Repair or replace copper water tank - any tips?

tripswitch

I'm living in an eleven year old apartment and the water tank (317/120ltr copper combi) has sprung two leaks. (One at the top of the hot water tank, one at the bottom of the cold.) It's not really possible to determine exactly where the leaks are, as it's covered in insulating foam. (But there's a fine bulging split at the top of the hot tank, so that looks like one.)

A plumber took a look and said they can try to pull it out and braze it (with no guarantee it won't leak again) or can replace it.

There's around €300 difference in the two options (€800 v €1100 - assuming they can get it out of the closet neatly - it looks like the original builders put the tank/pump/pipes in first then built the walls around them) so I'm trying to decide whether it's worth the risk of brazing it instead of replacing it.

Looking for any pointers one way or the other.

Also, if we do go with replacing it, should we be looking for a discount to cover the value of the copper in the old tank?

thanks!

LIFFY FISHING

You wont really get a repair job done on a cylinder thats guarteed, its very likley you did not have a sacrifical snode in the origional cylinder, thats whats prevents the copper been attacked causing pinholes, sooner than later you will need to change it. If it bursts your household insurance very likley wont cover it or the damage you could do to your neighbours brneath ( if you have any) . The price your been quoted must mean you are getting a gold cylinder not a copper one, shop around.

JohnnieK

If it's a leak caused by corosion of the cylinder wall then you would be pi ssing against the wind trying to braze it.

I can only imagine that a combi cylinder would be a few hundred euro bu to be honest I dont know.

I'm fearful around my own area as there are a lot of appartments around my area that have these cylinders in them. The water is as hard as a rock and i would bet my bottom dollar there is no anode in them:eek:

lezor

Can you put up a picture to show how it costs so much to change that cylinder.
Surly it couldn't cost 800 just to braze it

LIFFY FISHING

JohnnieK wrote: »

If it's a leak caused by corosion of the cylinder wall then you would be pi ssing against the wind trying to braze it.

I can only imagine that a combi cylinder would be a few hundred euro bu to be honest I dont know.

I'm fearful around my own area as there are a lot of appartments around my area that have these cylinders in them. The water is as hard as a rock and i would bet my bottom dollar there is no anode in them:eek:

You can buy anodes from Irish coppersmiths 01 4531046, and simply drop it in through the immersion flange, or any inlet , but be careful its not touching the emmersion group.

tripswitch

I can't post a picture right now. Will do when I'm able to.

Not sure if it makes it any better or not - but the prices are all-in (i.e. labour etc) not just the parts.

Capt'n Midnight

another consideration

is the tank covered in insulation foam ?

and if they braze it will they replace the insulation

a new tank may have better insulation