Cold water and header tanks

phoenix_w

Hi,

Moved into a house with a new combi boiler, however the cold water storage and header tanks from the original heating system when the house was built are still in the loft.

I'm 99% certain that I can take my pipe cutter to all the pipework in and out of these tanks and take them out to obtain some much needed storage space - is this the case or is there anything I should be checking before I flood the place?

Plumber90

Are they empty?

phoenix_w

Yes. The problem is that I can't see where any pipework to them has been broken and capped, so feeling wary about slicing into them...

ed110220

Usually header tanks have a ball float valve to regulate the water supply just like a toilet cistern. Check the float hasn't just been tied up to prevent the tank filling. If not then the water supply has been cut off somewhere out of sight and it's safe to remove.

To be 100% sure turn off the water at the main stopcock before removing the tanks and only turn on a very small amount afterwards until you've checked for leaks. If you want an extra insurance policy, get some speedfit stop ends that can just be pushed onto the cut pipe to seal it if it turns out to be 'live'.

Something like this: http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Plumbing/d20/John+Guest+Speedfit/sd3307/JG+Speedfit+Stop+End/p52927