DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Looking for urgent plumbing advice - we have a communal heating system in our ex-council flat, and individual hot water tank in the bathroom. for a week we haven't had hot water coming out of the taps and the tank is stone cold. 2 plumbers/engineers so far have tried to clear the suspected airlock from the main loft tank, without success. We are the only flat in the building with this problem. Every time our tank heats up for about 15 minutes after airing the pipes, hot water flows back in to the tank, then goes cold again after plumber leaves. They say they are out of options and won't come back, leaving us with a newborn baby and no hot water supply and clueless as to what to do. They say we might have a dead water tank?! Any advice hugely appreciated.

Hi anitak
It is difficult to advise based on your post so here are some questions:
Are you saying you have no water coming out of the tap or that you have water but it’s cold.
Is the tank heated by the communal system.
Does the tank feel hot.
Can you post a photo of the tank
Regards S

Hello S, cold water comes out of the warm water taps. Input to the tank should be heated by communal boiler (but pipe going in to tank is currently stone cold), then if I understand correctly there is a coil inside tank heating the water inside the tank. Tank contains water, and it is cold.

Hi anitak
In that case there should be two pipes (from the communal system) going into your hot water tank at about 1/3 and 2/3 up the tank. Feel these pipes or joins in them - they should be hot. If they are hot the problem is with your tank, if they are not hot the problem is with the communal heating system and you should contact the company that manages the system.
Regards S