Leaking Hot Water Cylinder & Immersion Heater Repairs in Sligo
Discovering water pooling on the floor of your hot press — or hearing your electric immersion trip the RCD switch on the fuse board — is one of the most common household emergencies in Sligo. We isolate and drain leaking cylinders, replace snapped red gate valves, fit new 27"/36" dual immersion elements, and supply and fit new factory-insulated copper or stainless cylinders.
Hot Press Cylinder & Immersion Repair Prices in Sligo
Typical pricing across Sligo Town and County Sligo:
| Hot Press / Cylinder Job | Typical Price (incl. VAT) | What Is Included |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Drain-Down of Split / Leaking Hot Water Cylinder | €110 – €165 | Shut cold feed, syphon/drain cylinder via hose to outside, cap feeds so cold water stays on |
| Replace Tripping or Burned-Out Dual Immersion Heater (27" / 36") | €125 – €185 | Drain top of cylinder, unscrew old 2.25" boss element, fit new copper/Incoloy element + thermostat |
| Replace Seized or Dripping Red Wheel-Head Gate Valve | €115 – €170 | Remove jammed brass gate valve, fit full-bore quarter-turn lever ball valve |
| Supply & Fit New Factory-Insulated Grade 3 Copper Cylinder (36"×18") | €650 – €980 | Strip burst cylinder, fit new lagging-foam copper cylinder, new immersion & lever valves |
How to Tell If Your Cylinder Body Has Split vs Just the Immersion Washer
- Water Weeping from the Top Brass Ring Under the White/Round Immersion Cap: The fibre or rubber O-ring gasket under the 2.25-inch immersion heater boss has perished, or the brass union nut on the top hot draw-off pipe is loose. Good news: This can usually be resealed or fitted with a new immersion without replacing the cylinder!
- Water Seeping Through the Green or Blue Foam Insulation Halfway Down the Cylinder: After 15 to 25 years, internal corrosion pinholes the bottom seam or coil of a copper cylinder. Because thin copper sheet under hydrostatic head cannot be soldered reliably from the outside once corroded, the cylinder must be drained down immediately and replaced.
Frequently Asked Questions: Cylinder & Immersion Leaks
How do I stop a leaking hot water cylinder in my hot press right now?
Look at the pipes entering the cylinder in your hot press: find the 22mm (3/4") pipe coming down from the attic tank into the bottom of the cylinder (usually fitted with a red round wheel-head gate valve). Turn that red wheel clockwise until it stops, then turn on the hot bath tap to relieve the pressure.
What if the red wheel gate valve in my hot press turns round and round without shutting off?
Old brass gate valves frequently snap their internal spindle when turned after 15 years. If it won't shut the water off, tie up the ballcock arm inside your attic cold water tank (or turn off the kitchen mains stopcock) and open the hot and cold bath taps to empty the attic tank.
Why does my immersion switch trip the main RCD switch on my fuseboard?
When the thin copper sheath around the immersion heating element splits inside the water, water touches the live heating coil and causes an earth leakage fault that instantly trips your 30mA RCD breaker. Fitting a new immersion element cures it.
Can you replace an old uninsulated copper cylinder with a pre-insulated foam cylinder?
Yes — every replacement cylinder we install is factory-sprayed with 50mm CFC-free polyurethane foam insulation, cutting standing heat loss by up to 70%.
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