reasons why your immersion heater may not be working. The main reasons for an immersion heater not working are the following:

• There is no electricity supply to the heating element
• The temperature trips in the immersion heater
• Your thermostat cuts out
• The thermostat is faulty
• The immersion heater has failed to earth
• The immersion heater has gone open circuit

Q: What is the ideal temperature for an immersion heater?

A: Your immersion water heater will need to be set to at least 50 degrees Celsius in order to kill off any bacteria in the water before it can be released out into the home.

However, you can easily alter the temperature that is stored in the cylinder by adjusting the settings on the immersion heater thermostat.

Q: What size immersion heater do I need?

A: The size of immersion heater that you need will depend on your existing immersion heating. When replacing an immersion heater, you will need to replace it with one of the same size.

To check the measurements of your current immersion heater, you can check the label at the top of it. However, if your immersion heater is quite old, you may not be able to do this. In these cases, you will need to talk to a professional who will advise you on which size heater you need for your replacement.

Q: Do immersion heaters use up a lot of electricity?

A: Immersion heaters usually cost around 45p to run a 3kW heater for around an hour. This may seem quite cheap, but the costs do add up by quite a lot over time.

You can save money on your immersion heater by setting the thermostat to a specific temperature. This will enable the immersion heater to turn itself off when it reaches a certain temperature and this can help you to reduce the electricity usage and save money.

Q: Can I install an immersion heater myself?

A: Installing an immersion heater can be done as a DIY job, however, if it is not done correctly then it could end up costing you more money. With this in mind, you should never attempt it if you are not confident in your skills and experience.

Sources

1. https://iheat.co.uk/boiler-help/immersion-heater-and-costs
2. https://www.plumbingforce.co.uk/immersion-heaters-guide/
3. https://www.boilerguide.co.uk/articles/immersion-heaters

Author: Kim J

I have a bachelor's degree in Journalism, which I studied in both the UK and USA. I've been a freelance writer for over eight years and have experience working with many large brands. My experience in writing is over a wide range of different niches, and I've specifically worked in the DIY and trades section for nearly two years. My favourite thing about freelance writing is working wherever I want as I love travelling and discovering new places and cultures.