Removing Cold Water Tank

Spidermonkey_2

I know nothing about plumbing.

I live in a ground floor flat, which is a converted Victorian home. We have a combi boiler.

In the bathroom we have a big enclosure which houses a large metal tank, which is raised 7 feet from the ground. I suppose this is the cold water tank. This tank hisses and drips when we flush the toilet for e.g. so I know that it must be connected.

I wonder would it be a large and expensive job to have this tank removed? As it takes up a large amount of space.

phill99

Its quite straightforward. The incoming main supply just has to be connected to the outgoing feed and the tank will be bypassed. Then the tank can be removed.

SailorSam

When i disconnected the old metal tank it was an easy job, but the weight of the tank !!!!. I struggled to move it across the loft, all the time thinking this is so heavy how am i going to lower it onto the landing and downstairs. Well i needn't have worried, the tank was bigger than the loft trap-door and wouldn't fit through. When they built the house i haven't a clue how they got it there (the house is about 1930s). I think it may have gone in before the roof.
Well then i had to struggle and drag the damn tank back over in the corner.
Back to your job, should be easy but if the tank is as heavy as mine it's a struggle.

andyhop

Tank hatches are often plaster less, the walls if removed will need to be re plastered. Ceiling often needs boarding too

Any hatches in the wall can be fitted with safety glass to allow extra light into halls etc

macman

Just leave the empty tank in the loft, it will do no harm. There are probably thousands of the old galvanised ones in lofts all over the UK.
Yes, the tanks were put in place before the ceilings were constructed.

andyhop

Its not in the loft, its in the bathroom. We do stacks of tank removals and it gives a far better use of space when removed. Often the shower area is directly below and unless your under 5ft showering is cramped!

goodmorningsunshine

SailorSam wrote: »

When i disconnected the old metal tank it was an easy job, but the weight of the tank !!!!. I struggled to move it across the loft, all the time thinking this is so heavy how am i going to lower it onto the landing and downstairs. Well i needn't have worried, the tank was bigger than the loft trap-door and wouldn't fit through. When they built the house i haven't a clue how they got it there (the house is about 1930s). I think it may have gone in before the roof.
Well then i had to struggle and drag the damn tank back over in the corner.
Back to your job, should be easy but if the tank is as heavy as mine it's a struggle.

My brother removed my mums large tank in her loft, but she too had a very small hatch. No worries, by hook or by crook, my brother was getting this tank out no matter what.

He ended up cutting it up - It was a copper one and he was taking it to the scrappie for loads of lovely cash !!!!

Needless to say, my mum told him to keep it as he had went to all the bother of removing it.:D Not so daft, my brother.

Mr_Ted

Spidermonkey wrote: »

I know nothing about plumbing.
In the bathroom we have a big enclosure which houses a large metal tank, which is raised 7 feet from the ground. I suppose this is the cold water tank. This tank hisses and drips when we flush the toilet for e.g. so I know that it must be connected.
I wonder would it be a large and expensive job to have this tank removed? As it takes up a large amount of space.

:rotfl:Why everyone is on about loft hatches I don't know, as there isn't one from this :rotfl:

I would recommend getting quote though

Cross connecting the inlet to the tank to the outlet is quite easy then the tank can be removed, however you need to know all the outlets fed by the tank as some may NOT be made for mains water pressure, and the pipework may need to be tested to see if that is OK to.

The WC ball valve for one will need a new HP ball valve as the existing is, or should be, a LP one

SailorSam

goodmorningsunshine wrote: »

He ended up cutting it up - It was a copper one and he was taking it to the scrappie for loads of lovely cash !!!!

I thought about cutting it up, but it's heavy galvanised steel so to hard work to do with a hacksaw. I thought for a while about getting my grinder and whizzing it into pieces, but then decided the sparks would probably set the house on fire.
So the tank can stay where it is.

Spidermonkey_2

Thanks for the input all.