Condensation or something more serious?

[RizzoTheRat]

I seem to have water dripping from the bottom of my hot water tank, it's one with the lagging built on so I can't see where it's coming from, but the water doesn't seem as hot as I'd expect if the tank was holed. The cold pipes going up to the loft and back down from the cold water and heating header tanks come down the back of the airing cupboard and are wet on the outside, presumably its not unexpected that unlagged (they're lagged in the loft but not once they've come through the ceiling) cold water pipes might have some condensation on them but is it likely to be enough to drip off the bottom of the tank? I've had a look in the loft and I don't think anything's leaking up there.

Anyone know a reputable plumber around Aldershot in Hampshire? I could pick one of the phone book but I'd rather have a recommendation.

eta: 100ml in about 45 mins, that's a hell of a lot more than condensation, all plumber recommendations gratefully recieved

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Thursday 30th December 20:30

[finlo]

Is it a Polystell unvented cylinder?

[RizzoTheRat]

No idea what that means. As far as I'm aware the cylinder is pressurised by the cold water tank in the roof, but has an insulating coating built on to it rather than lagging that I can easily remove to try and see where it's leaking.

[Globs]

RizzoTheRat said:

I seem to have water dripping from the bottom of my hot water tank

:

eta: 100ml in about 45 mins, that's a hell of a lot more than condensation, all plumber recommendations gratefully recieved

Well it's not condensation, so it's either a leak from the roof or a leak from the water system.
I'd turn the stop-tap off overnight and have a look in the morning with a good torch to find the source. Once located you can think if you need to pay a plumber.

[Chrisgr31]

How old is the hot water tank? I'd suspect that there is a leak out of the tank. The modern tanks don't last that long because the copper is so thin.

[RizzoTheRat]

Dunno, I've lived here 5 years and the house was built in the mid '60s so somewhere between the two. The damp pipes at the back were definitely condensation not a leak as they were dry this morning.
Phoned a local plumber this morning (I'm liking the CheckATrade website) and was pleasantly surprised when he said he'd be with me by mid day.

[RizzoTheRat]

Well the tank was leaking and the heating pipes going in to it seem to be full of crud where the coil in the tank was corroded. Plumbers recommending a power flush which I agree is necessary, but the choice now is £500 for a power flush or around £2200 for a complete new boiler (my Ideal Mexico 2 is pretty old) which would include a power flush. Looks like an expensive week

[MrV]

How good is your DIY ? you can hire a power flush for about £60 and do it yourself

http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/power_flush.h...

[RizzoTheRat]

Hmmm, reasonably competent DIYer but I tend to be a bit nervous around water or electrics as if it goes wrong it can go very wrong very quickly.

[Globs]

Not sure how a power flush would stop a leak?!
No idea how a leaking tank makes you need a new boiler either...


..Or is it me?