Please help with hot water cylinder!

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Please help with hot water cylinder!

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1cloud

164 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 19

#1832557 27-Jul-2017 22:02

MikeAqua:
The first photo shows an area near the seam at the base of the tank that has white corrosion on it.

We had exactly that sort of corrosion when our HWC was slowly leaking.

But .... +1 for replace the cylinder.

Your cylinder seems very old, propably older than my old one

Bung

6733 posts

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Subscriber

#1832585 27-Jul-2017 23:55

The cylinder may be old but it still has some shine on the galvanising unlike a 50 year old one I have. To solve the immediate problem I'd see if it was possible to stick the drain tube far enough into the outlet pipe for the overflow to keep heading away from the tray.

jonherries

1433 posts

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Trusted

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#1832592 28-Jul-2017 02:32

Be interesting to know what your electric bill is like? Given the age and potential lack of insulation...

Jon

MikeAqua

8024 posts

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+1 received by user: 3817

#1832683 28-Jul-2017 10:04

neilyounguk:

My only conclusion is that there is a hole in the drip tray somewhere but I can’t find it!

Can you replace the drip tray?

Mike

pctek

807 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 157
Inactive user

#1833053 28-Jul-2017 18:52

Bit of denial there huh? The cylinder is stuffed. Bite the bullet and replace it. Low pressure ones aren't that much.

JayADee

2233 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 478

#1833179 29-Jul-2017 08:34

neilyounguk:
Hi all,

Thanks for the tips.

The wet patch on the ceiling is definitely from the drip tray, as when I put the pipe in the bucket the issue goes away. I would say in the space of a week about 5 litres of water goes into the bucket

The bulldog clip was put on as there was a slight split in the plastic at the top, so thought I would see if it was leaking there. But it wasn’t the place it was leaking

I think the best course of action would be to put a high pressure new cylinder in but I will probably sell the house in couple of years and won’t get the value from it.

My only conclusion is that there is a hole in the drip tray somewhere but I can’t find it!

Thanks

Drill a hole and stick the hose into the drain pipe as a temporary fix then?

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Dynamike

167 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 52

#1833241 29-Jul-2017 09:18

JayADee: Drill a hole and stick the hose into the drain pipe as a temporary fix then?

That's what I was thinking.

From what the OP said, the water is coming out of the end of the vent pipe, which is common.

The tray beneath the cylinder is not intended to be constantly wet, so its now corroded and developed a hole.

Bung

6733 posts

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+1 received by user: 2926

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#1833250 29-Jul-2017 09:47

The tray is polyethylene commonly used for water storage tanks so corrosion won't be the problem. The inlet pipe would have to do a right angle. I suspect that the bricks don't give quite enough clearance and the fitting has pushed through the plastic under the tank.

Dynamike

167 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 52

#1833310 29-Jul-2017 11:22

That's a pressure reducing feed valve on the inlet pipe. It probably needs a slight adjustment to stop the water coming from the end of the vent pipe. You do that by loosening the lock nut on the top, and then turn the threaded part outward 1/4 to 1/2 turn, or until water no longer comes from the vent pipe.

Yup... it sounds like the tray has a hole somewhere, but it's only there to catch water in the event of a leak in the cylinder, not to permanently channel water.

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