Help to close off hot water cylinder

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riahon

946 posts

Ultimate Geek

#160484 8-Jan-2015 10:28

Hi

I have a hot water leak to my laundry wash basin and I am not sure what is the correct way to shut off the hot water so I dont drain the cylinder. I was told I can shut down all three taps (as shown in these pictures) but the big red one has a locking mechanism. The small red one is very hard to turn, but I have not put any force on it. The other black tap I can close (turning it clockwise) but then water starts dripping from it.

Any advice from plumbing experts out there?

DarthKermit

5346 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1210413 8-Jan-2015 10:33

The small red valve looks like it feeds cold water directly into the cylinder. But if you're really not sure what you're doing, call a plumber in.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

Jeeves

301 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1210475 8-Jan-2015 12:08

Can't help with the taps sorry - but the particle board that the cylinder is sitting on - keep an eye on it. Now that it has gotten water into it, it will turn to wheatbix, and weaken considerably.

trig42

5809 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1210501 8-Jan-2015 12:48

Small red one would be my guess, but I think the hot water comes out the top? where does the pipe from the top lead - to the black one? I think that black one may not be a tap, rather some other sort of valve.

Not a plumber by any means - you should get one in ASAP (I suppose you've called already).

You could turn off the mains till they get there.

TLD

902 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1210505 8-Jan-2015 12:53

Jeeves: [snip] - but the particle board that the cylinder is sitting on - keep an eye on it. Now that it has gotten water into it, it will turn to wheatbix, and weaken considerably.

I'll add a me too to that. We had our hot water tank replaced a couple of years back, and I could not believe how heavy the tanks are. Almost too much for one man to manage.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

Dinuir

41 posts

Geek

#1210515 8-Jan-2015 13:20

Not an expert but if it is mains pressure, just turn off main water supply.

If no cold water comes into the tank, no hot water can come out. Plumber did this at our house when we replaced our kitchen. Turned off mains supply and both cold+hot water stopped (once pipes were drained of course).

Once mains tap is turned back on, turn taps on slowly so get rid of any air pockets in the pipes.

BTR

1527 posts

Uber Geek

#1210599 8-Jan-2015 14:56

TLD:
Jeeves: [snip] - but the particle board that the cylinder is sitting on - keep an eye on it. Now that it has gotten water into it, it will turn to wheatbix, and weaken considerably.

I'll add a me too to that. We had our hot water tank replaced a couple of years back, and I could not believe how heavy the tanks are. Almost too much for one man to manage.

+1 with this, replaced my cylinder due to earthquake damage and the 300L cylinder empty was a struggle with two people, now that its full theres an extra 300KG of weight!!

I also suspect the small red tape is what you need to turn off as cold water always enters the cylinder in the bottom, for safety flick off the power to the cylinder because if its not and your cylinder runs dry you run the risk of it exploding.

Exploding water cylinder.

riahon

946 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1210604 8-Jan-2015 14:58

Dinuir: Not an expert but if it is mains pressure, just turn off main water supply.

If no cold water comes into the tank, no hot water can come out. Plumber did this at our house when we replaced our kitchen. Turned off mains supply and both cold+hot water stopped (once pipes were drained of course).

Once mains tap is turned back on, turn taps on slowly so get rid of any air pockets in the pipes.

Winner!

Job done.