Hot water tank in attic

[steveharr]

I have a small bathroom which is made even smaller due to a large airing cupboard.

I want to put the hot water tank in the attic. Is there any planning regluations I have to be aware of, or any other reason I should not put it in the attic?

 

[croydoncorgi]

or any other reason I should not put it in the attic?

Presumably your cold water tank is in the attic already. The HW cylinder needs to be LOWER than the cold tank. Avoid horizontal ('lie down') cylinders, upright ones work better. Moving the cold water tank higher may be tricky / expensive.

Why do you want a cylinder and cold tank at all? Migrating to a combi boiler might be cheaper anyway. If you're all-electric, investigate an unvented mains-fed cylinder (to go in the loft INSTEAD of the cold tank).

 

[steveharr]

I have just purchased the property and the boiler is only 2 years old so I feel the expense of an new combi boiler is unnecessary.

Is there any particular reason that moving the cold water tank higher could be expensive? The height is there.

 

[Bahco]

Is it that you wish to move the cylinder up into the attic to free up space in your bathroom
I think it would be more trouble than it is worth
Your joists would have to be super strengthened to take the extra load of a full cylinder and a platform would have to be built above the cylinder to site the cw storage cistern to feed it.
To undertake such a job I would want RSJs fitted first as I wouldn't want to be underneath when the system is filled
Croydon corgi has given you 2 better options

 

[steveharr]

BAHCO, I think your suggestion of RSJs and super strengthened beams may be a little over the top!

My tank is 140 litres therefore about 160 kg in total, about the same as 2 adults. As I'm going to place it over a load bearing wall I think we'll be ok!

 

[croydoncorgi]

You may be totally confident about the weight of the cylind AND the cold tank in your roof-space. But see also http://www.iphe.org.uk/databyte/tank_cistern_installation.pdf. This sums up another risk you might not have considered! Out of sight, out of mind is not a good rule for cylinders with immersion heaters!

 

[Bahco]

1

My tank is 140 litres therefore about 160 kg in total, about the same as 2 adults. As I'm going to place it over a load bearing wall I think we'll be ok!

Are you forgetting the weight of the cw storage cistern (100 litres minimum = 100 kg ) which would have to be placed over the cylinder not to mention the weight of the wood framework. Also your cistern if serving other appliances i.e shower , wc , or basin would have to have 230 litre capacity.
You could have 400 kg concentrated in a small area
I would think twice as you may regret your decision

 

[steveharr]

Thanks for all your advice guys, I will have another think about the whole arrangement.