Cost of replacing hot water tank

How Strange

Our hot water tank is leaking and most probably needs to be replaced. We've got a plumber coming on Monday but just wondering what's the ball park for a replacement tank. We've got a large one with foam insulation. Is the immersion part of the cylinder or is it extra?

We're thinking €600-800 which is an expense we could do without right now but would prefer to know up front if it's going to cost even more.

Robbie.G

You should easily get away with under €600
I would expect in the region of €400-€500

shane0007

You could also consider a Gledhill Envirofoam stainless steel cylinder as a replacement. Copper being a good conductor of heat, heat loss will be circa 30C over a 24 hour period whereas a stainless steel cylinder will be down at near 5C over the same period.
If you are off a well, then there is no warranty with the stainless cylinder.

The Gledhill is only about €100 or so more expensive than the copper equivalent.

roy rodgers

just a matter of interest shane, why is there no warranty on the stainless cylinder if your off a well???

Dtp1979

roy rodgers wrote: »

just a matter of interest shane, why is there no warranty on the stainless cylinder if your off a well???

I think it's because some well water can be corrosive to the welds or the SS itself. Shane will explain it better !!

shane0007

It is due to the lack of oxygen in well water. This low oxygen content water has a reaction with stainless steel, not just the welds but on the stainless steel also. Town fed mains water through its treatment process is re-oxygenated.

Because of this, manufacturers will not offer a warranty on their cylinders that are installed on well fed properties unless the defect is caused due to a manufacturing defect.

Depending in the manufacturer, the issue is rare enough.

TPM

The cost will depend on a few things.
The size of the cylinder.
The number of coils.
If you are off a well you would need a grade 2 cylinder which is far more expensive.

A standard size reservoir cylinder should come in well under 600.
a large multi coil grade would run well over 600

the Gledhill envirofoam are well worth considering but most sizes are not suitable for solid fuel boilers

roy rodgers

Dtp1979 wrote: »

I think it's because some well water can be corrosive to the welds or the SS itself. Shane will explain it better !!

I get ya there but i always taught that the SS would be better where the water is a bit acidic.
so does that also mean that your copper cylinder wont be cover under warranty if your off a well???

shane0007

roy rodgers wrote: »

I get ya there but i always taught that the SS would be better where the water is a bit acidic.
so does that also mean that your copper cylinder wont be cover under warranty if your off a well???

Copper cylinders generally only come with a maximum 2 year warranty on any source.

TPM

shane0007 wrote: »

Copper cylinders generally only come with a maximum 2 year warranty on any source.

and grade 3(standard) cylinders are rated for reservoir supplies only, you need to fitt a minimum of grade 2 for well supplies

roy rodgers

shane0007 wrote: »

Copper cylinders generally only come with a maximum 2 year warranty on any source.

why i ask is that a woman who works with missus was telling her that she has to change her cylinder every 2 years as it starts to leak after that
I asked her to bring in a water sample and as she was up in the wicklow mountains the water was found to be acidic.
I said maybe get a SS cylinder next time but maybe a glass lined cylinder will be the better option? or some sort of a water treatment would be the best option..

shane0007

Many things eat copper so a full water test analysis is probably most appropriate.
Glass lined with anodes are probably best but annual maintenance is crucial. Transport & delivery is also critical for these cylinders as most fail due to being mishandled on delivery.

The enamel can be damaged & shows it's weary head as a leak within a year or so.

scudo2

roy rodgers wrote: »

why i ask is that a woman who works with missus was telling her that she has to change her cylinder every 2 years as it starts to leak after that
I asked her to bring in a water sample and as she was up in the wicklow mountains the water was found to be acidic.
I said maybe get a SS cylinder next time but maybe a glass lined cylinder will be the better option? or some sort of a water treatment would be the best option..

My parents house ( off a well ) is on the west side of the Wicklow mountains. 3 miles away.

They use to have to replace copper cyl due to iron in water every 6 years, since house built in 1964, stainless steel cyl was fitted 25 years ago and it's still there !!

Immersion keeps blowing every few years though + pipes in sh1t.

My Dad was the old type who sooner buried his head than invest in water treatment !!!


And he wondered why I moved to Cork.!

How Strange

Thanks for the replies. We're in an apartment so I'm guessing ours is a fairly standard one with heating sink and bath functions.

The plumber is my dad who lives in the Wicklow mountains and had his own well so I must ask him about the water affecting the cylinders up there.

sawdoubters

its probably just a valve that's leaking

have you checked all the pipes

handlemaster

I got a quote of 900 for hotwater tank and immersion. Check of gas boiler. New pipeout let for dishwasher and insulation of pipes in attic. It sounds expensive.. but. I'm not sure ??