HW cylinder

starsky365

My HW cylinder (direct) has always had a chunk of the hard insulating foam missing from the front at the bottom. It appears to be leaking from somewhere and finding its way out underneath/in the foam where the chunk is missing just above the seam and then dribbling down. I tried using some silicon around the point of the leak but the water just travels underneath the sealant.

Is it worth taking the cylinder out and sealing it somehow before I contemplate replacing it?

starsky365

Any thoughts anybody?

marcus45

Start looking at the top part first.. look at any pipe leading to and from the cylinder?
it might be coming from the header tank or the flow pipe on top of the cylinder.. dont use sealer you are wasting your money and time..it might be a boss leaking from emersion heater if one is fitted. [FONT=&quot] good luck[/FONT]

Igol

http://www.fernox.com/?cccpage=leak_sealer_ls_i&sub=4

My HWC was leaking from the return pipe when I first put it in and no amount of external leak sealent methods worked.
Stuck some in the header tank and after a few days of CH use the regular emptying of the bowl stopped

Canucklehead

Hi

The cylinder is copper and will take soft solder very well .(as long as you drain water as far down as needed.) You might find when you start cleaning it that there are a series of holes that's the time to start thinking about a replacement.
All this is assuming the leak is not from a connection which can be undone and remade.

PS When you burn the lagging it's a bit toxic.

Corgi Guy.

georgemac_2

Had a leak on the bottom of our hot water tank - we got it replaced by a plumber who put the new tank on a bit of carpet underlay rather than directly onto the wooden support base - he said this was better and would stop future leaks.

ormus

this is one of those jobs where its prob quicker and cheaper just to replace the cylinder.
esp if youre paying a plumber to fix the leak.

27col

Not quite sure how putting the tank on a piece of carpet underlay will stop future leaks. If the tank has a hole it will leak, underlay can make no difference.

Razor

Traditionally cylinders are set on two wooden bearers to allow air to circulate underneath them stopping condensation buildup, I would consider the costs involved if the leak turned into a bigger leak, new ceilings etc, if its definitely not coming from a connection it needs renewing.

If your doing it yourself less than a coupla hundred for materials and the old ones worth £30ish at the scrappy.