Lining a water tank

[alanem]

Hello I live in an old house and the hot water cylinder is supplied from a galvanised steel tank in the loft and it is showing signs of rusting through. Unfortunately the tank is positioned in such a way it can’t be swapped easily. At some time the bathroom has been modified and they built round the tank. There is limited access but the size of the tank and the position of some beams make it impossible to get out without cutting it into pieces. Neither is there any where suitable to start again without major expense which I can’t afford at the moment. I’ve got some plastic sheeting 0.015in thick big enough to make a seamless liner and I thought of using plastic washers round the outlet, inlet and overflow to extend the tank's life. I also thought about a separate overflow just for the tank alone in case the liner leaks. Any comments/advice please?

 

[R1CKY]

Bit more of a costly option, but may be beneficial in the long run. Have you considered installing a combination boiler or unvented cylinder? This would do away with the cistern in the loft.

 

[alanem]

Wow thanks for such a quick reply but sorry your suggestion not on the cards for the foreseeable future...anyway my wife likes the airing cupboard!!!

 

[Keefy]

Wow thanks for such a quick reply but sorry your suggestion not on the cards for the foreseeable future...anyway my wife likes the airing cupboard!!!

Reciprocating saw and new tank it is then.

Goggles and gloves too. PPE and all that.

 

[secret squirrel]

Have a look at coffin tanks, check sizes if you can get 2 x smaller tanks in or 3 x even smaller tanks, there is normally away around this stuff, can you leave the old tank in the loft, if I can't get them out whole I leave them up there.

 

[SimonG]

If you say you are struggling to get the tank out then it'll be a mare to waste time attempting to line the tank. As SS said there's ways of doing it, patience and a big hammer 🙂 Hope you get it sorted.

 

[Keefy]

@alanem Is there enough room to leave it in place and extend the existing pipework to a new one?

 

[TBServices]

Reciprocating saw and new tank it is then.

Goggles and gloves too. PPE and all that.

Yep. Check out polytank website for one that will fit.

 

[stevetheplumber]

round 50/70 tanks will fit through a hatch only 600mm diagonaly which is very small

 

[Centralheatking]

If you get a round roof tank, keep it indoors for a day or so and get it warm (or do it the
summer) it is dead easy. Jump up and down on it or we get our fatest plumber to sit
on it a while and squash it as flat as poss and up it goes and then reforms in the roof

centralheatking

 

[alanem]

Thanks for all the replies the problem is siting a new tank. I reckon it could weigh 150g + when full and there is nowhere close that is suitable. Also it will be difficult to get the metre required above the shower head if I move it elsewhere. I'll give lining a shot and when I've got some cash together we'll move. Thanks again.

 

[BLOD]

150g ?- a tin of beans weighs more, (you obviously mean kg).
Seriously, I would get a plumber to take a look it might just save you having to move.

 

[aido]

If it is possible to line the tank it would be possible to cut the tank and take it out in pieces and put a new tank where the old one was.
You will not be able to line an old tank with plastic sheeting:37:

 

[alanem]

Yes I did mean kg sorry I caused confusion I have had a plumber look at it in November and he told me there is only enough room to get a saw in to cut the front of the tank off which would not make much differance. I had thought about an angle grinder but that was not on. He was the one that suggested lining in the first place. He went away saying he would go away and think about it and get back to me but.....
I now think I will have to put in a new new tank and extend the pipework to another area and fit a shower pump. I can only hope the old one lasts out till I've got the cash together. Thanks again to all