cylinder with no drain cock

[Steve]

How does one drain a cylinder without a drain cock? My cylinder doesnt have one. I was planning to have it drained down ready for the gas engineer in a weeks time, but fear it may not be that simple . . .

I had thought about maybe cutting off the cold infill above the cylinder top, then attaching a hose to this and bending the pipe (or the cylinder with pipe attached) over to slowly drain it off.

Or even syphoning off the water - stick a hose in the top, take it downstairs and suck!

Of course both these involve far more than my remit of "turning off the mains and opening everything" so I wont be attempting it, but how would you do it?

 

[swbjackson]

I rarely use the drain off if the cylinder is going to be replaced or done away with. I shut the water off and either syphon out through the outlet or, if this is badly scaled, smack a hole in the top with an old chisel. You get a bit of spillage but a couple of strategically placed old towels saves any mess. The trick to make sure you get right to the bottom without the end getting blocked is to use a length of 15 copper with an elbow on the bottom. Be wary when sucking to start the syphonic action as you normally get a gob full of green water. It also come out at one hell of a rate so be careful where you're draining out to.

 

[denso13]

stick a hose in the top, take it downstairs and suck!

+2

 

[Steve]

Is there really that much sediment in the bottom of a cylinder? For DHW?

 

[Dan Robinson]

Untitled

• Dan Robinson
• 12 Feb 2012
• 1

Untitled

• Dan Robinson
• 12 Feb 2012
• 1

Untitled

• Dan Robinson
• 12 Feb 2012
• 1

Does that answer your question?

 

[FiremanT]

Be wary when sucking to start the syphonic action as you normally get a gob full of green water. It also come out at one hell of a rate so be careful where you're draining out to.[/quote]

I carry one similiar to these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/items/__d...eyword=drill+pump&geo_id=21&ff4=228459_228459

 

[jddevel]

Try using a self cutting tap and when empty make sure you have a drain cock installed.Example go to:-
http://www.supremeplumb.com/cgi-bin...mbing_Fittings/Plumbing_Valves.txt&item=00120

 

[libby lou lou]

Dan, i would of threw all that in the tank and knocked the end over, then weighed it in.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Do you know any scrappies near me that don't check cylinders for scale then?

 

[gaswizzard]

Untitled

• Dan Robinson
• 12 Feb 2012
• 1

Untitled

• Dan Robinson
• 12 Feb 2012
• 1

Untitled

• Dan Robinson
• 12 Feb 2012
• 1

Does that answer your question?

Deja vu when you put the camera down that TS.

Just kidding Dan.

 

[Dan Robinson]

I got softened water dude .

opps - that picture was bigger than i though

 

[CornishCrofter]

Try using a self cutting tap and when empty make sure you have a drain cock installed.Example go to:-
http://www.supremeplumb.com/cgi-bin...ttings/Plumbing_Valves.txt&item=00120[/QUOTE]

Nothing wrong with that. You'll have to repair the pipework to the bottom of the tank afterwards though. Those taps aren't a great long term solution.

 

[libby lou lou]

Do you know any scrappies near me that don't check cylinders for scale then?

No.