I want to change the element on my emmersion heater, there are four pipes going and coming from it. to are from the central heating and i believe they heat the water when the central heating is on, there is a 22mm pipe on the side with a round handle on the pipe that can be used to stop the water, when I turn the handle the hot water stops immediatly. there is a 22mm pipe going into the cylinder at the top center and the element is next to it. there is no tank above the cylinder, whenever I loosen the element water seeps from around the sides and I fair that if I loosen it more there will be a big gush of water

David Davis, August 2007

look for the pipe with the red valve (gate valve) shut that.
open your bath hot tap fully.
the water will stop in a matter of seconds.

now slacken the element enough to have made it fee not not leak water.

now follow that pipe with the gate valve on to the bottom of your tank there should be a drain cock fitted just before it enters the bottom of tank.
fix a hose and then undo your draincock enough to drain the water.
drain for about five mins then unscrew your element if it don't start seeping water you have gone low enough to remove it.

shut draincock change element, shut bath tap, open gate valve, allow to fill then check your hot taps to make sure you don't have any airlocks.

hi-spec plumbing, August 2007