Blowing up a calorifier

[LeonF]

New boat has a calorifier and hot water-terrific except one uses a lot more water. If I was to run out of water mid trip and was motoring could the calorifier get hot enough to catch fire, explode or whatever? A bit like switching on an empty domestic immersion heater ?

<hr width=100% size=1>L.A.R.Ferguson

 

[waterboy]

Very unlikely

<hr width=100% size=1>I never make the same mistake twice. I always make new ones.

 

[jimi]

I always carry a bit of rubber hose so I can bypass the calorifier if something goes wrong with it

<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha

 

[jackho]

It can't get any hotter than your engine cooling water temp. probably in the region of 95 degrees - even if you overheated your engine your relief valve should relieve excess pressure ie steam. All your hoses and fittings should be rated well in excess of this.

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[Birdseye]

No - all that is happening is the engine cooling water is being passed throught the calorifier just like the water from your central heating boiler. If the calorifier is empty, then the engine will be cooled in the normal way.

And your domestic water heater shouldnt blow up if it is empty. Might burn out the heater element but that should be all.

<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.

 

[jon]

If it is fitted with an immersion heater, obviously do not switch on if the tank is empty!

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[jerryat]

Hi!

Entirely agree!

Good sailing!

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[capsco]

unless you develop a leak the caloriefier will always be full,
The hot water can only be drawn off by pumping in cold water, so when you run out of water, there is none left to pump into the caloriefier, to get the hot out !!!!!!!!!!!!

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