Hot water tap leak

engworldcup2018

I have a leak on the hot water tap on my bath. I have looked in my airing cupboard and above the hot water cylinder there is a gate valve. I have looked in a diy book and it said I should turn off the water there and then I will be ok to let the water drain from the tap and then work on it.
However my other half is convinced that I will do permanent damage to the water cylinder as she can see the pipe leads into the cylinder and therefore it will drain and cause damage.
I really need to know what happens when I turn the gate valve so I can explain what will happen to ease her mind. That is if it’s safe to do so.
I am hoping this is the right way to fix it just need to know what will happen.

david29dpo

That will be fine. Just make sure the gate valve does indeed turn the water off to the copper tank from the header tank.

engworldcup2018

Any chance of a dummies guide i have a rough idea but need to explain to someone who is 100% expecting me to run up a £££ plumber bill to do the repairs i cause.

david29dpo

Get on with it and give her a good slap!

engworldcup2018

More than my lifes worth to do that.
Seriously what happens to the hot water cylinder when you use the gate valve?

david29dpo

It stops the tank filling when your turn a hot tap on.

ormus

just make sure the boiler is off. (and any immersion heater).
then no harm can be done by you .

SplanK

before starting work on the tap - make sure that the water is actualy shut off...

when my plumber turned off the water to the HW cyl - the valve did not close properly - letting a small amount of flow bypass it... he cut the pipe... quickly followed by "oh cr...." and a nice water fall in our kitchen!! lol

as above - turn off any heating systems to it, turn off the water, ensure its turned off then you can happily work on it!

when you turn off the valve - you stop the water entering into the HW tank from the cold water tank above... when you open the taps - you will drain off water that is in the pipes. most hw systems that i have seen fill from the bottom and exit via the top, so the tank will remain full of water - just the pipes you are emptying!

that is assuming you have a gravity fed system - it might be a whole different kettle of fish doing this on a pressurised HW tank!