think my hot water tank is leaking? please help!

[storybrooke]

Dh won't be home for a couple of hours and just noticed damp marks on the ceiling, looked in the airing cupboard and the floor is a little damp along with a towel that had slipped down the side, not long done dishes so we have hot water.

Can anyone tell me what this is and how to stop/fix it/who to call? Assuming it'll be a plumber? It's not gushing or even really wet, just all damp!

at the sight of my airing cupboard floor, sorry!

[Asprilla11]

If it seems to be leaking a lot then either turn the stop cock off (which will leave with no water) or if there is an isolation tap or valve that feeds the hot water tank then turn this to off so no more water goes in the tank.

Or ring a plumber.

[storybrooke]

Thank you! The towels I put next to it are still dry so I'm assuming it's either stopped or slow, do you know where the stopcock would be? this is our first house I literally know nothing!

[Jinglebells99]

We had this recently. Was a slow leak, and we ended up needing a new hot water tank. Luckily I'd taken out cover of the boiler and hot water system so it was covered. Do you have cover? Otherwise, I would contact a plumber.

[teacherwith2kids]

Is your system the type where the hot water is pressurised by an air gap in the tank and you have to re-create the air gap every now and again (Megaflo)? Those drip from the overflow valve if the airgap needs re-creating, and if this goes on for a while you can get a wet floor around the cylinder. It's a simple process - if it applies, the instructions are on the Megaflo cylinder on a sticker.

[storybrooke]

Thank you Jingle, nope no cover!

Thanks teacher, I don't think so but here's all the info I have, looks like it'll need replacing. I say that going from our usual luck!

[teacherwith2kids]

No, not a pressurised Megaflo system :-( Hope you fins a solution soon.

[storybrooke]

Thank you. Dh has done some work for a few local plumbers so hopefully get one of those round tomorrow. Hope my ceiling doesn't cave in before then.

It says not to drain but... If we find the stopcock thing and turn off the water in the house then run the taps to stop the leak (if that would even work) would that strictly be draining it? Does that make sense? I'm assuming we won't get anyone round until tomorrow so I'm in panic mode!

[MissMargie]

Toilet roll is good for showing damp or drips. You could use pieces round the damp area to see where the wettest areas are and where the drips might be.

If you turn off the stopcock you need to make sure the heater in the boiler is off (though it will prob go off automatically) before you drain it. Stopcock might be under the kitchen sink.

[storybrooke]

Ok so he's just taken the front off and it's obvious where the leak is, coming from a pipe with a bolt attached. After I yelled and gave him a big lecture he's given me a number of a gas engineer and put a cup underneath to catch the water.

Wish me luck.

[storybrooke]

^^he is Dh. The one who drills electric showers in without turning the electrics off/takes off front panels of everything without a care in the world. and I wonder why I'm so neurotic

[storybrooke]

Thank you margie, I'm going to keep emptying the cup until they can get around. I'm hoping tonight but I'm hoping no later than tomorrow.