Dealing with a water tank leak

A leaking water tank is no fun. Find out if there's a quick fix or whether you'll need a plumber with this advice.

First, make sure that the leak is originating from the tank itself and not from an adjacent water pipe. You might also be fooled by condensation dripping down the side of the tank and pooling on the floor – this is caused by cold water entering the tank, especially in humid areas.

  1. To make sure, turn off your gas central heating for a few hours and see if there's still pooling water or water on the side of the tank.
  2. If it's definitely a leak, the source is often the temperature pressure relief valve (TPV) located at the top of your boiler.
  3. Tighten the TPV down, being careful not to make it too tight.

If there's water leaking from the seams of the tank or you notice signs of corrosion, you'll need to call in a professional plumber to replace the water tank.

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