Turning off Hot water supply to change Tap

AlphaCentauri

Hi, I'm trying to replace the taps on my kitchen sink. this thread: (https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5795268).

Before replacing the taps, obviously I need to turn off the water supply. This is easy enough with the cold water as the supply tap is just below the cold water tap.

However, I can't find the hot water tap supply so I can disable it. I'm wondering if this is because there isn't one? The hot water tank is fed from the cold water supply and then the pipes from the tank go to the taps. So, the only way to disable the hot water is to drain the hot water tank first and turn off the water supply.

Does this sound correct? Obviously, I'm trying to avoid an accident, and asking my landlord to sort it out as she's a 'expletive'.

Ganga

There is normally a shut off valve in the system between the cold water storage tank in the loft and the hot water storage tank ( will normally have a red wheel type tap on it ) look in the cupboard where the hot water storage tank is located and if you find the stop !!!!,turn it off and try the hot tap,if water stops flowing,job done

missile

There ought to be an isolation valve on both hot and cold supply to your mixer tap. These could be a gate valve or an inline valve

It is not rocket science, but you may not have the required tools and if you have not competent at DIY, I would suggest you get a plumber.

ashe

Our cold is downstairs by the mains

our hot is upstairs near the hot water tank

AlphaCentauri

AFAICS, the set-up in my property is as you described - cold water storage tank above with the water heater below (same level as kitchen sink).

There are 2 valves on the water heater near the bottom but they seemed to be turned very tight and don't look they've been touched in years.

There are several pipes around the water heater. I touched them all and, strangely, the only pipe which was warm was the pipe leading upwards??? to the storage tank above?

ashe

AlphaCentauri wrote: »

AFAICS, the set-up in my property is as you described - cold water storage tank above with the water heater below (same level as kitchen sink).

There are 2 valves on the water heater near the bottom but they seemed to be turned very tight and don't look they've been touched in years.

There are several pipes around the water heater. I touched them all and, strangely, the only pipe which was warm was the pipe leading upwards??? to the storage tank above?

Does it ONLY go up? The one with the red valve on for us comes from the ceiling and goes downwards.

AlphaCentauri

OK, here are the photos. Hopefully it helps.

https://imgur.com/a/RUCmD

ashe

so bar decor etc that seems to be similar layout to how ours is. pipe coming from above and going onwards down.

AlphaCentauri

Pipe on left going up from water heater is warm. The others not.

molerat

It looks like the upper one is the cold feed to the hot tank. Turn that off and turn the hot taps on, a small amount of water should come out then stop.

Le_Kirk

Yep, hot water is pushed out of the top of the hot cylinder by cold water being fed into the bottom. Taps that haven't been turned on or off for years can be a right pain to turn, so caution is required. If you can't turn it off (clockwise) try opening it slightly to crack the seal.