hotwater cylinder replacement & control upgrade

[Softus]

fixing a hole in a cylinder that is due to corrosion is a false economy- there will be other parts of the cylinder that are paper thin; these will start to leak soon anyway.

Not when the fix costs about 20p, and buys enough time to save up for a new cylinder.

 

[PEDANTICVINDICTIVEMAN]

Nah, clean with steel wool and use a bar of solder to wipe thick layer over holes, make loads of money at £40.00 per hour and then fit them a new cylinder next year when even more regs have been dreamt up and charge £80.00 and hour for cylinder replacment, whoo hoo

 

[1tim23]

Job done!
Only took me a day and half of blood sweat & tears, but my new cylinder is installed and working happily. I don't think I'll be giving up the day job though.

I tried ChrisR's suggestion of mending the old cylinder with solder, but either it didn't stick well enough or there were other pin-holes I hadn't spotted. Next time I would definitely take up Softus's suggestion of LS-X - easier to apply and doesn't cause cylinder insulation to catch fire!
So, after the failed solder fix I replaced the whole cylinder, consoling myself with the thought that a mend would probably have only been good enough for a bank holiday emergency and not for the long term.
Most of the problems were due to the postion of the heating coil inlet/outlet being different on new cylinders, meaning I had to re-arrange the 28 mm pipework. Trying to un-solder old, damp, painted-over pipework is a pain. As is trying to re-solder new pipe to it.

Anyway, thanks for all the helpful advice. I'm well satified now, and saved a packet too. 'Course, you may see me come crawling back again if the darn thing springs a leak a few weeks down the line ...

 

[Softus]

I'm glad it went [reasonably] well for you ltim23. Don't be tempted to skimp on the inhibitor though.

 

[PEDANTICVINDICTIVEMAN]

Of course when it goes tits up next week I will want £95.00 an hour to come and fix all the leaks.

 

[Nige F]

I`ll travel and lodge overnite for £480 labour to change your cyl. I`ll even give you the scrap value back No electrics. Cash.

Hm. The cylinder job I did on Thursday only cost the customer £550 including a 2-port MZV & all other materials. And I did the electrics. I guess my customers are just lucky. Or maybe yours just aren't...

They are all in the past tense.. So many have been "done" over the years that I am virtually retired @ 51 Some still ring up and beg to be abused the offer was half serious, it`s a nice area to go for a break.

 

[1tim23]

I'm glad it went [reasonably] well for you ltim23. Don't be tempted to skimp on the inhibitor though.

On the subject of inhibitors - I see Screwfix offer two alternative products, both in 1litre bottles. The Purimachos 'Protex' brand costs £3.69 and the BetzDearborn Sentinel X100 costs £12.49, nearly 4 times as much !!
Any recommendations ?

 

[Softus]

I'm glad it went [reasonably] well for you ltim23. Don't be tempted to skimp on the inhibitor though.

On the subject of inhibitors - I see Screwfix offer two alternative products, both in 1litre bottles. The Purimachos 'Protex' brand costs £3.69 and the BetzDearborn Sentinel X100 costs £12.49, nearly 4 times as much !!
Any recommendations ?

I only ever use X100 or (Fernox) MB-1. Not aware of any problems with either of these. I tend to use MB-1 because it's more dilute and in my tiny mind I imagine that it gets better distributed for that reason.

I've never used Protex, so can't advise on that one.