Burst hot water tank

[missymoo]

Hi, looking for some advice please, my hots water copper tank has burst last night, my insurance company aren't interested because there is corrosion at the bottom pipe. I have drained the water from the tank through little tap and the header tank is empty now.. my question is do I have to drain the water from my 5 radiators (single storey bungalow) or can I leave them, many thanks in advance
Ps I'm 67 husbands 77 and no plumbers available all very busy, going to have a go my self as I have no heating or water ...

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I have drained the water from the tank through little tap and the header tank is empty now.. my question is do I have to drain the water from my 5 radiators (single storey bungalow) or can I leave them, many thanks in advance

No need to drain the radiators, that is a completely different water circuit.

Turn off the cold water, or somehow stop the cold water entering the large tank (probably in the loft - if there is no valve, tie up the float valve, using a stick across the top of the tank, and string.

Turn all your hot taps on, which will drain that header tank, but it cannot empty the cylinder, which you say has split, unless some sort of drain valve has been fitted.

Next, try to avoid seeking a plumber, via the likes of Checkatrade type websites...

 

[Exedon]

No need to drain the radiators, that is a completely different water circuit.

If you intend changing cylinder you will most certainly will have to drain down heating.

 

[missymoo]

Hi Harry I have a back boiler so my radiators are connected, so that means yes I need to drain them does it?

 

[missymoo]

Thanks for getting back to me

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Hi Harry I have a back boiler so my radiators are connected, so that means yes I need to drain them does it?

Sorry, I am not familiar with back boiler systems. Have you managed to drain down, enough to prevent the leak?

 

[Madrab]

The water from the big cistern in the loft, feeds cold water into the Hot Water (HW) cylinder, that is one system. The HW from the back boiler, that heats the Central Heating rads (CH) also feeds up into the coil in the middle of the cylinder, that then heats the cold water in the cylinder for the HW. That is the second system, they are separate.
To replace the HW cylinder you need to isolate and drain both so you can disconnect the cylinder fully. 1st system drain's the cylinder itself, 2nd system drains the cylinders coil so that can also be disconnected

With a back boiler then there can be 2 different systems that the CH uses to get the HW up to the cylinder, either gravity or fully pumped.

TBH, unless you are familiar with these types of system and have experience with them then you may find it difficult to get the work done properly. It really would need a relatively advanced DIY'er to get it right, even some pro's wouldn't be able to do it.

Gravity system

Fully pumped - Y plan

 

[missymoo]

Thank you very much I now know what I'm at, very helpful can't say how much I appreciate your help ..

 

[Madrab]

Great stuff, please don't take my post as being at all condescending, It certainly isn't meant like that.

It's just the older systems can get very confusing sometimes and even the best of us can get stuck when it comes to doing the work and encountering problems. Unless there is an experienced and learned eye to cast on it, it can be very frustrating when it then doesn't work the way it should after spending an age repairing things.