Hot water tank drained causing airlock

Elsewhere

CLAPTON wrote: »

assuming the hot water is heated in a cylinder and the feed is from a a cold water tank in the loft; then it may be that the ballcock in the cold water tank has stuck in the closed position

trivial to correct and it's NOT the tenants fault

I think this is a probable cause.

If the hot water cylinder is emptying the system is faulty and potentially dangerous as if it doesn't refill water in the tank could boil and pressurise,

GDB2222

Normally, it's the occupiers who pay the rates, but maybe NI is different?

It's pretty straightforward, really. Get a plumber in to fix it and give you a report on what is wrong. If the plumber says it's the tenant's fault, you can ask them to pay. If it's something you needed to explain to the tenants, then you can charge them NEXT time if they fail to carry out that procedure.

I don't see how you can expect tenants to run the heating for an hour a day during the warm months (if they ever return), unless you pay towards the cost.

GDB2222

Elsewhere wrote: »

I think this is a probable cause.

If the hot water cylinder is emptying the system is faulty and potentially dangerous as if it doesn't refill water in the tank could boil and pressurise,

Given the hot water comes out of the top of the cylinder, you can never empty it.

sandsni

G_M wrote: »

£80 call out?! Instead of trying to get out of your (or your parents? Not sure who the lanlord is here...) responsibilities, start looking for a decent plumber you can call on when needed!

The economics of the rental are irrelevant to your responsibilities.

As this seems to be all new to you, have a look at this post here. It may not answer your plumbing question, but will give other pointers...

Thanks for the link, I'll have a look as soon as I have time. It's my parents who are the landlords, but they're both pensioners so I've been liaising with everyone to take some of the pressure off them. You're right that we're relatively new to this, so I appreciate the tips and advice. I don't know for sure if it is an airlock. The plumber, who is decent btw, is coming tomorrow morning. I just wanted to get an idea, for future reference, of what can be reasonably expected of a tenant. The plumber told me a while ago that very often people (both tenants and homeowners) don't take simple steps that would easily prevent problems occurring later and, while I've been heeding his advice in my own house, I wanted some advice on whether a landlord can reasonably expect a tenant to take the same simple steps - not necessarily in this instance, but just in general. So I appreciate you posting the link. I'm sure it'll answer a lot of the questions we have.

G_M

You cannot expect tenants to 'take simple steps' unless you specify what those steps are.

Of course, a tenant does have to act in a 'tenant-like' manner, and use reasonable common sense. They do have a duty of care, and damage which they cause or are responsible for, they should pay for.

But frankly beyond adjusting the time-switch and turning heating/hot water on and off, they cannot be expected to do any 'preventative' work to the system.

In my own home, for example, I make sure that I turn the stopcock on/off once a year, so it does not lock up and can be used when needed. I would not expect a tenant to do this. As a landlord I would do it myself once a year during an inspection/maintenance visit.

theartfullodger

sandsni wrote: »

We live in Northern Ireland, so it's Rates and not council tax, and my parents own the property in question so they are the landlords and responsible for paying rates (even if the property was unoccupied they would have to pay).
Anyway, I was just looking for a bit of advice, it wasn't intended to become a full-on debate :-)

OK, didn't appreciate it was NI.

Please ignore my references to law, LL&T Act etc... as AFAIK different laws apply in NI.

However, I'd still say fix it (permanently...) and make tenant happy - by far the most sensible long-term landlord strategy IMHO...

If you want to specify the sort of response you want

Anyway, I was just looking for a bit of advice, it wasn't intended to become a full-on debate

you've probably come to the wrong place... there's all-sorts here, including me...

GDB2222

G_M wrote: »

In my own home, for example, I make sure that I turn the stopcock on/off once a year, so it does not lock up and can be used when needed. I would not expect a tenant to do this. As a landlord I would do it myself once a year during an inspection/maintenance visit.

Good idea. Second best is to open it full, then turn it back half a turn and leave it like that.

chappers

I wouldn't expect my tenants to do anymore than operate the heating system, using the standard controls, and more to the point wouldn't want them tinkering with the system.
It is definitely the OPs responsibility to maintain the system, unless you can prove that the tenants have done something to stop it functioning

Elsewhere

GDB2222 wrote: »

Given the hot water comes out of the top of the cylinder, you can never empty it.

That's exactly my point

IF it is emptying, there is something very wrong with the plumbing.

I know exactly how it should work, and a water tank that's heating with little or no water in it is dangerous, and should not be possible. (I used to work in nuclear reactor safety, so get a tad concerned hearing about boilers that have lost their coolant)

Owain_Moneysaver

G_M wrote: »

In my own home, for example, I make sure that I turn the stopcock on/off once a year, so it does not lock up and can be used when needed. I would not expect a tenant to do this. As a landlord I would do it myself once a year during an inspection/maintenance visit.

I found out today my landlord doesn't know how to bleed a radiator. So I told him, and lent him my key to do it at his house where a rad isn't working.