Your description of your problem suggest you have some contamination somewhere to me. You describe a brown-copper colour and a ‘growth’ (solids). This reminds me of draining radiators and gives me an idea.

I would think you have a standard UK type setup with an immersion heater under the header tank and that the water in the immersion heater is heated either by the electric or more commonly in winter by your central heating boiler especially if like me your heating has started to come on.

It sounds like cross-contamination between the boiler water in the heating coil inside your immersion heater and your hot water. The small weep you found could be symptomatic of a wider problem. You might need a new immersion heater as the heating coils are integral. You might have to call a plumber on this one – just don’t let him wire-up the immersion heater for you ! [Linked Image]


[This message has been edited by Hutch (edited 10-01-2004).]