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Problem Guides

Tanks & Cylinders

Cold water storage tanks, hot water cylinders

6 free DIY guides · 20 total

Unvented hot water cylinders — such as Megaflo, Heatrae Sadia, and Vaillant uniSTOR — and traditional vented cylinders behave very differently when they develop a fault, and so do gravity-fed cold water storage tanks in the loft. Unvented cylinder work is legally restricted to qualified plumbers holding the relevant Part L qualification, but understanding how your system works can help you explain the fault clearly and avoid being overcharged. These guides explain how each system type works, how to diagnose common problems, when the pressure relief valve discharging is normal, and when it signals a serious fault.

Step 1 — What type of system do you have?

The diagnosis is different depending on your system — this helps us point you to the right guide.

Ball valve constantly running — cistern or loft tankFree
Constant trickling or hissing from toilet cistern or loft tank inlet valve· 30–60 min
Cold Water Tank Ball Valve Not Shutting Off
Loft tank overflowing or water constantly running — ball valve (ballcock) not closing properly· 30–60 min
Cold Water Tank Overflowing — Causes and Fixes
An overflowing cold water tank (usually in the loft) is almost always caused by a faulty ball valve.· 1–2 hrs
Cold water storage tank overflowingFree
Water running from overflow pipe in loft· 20–45 min
Cold water storage tank overflowing into loftFree
Water coming from overflow pipe in loft — ball valve needs adjusting or replacing· 20–40 min
Cold water tank overflowing — how to fix the ball valveFree
Water dripping or flowing from the overflow pipe outside the house· 30–60 min
Fitting or replacing a cylinder thermostatFree
Hot water temperature not controlled correctly· 20–40 min
Hot Water Cylinder Not Heating Up
If you have a cylinder-based hot water system and the water isn't getting hot, the problem is usually the immersion heater, thermostat, or timer.· 1–3 hrs
Hot water cylinder making a banging or popping noise
Loud banging, popping, or rumbling from hot water cylinder· 30 min–3 hrs
Hot water cylinder not heating water
Unvented or vented cylinder — water is cold or not reaching temperature· 20–45 min
Hot water cylinder not heating — vented and unvented
Hot water cylinder is cold or taking too long to heat up· 30–60 min
Hot water too hot — scalding from taps
Hot water is dangerously hot from all taps· 15–30 min
How much does it cost to replace a hot water cylinder in the UK?
UK costs for replacing a vented or unvented hot water cylinder — what is included and why unvented cylinders cost more.· 4–8 hours
How to drain a hot water cylinder
Draining down a vented or unvented cylinder safely· 5 min
Immersion heater not heating water
Hot water cylinder not heating — immersion heater has stopped working· 30 min–2 hrs
Megaflo Unvented Cylinder Not Heating Water
Megaflo or unvented hot water cylinder producing cold or lukewarm water· 30 min–2 hrs
No water upstairs — cold water tank airlockFree
Gravity-fed taps upstairs not running despite tank being full· 20–40 min
Replacing an immersion heater element
Immersion heater not heating the water· 5 min
Unvented cylinder expansion relief valve dripping
Small valve near unvented cylinder releasing water· 1–3 hrs (G3 engineer)
Unvented cylinder — pressure relief valve dripping
PRV or expansion relief valve dripping from the discharge pipe outside· 1–2 hrs

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