Devastated: Hot water cylinder flooding house any day now and no money for replacement

ratcliffe_mike

My hot water cylinder has started to fail (very rusted and leaking from the bottom).

A plumber has had us turn off hot water etc. because it is likely to completely fail any day.

We don't have any money to pay for a new one because I'm unable to work due to a neurological disability. I am on full PIP, my wife is my full-time carer. We have 3 boys (10, 10 and 11) and no heating or hot water.

I have seen lots of charities offering grants for boilers but can't find anybody that offers grants for hot water cylinders.

I feel completely helpless here because we have this emergency and no way to address our problem... is there any way you could help or do you know anybody that might be able to help?

I'm truly desperate at this point.

HampshireH

Have you considered approaching social services to see if they can sign post you to any charities or support services who may be able to help?

ratcliffe_mike

HampshireH said:

Have you considered approaching social services to see if they can sign post you to any charities or support services who may be able to help?

That's a good idea... I am very embarrassed that I am too sick to look after my family, so any help I can find would be great!

doodling

Hi,

Depending on the exact design of your boiler / heating system, you probably don't need to turn the heating off.  If you provide more info we may be able to comment on that.

Have you drained down the hot water cylinder?  Just leaving it there full of water isn't going to be helpful if it does eventually fail.

Spoonie_Turtle

Ask your children's school if they can signpost to any help.  Also your local council, and if you rent from a housing association they'd be good to ask too.

Possible other options: 
https://www.cphcic.com/  - very location-dependent, but they may be able to signpost if they can't help you themselves
https://www.disability-grants.org  - possibly worth trawling through all the pages
https://www.lightningreach.org/application-portal

ratcliffe_mike

doodling said:

Hi,

Have you drained down the hot water cylinder?  Just leaving it there full of water isn't going to be helpful if it does eventually fail.

I asked the plumber if I should do that and he said it is so bad I shouldn't touch anything because if I turn the valve to drain it, it's likely to fall out and flood everything... yes, it's that bad

ratcliffe_mike

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Ask your children's school if they can signpost to any help.  Also your local council, and if you rent from a housing association they'd be good to ask too.

Ah, my local council... another great idea!

doodling

Hi,

ratcliffe_mike said:

doodling said:

Hi,

Have you drained down the hot water cylinder?  Just leaving it there full of water isn't going to be helpful if it does eventually fail.

I asked the plumber if I should do that and he said it is so bad I shouldn't touch anything because if I turn the valve to drain it, it's likely to fall out and flood everything... yes, it's that bad

How is a tank replacement going to work?  The tank will need to be drained in order to remove it so I don't see the difference between draining it now and draining it later, other than draining it now reduces your time at risk of a flood due to tank failure.  You don't need to use an existing valve to drain the tank - there will be other options depending on the exact installation.

I am confused about the repeated mention of rust - is it a steel tank?  Hot water cylinders are usually either copper or stainless steel and whilst it is possible to persuade stainless steel to rust under the right circumstances, it doesn't happen very often.

Scot_39

Local citizens advise on likely official and any local charity possibilities, local council and benefits office would be first thoughts.

In Eng some councils - it's not apparently mandatory - have local hardship funds administered by the councils themselves - but don't expect them to be exactly overflowing with cash in many areas these days - as not mandatory.

In Scotland councils offered crisis grants for those on certain benefits.

There used to be special one off payments - iirc they then got replaced by pseudo loans for many things available via the benefits systems - for essentials - which I would have though hot water ?

See this list - it's from an elderly support charity - but it's pretty generic - just not sure how your family benefits situation stacks up re qualification.

https://www.independentage.org/get-advice/money/benefits/extra-help-cost-of-living-low-income

It mentions council schemes in the 4 nations and the benefits loan (although I appreciate repaying any such loan in itself presents another problem if thats the only option)

With children involved - hot water would certainly I would have though be considered an essential.

But sorry - no direct experience.

Theres a benefits section and a debt free  section - that might also be appropriate places to ask for help e.g.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/benefits-tax-credits

ratcliffe_mike

doodling said:

I am confused about the repeated mention of rust - is it a steel tank?  Hot water cylinders are usually either copper or stainless steel and whilst it is possible to persuade stainless steel to rust under the right circumstances, it doesn't happen very often.

Yep, it's a "stainless steel" cylinder but the bottom few inches are all rust and the bottom is bulging and has already started slowly leaking water, leaving a puddle on the floor underneath with a constant drip, drip, drip.

A few months ago I realized hot water had been discharging through the tundish for a good few months. This made the cupboard the cylinder is installed in like a sauna for a few months. I didn't realize when it was fixed that this had caused so much damage to the cylinder... like you I assumed it would be fine because it is a stainless steel cylinder with a theoretical 25 year lifetime, so it shouldn't be like this after 12 years.

The PRV and most of the pipes are surrounded with rust where they connect. I suppose I could drain it through the tundish but even twisting the PRV looks risky. I haven't had it serviced in the last 12 months so my home insurance won't cover any damage if the cylinder fails. On the other hand, if it fails when the plumber does it then his insurance would pay.

Phones4Chris

Have you turned off the cold feed to the hot water cylinder, assuming we're talking about an indirect cylinder? Once done, surely you can drain it by opening a hot water tap?
Strikes me the plumber you had in may be a bit of a jobsworth, maybe try another plumber?