A hot water cylinder stores the water heated by your boiler or immersion heater, and in a vented system a cold water tank in the loft feeds it. Cylinders scale up, corrode and eventually leak, loft tanks crack or grow contaminated, immersion elements burn out and the valves around them fail. We replace all of it across Essex.
We check whether a like-for-like replacement is right or whether the property would be better served by a different cylinder or by a combi boiler, then quote. On the day we drain and remove the old cylinder or tank, fit the new one with its thermostat, valves and insulation, refill, check for leaks and test the hot water at every outlet.
Essex water is hard to very hard, which is why cylinders and immersion elements here fail sooner than they should. We can fit a scale reducer or softener on the cold feed at the same time. Water tank installation starts from £550 and cylinder work is quoted after we have seen the airing cupboard. Gas Safe registered (925538).
What is included
- Hot water cylinder replacement
- Cold water storage tank replacement in the loft
- Immersion heater and element replacement
- Cylinder thermostats and motorised valves
- Expansion vessels and pressure relief valves
- Scale reducer or softener on the cold feed
- Insulation jackets and pipe lagging
- Removal and disposal of the old cylinder or tank
How it works
- Inspect the cylinder, tank and airing cupboard
- Quote for the replacement and any valves or controls
- Drain down and remove the old unit
- Fit the new cylinder or tank, valves and insulation
- Refill, check for leaks and test every hot tap
Recent work
Hot Water Cylinders and Tanks near you
Choose your town for local arrival times, the homes we see there and recent jobs.
- Benfleet
- Basildon
- Canvey Island
- Corringham
- Hadleigh
- Rayleigh
- Stanford-le-Hope
- Wickford
- Billericay
- Hockley
- Leigh-on-Sea
- South Woodham Ferrers
- Aveley
- Brentwood
- Chelmsford
- Grays
- Rochford
- South Ockendon
- Southend-on-Sea
- Tilbury
- Maldon
- Purfleet-on-Thames
- Witham
- Burnham-on-Crouch
- Chipping Ongar
- Braintree
- Great Dunmow
- Waltham Abbey
- Chigwell
- Epping
- Harlow
- Loughton
- Buckhurst Hill
- Colchester
- Halstead
- West Mersea
- Wivenhoe
- Manningtree
- Brightlingsea
- Clacton-on-Sea
What customers say
Joshua FoxGoogle review★★★★★Essex Heating Engineers installed a new boiler for me in Rayleigh, and they were excellent from start to finish. The team was punctual, tidy, and really professional. The installation was quick, everything was explained clearly, and the new boiler works per...
Darren DeaconGoogle review★★★★★Ash arrived on time, gave us his advice and explained how we should proceed. His quote was reasonable and when we get his email we will arrange a time for the installation of a new thermostat. They covered our floors, so they didn't track anything in. They ...
Jack CoreyGoogle review★★★★★Essex Heating Engineers is my go-to company. They always do a great job. Dean was especially knowledgeable, efficient and dedicated. Getting my house back in working order after a leak in the upstairs bath was problematical, to say the least. But Dean did w...
Questions about hot water cylinders and tanks
How much does a new hot water cylinder or tank cost?
Water tank installation starts from £550. A hot water cylinder is quoted after we have seen the existing one, because the price depends on its size, type and how much of the surrounding pipework and valves need replacing. Immersion element replacement is a fixed-price plumbing job from £90.
How quickly can you replace a leaking cylinder?
A leaking cylinder is treated as urgent. Call 01268 855605, and if the leak is bad the engineer will talk you through isolating it while we arrange the visit. Cylinders are usually available quickly from local suppliers, and the engineer will give you a date when the quote is agreed.
How do I know my cylinder needs replacing?
Signs include water on the airing cupboard floor, rust streaks on the cylinder, hot water that runs out faster than it used to, and an immersion heater that has needed more than one new element. A cylinder that has been on very hard water for many years may be full of scale even if it is not leaking.
Should I replace the cylinder or switch to a combi?
If the house has one bathroom and good mains pressure, a combi from £1,980 fitted removes the cylinder, the loft tank and the airing cupboard clutter. If two showers run at the same time, a cylinder still does the job better. We look at the house and give you a price for both.
Why does the cold water tank in the loft need replacing?
Older galvanised or uncovered tanks corrode and let in debris, insects and light, which affects the water in the cylinder. A modern plastic tank with a fitted lid, insulation and a new ball valve puts that right and is a straightforward job from the loft hatch.
Will hard water damage the new cylinder?
It will scale it up over time. Essex water averages around 317 ppm, hard to very hard, and scale settles at the bottom of the cylinder and on the immersion element. Fitting a scale reducer or water softener on the cold feed when the cylinder goes in slows this down considerably.
