Tanks, cylinders and hot-water problems

Find a plumber for jobs like:

• Leaks from accessible tanks, cylinders, valves or connecting pipework
• Replacing a vented or unvented hot-water cylinder
• Immersion-heater faults requiring plumbing or electrical work
• Overflow problems and ball-valve replacement
• Changes to stored-hot-water pipework

Photograph the manufacturer label for your own reference and include the make, model or cylinder capacity if it is easy to read. Do not remove covers from electrical controls or pressurised equipment.

Boiler, cylinder or immersion heater?

A hot-water cylinder stores heated water, often in an airing cupboard. An immersion heater is an electric heating element fitted inside a cylinder. Some homes use a combi boiler, which heats water when a hot tap is opened and usually has no separate hot-water cylinder.

A vented cylinder is supplied from a cold-water storage tank. An unvented cylinder is supplied under mains pressure and needs someone qualified for that system. You do not need to identify the system yourself: describe what you can see and include the make and model if known.

Describe the symptoms

Say whether there is no hot water, too little hot water, unusual noise, water coming from an overflow or discharge pipe, or a leak. Mention whether the issue began suddenly and whether a switch has tripped in the fuse box, but do not repeatedly reset electrical protection.

If the cold taps work normally but the hot taps do not, mention that. Say whether the heating still works and whether every hot tap is affected. These details help the tradesperson plan the visit; they do not prove which part has failed.

Unvented cylinders and electrical immersion heaters require people qualified for that specific work. Ask the trader to confirm this before appointing them. For a gas boiler, check that the engineer is Gas Safe registered for the work.