Water Tank

[rmc1807]

Hi
I'm a bit of a newby to this forum.
The cold water storage tank in my loft has a coating of rust on the inner surfaces which is discolouring the water. My question is - can I paint the inner surface of the tank and if so what is the best paint to use, or I have been thinking of fitting a pond liner to the tank. Any thoughts on the best way forward?

 

[newbie1]

get a plastic tank before it springs a leak or poisons you

 

[rmc1807]

Thanks for the reply, but the the rust is very light and only on the surface, no pitting.
To replace the tank would involve quite major work as the loft hatch is very small. I should probably have said that the storage tank only serves the h/w system and bathroom and is not used as drinking water.

 

[newbie1]

plastic tanks come in varying sizes and fit through quite small holes is brown water coming out bathroom cold tap?? and normally the cold tap you use for basin comes off the tank and i guess you clean your teeth with that

 

[traineedrip]

once water has got though the outer skin its days are numbered. why not stick a plastic tank ontop of the current one?

when they let go... usually when your away they cause massive damage. its not worth the risk of a repair imo.

 

[rmc1807]

Hi again, thanks for the replies. Just been into the loft and shut off the outlet from the storage tank. The bathroom sink cold tap and toilet flush still work so it looks like they are fed from the main, but the bath cold is from tank.
I will have a look at replacing the tank, any places apart from B&Q to get one?

 

[dontknowitall]

I'd rather go to a plumbing merchant like Jewsons or Grahams. Probably more pricey but by the time you've returned to B&Q because something's not right or you need a certain fitting it will be more expensive than the proper help you'll get at the plumbers merchant. Also they'll know the water regulations (there are loads for cold water storage cisterns) and can advise you properly.

If you buy the tank at B&Q you will be lucky to get all the help you need from the plumbers merchants for the bits and pieces.

 

[rmc1807]

Hi.
Just had a quick look at the Toolstation cat. 25 gallon tank should fit through the loft hatch. I will also get the Bylaw 60 kit (i live in Scotland) so it should comply. Thanks again for all the help. I'll post later to let you know how I get on.

 

[REDSAW]

good to see that you have taken the lads advice rather than turn a blind eye and try to bodge the job.
when these galv tanks drop there dollox without warning they make a right mess and will cost mor for the clean up.
last year i have fitted about 6 coffin poly tanks from skru-u-fix, they are a complete kit and to be quite honest i love fitting them. hav'nt had any this year though.....

 

[NickH]

Probably the hardest part of the job will be connecting onto the old pipework, is it copper ? If it is it will probably be old imperial sizes, most likely 3/4 inch and 1/2 inc, you can get the necessary fittings from a plumbers merchant. If its galvanised iron thats more of a problem as you will need to get a threaded fitting on at some convenient point. Let us know what you have.

 

[rmc1807]

Hi
There are 2 tappings from the tank, both copper. One goes to the hot water cylinder and the other feeds the bathroom. I think that they will probably be imperial so I'll have a couple of conversion fittings at hand.

 

[NickH]

Dont know if you have existing gate valves off the tank or in the airing cupboard but its worth putting on a couple of new lever type full bore ballofix valves, much easier to shut off and more reliable.

 

[stevetheplumber]

Dont know if you have existing gate valves off the tank or in the airing cupboard but its worth putting on a couple of new lever type full bore ballofix valves, much easier to shut off and more reliable.

agree with this totally for what they cost get 2 lever valves and two convertor rings and work from them the suggestion about putting one tank on top of the other is considered dangerous however building a frame to raise the tanks is money well spent as it increases the preasure available