Cold water tank replacement in Exeter
Professional cold water tank replacement services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£200-£400
Typical Duration
Half day
Location
Exeter, Devon
Cold water storage tanks replaced in your loft. I remove the old tank safely, fit the new one with proper support and insulation, reconnect all pipework, and test the system thoroughly.
When Your Loft Tank Needs Replacing
Old cold water tanks don't last forever. Cracks, corrosion, or just age mean they eventually need replacing before they fail and dump water through your ceiling. Replacement's straightforward if done properly.
💡 Pro tip: Modern plastic tanks are lighter and last longer than old galvanized steel ones, but they still need proper support. A full tank weighs about a quarter of a tonne - your loft boarding needs to handle that, not just the joists underneath.
Proper Installation vs Rushed Job
Tank replacement looks simple until you factor in access, support, and connections:
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| Tank properly supported across joists | Resting on plasterboard, waiting to fall through |
| All connections at correct heights | Ballcock too high, overflow wrong level |
| Insulated jacket fitted | Heat lost through uninsulated tank |
| Overflow directed safely outside | Drips into loft space |
| Old tank removed completely | Left in corner "for storage" |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Drain | Turn off water, drain old tank completely |
| Disconnect | Remove all pipework connections |
| Remove | Take old tank out of loft |
| Position | New tank positioned with proper support |
| Connect | All pipework reconnected, ballcock fitted |
| Insulate | Tank jacket fitted to prevent freezing |
| Test | Fill, check for leaks, test all connected systems |
📦 You're Left With
- New cold water tank properly supported
- All connections leak-free
- Insulation fitted
- Old tank removed and disposed of
- System tested and working
Pricing Guide
This is a quote job because every setup's different, but typical costs:
| Job Type | Typical Time | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Straightforward replacement (good access) | 3-4 hrs | £200-£250 |
| Replacement with pipework upgrades | 4-5 hrs | £250-£350 |
| Difficult access or multiple tanks | 5-6 hrs | £350-£400 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after, plus tank and materials. I'll quote after seeing your setup.
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ Old metal tank - rusty, corroded, or leaking
✅ Cracked plastic tank - before it fails properly
✅ Switching systems - going from tank to mains pressure
✅ Loft conversion - tank in the way needs relocating
Why Choose Us for Cold water tank replacement in Exeter?
Old tank removed safely
New tank positioned and supported properly
All pipework reconnected correctly
System tested before completion
What to Expect
Step 1: Turn Off & Drain
Turn off water supply to the tank, turn on taps to drain it down. Once empty, I disconnect all the pipework - supply in, feeds out, overflow.
Step 2: Remove Old Tank
Maneuver the old tank out of the loft. Metal ones are heavy even when empty, plastic ones are lighter. Down through the hatch it comes.
Step 3: Position New Tank
New tank goes in positioned so all the pipework reaches properly. Has to sit across joists for support, or on a proper platform if there's boarding.
🔧 DIY Tips
Tank replacement is definitely a DIY job if you're competent with plumbing:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Adjustable spanners
- Pipe cutter or hacksaw
- PTFE tape
- Bucket and hose for draining
- Possibly a mate to help maneuver the old tank
💧 The process
- Turn off supply - usually a valve on the rising main
- Drain tank - open taps to empty it, speed it up with a hose
- Disconnect pipes - inlet, outlets, overflow
- Remove old tank - empty it's just plastic/metal, but awkward
- Position new tank - across joists for support
- Connect inlet - ballcock valve, adjust water level
- Connect outlets - feeds to cylinder, toilets, etc.
- Connect overflow - must go outside, not just into loft
- Fill and test - check all connections, adjust ballcock
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Tank not properly supported (falls through ceiling when full)
- Ballcock set wrong (tank overflows or doesn't fill enough)
- Overflow pointing into loft (rots timbers when it runs)
- Connections not tight (drips for months before you notice)
- No insulation (tank freezes in hard winters)
💡 Pro trick: When connecting the ballcock, set the water level about 2-3 inches below the overflow outlet. Gives you a safety margin if the ballcock fails - tank can rise before it overflows.
Support is critical - a full 50-gallon tank weighs about 230kg. It MUST sit across joists, not between them resting on plasterboard. If you've got boarding, check it's screwed to joists, not floating.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🏠 Older Exeter houses - often have two tanks in the loft: cold water storage and a smaller expansion tank for the heating. Make sure you know which is which before draining anything!
Plastic vs metal - plastic tanks are standard now. Lighter, don't corrode, easier to handle. Old galvanized steel tanks made sense before plastic existed, but plastic's better in every way.
Tank insulation - the jacket keeps the water from freezing in winter and reduces heat loss (warm air rises into lofts). Worth the extra £20.
Ballcock types - modern equilibrium ballcocks are quieter and more reliable than old brass ballcocks. Worth upgrading if yours is old.
Loft conversion coming? - if you're planning a loft conversion, you'll need to relocate or remove the tank anyway. Might be worth switching to a mains-pressure system instead of keeping tank-fed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my cold water tank needs replacing?
Cracks, splits, rust (metal tanks), limescale buildup restricting capacity, or the tank's just old and you're worried about it failing. Also if you're switching from tank-fed to mains pressure, the old tank comes out. I'll assess it and advise honestly.
What size cold water tank do I need?
Depends on your household. Standard is 50 gallons (230 litres) for most homes. Bigger families might want larger. Smaller for a small bungalow. I'll work out what you need based on your setup and usage.
Can you replace a cold water tank in an old house?
Yes - actually more common in older Exeter houses because they typically have tank-fed systems. Access to the loft is the main consideration. If I can get up there and maneuver a tank in, I can replace it.
How long does tank replacement take?
Usually half a day. Drain the old tank, disconnect everything, remove it, position the new one, connect pipework, refill and test. Can be quicker if access is good, might be longer if we're also upgrading pipework.
Will I be without water during the work?
Yes, while I'm working on it. I'll drain the system, do the replacement, then refill and test. Usually 3-4 hours without water. I'll work as fast as possible without rushing the job.
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