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Hi all, I have a 1991 Compass Omega 400-4 with a Carver Cascade 2 water heater. How would I know if it's possible to use it with electric?? There are no obvious switches on the panel.

Also, when I try and light it, it takes 5 to 7 attempts before it will stay alight, any ideas??

One last thing, does anyone know roughly how much gas the water heater uses, i.e. for a wash in the morning x4, washing up x3 ish etc.

Any help gratefully received.

There will be a white plastic box on the inboard end of the tank with a mains flex leading from it to a switch if you have mains heating.

The slow starting is almost certainly due to the age and therefore the specific model of your 'burner module' providing that is when it lights it is doing so quietly and settling down and working ok after the slow start. Basically it is nearing the end of it's life and at some time in the future it will not stay lit at all, how long however is anybodys guess.

The heater is designed to work automatically and therefore left on 24/7, if it's not doing this happily on it's own then the module is due for changing now. This last bit might go someway to answering your last question, but run this way they are fairly economical on the gas and near constant hot water of course.

Thanks for your help again Gary.  Could you email me with some prices etc please, so as I can sort it out. luke at britpost.com

Hopefully I won't get a slap on the wrist for this but as it is saving members money?, the price for a serviced exchange burner module is £66 including P&P and a fairly elastic 6 month warranty.

Underlined sadly because to many this year are not sending their old one back, it's not so much me that suffers but without the returns the well runs dry!

"The heater is designed to work automatically and therefore left on 24/7, if it's not doing this happily on it's own then the module is due for changing now"

Yes this applies to gas as well as electric, however 'safe' depends on it working correctly and that means it is serviced regularly. .

What I would say as with Luke's problem, if it's not doing this happily on it's own.  Invairably with gas it lets you know something is wrong before it becomes critical, ignoring the warning sign is the real danger. The danger that is of it letting you down much more than causing harm.