hot water cylinder question, can one of you great people help.

[dgee2040]

Hi, im trying to turn off my hot water to change a tap washer, i have a dimplex hot water cylinder. i have attached a photo of it, the two valves on the right are labled to turn off hot and cold water, the cold water valve works instantly no problem with that. the hot water one doesn't stop the water completely i went to the kitchen to try and drain the remaining hot water from the pipes to discover that it just keeps on running at lower pressure and spluttering. but all the other taps are are dry in the house. it seems that it only has enough pressure to run through one tap? do i have to completely empty the tanks?
can anyone help me thanks i really appreciate it

 

[Best]

Those gatevalves are renowned for letting water past.
If you can find the mains stopcock that supplies your home, then turn it off and it should turn both the cold & hot off. (Your unvented cylinder is supplied from the mains).
There might be a valve near the cylinder, but otherwise find your stopcock perhaps in kitchen or a cupboard somewhere

 

[dgee2040]

ok i see, i have a tank in the attic. does that only supply the cold water taps in the house?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Is it a small tank eg about 11/2 long by a foot wide ?

 

[quality]

the tank in the attic will feed the heating/boiler circuit

 

[dgee2040]

no its bigger it looks just like your average cold water tank?
so those two gate vales in the picture they are labeled to turn off hot and cold to all appliances are those pipes mains fed? so if i turn off the mains will it turn off water instantly? really appreciate the help lads thanks

 

[dgee2040]

i turned off the mains stopcock, it didnt stop the hot water. so it possible the tank could be gravity fed rather than mains fed? im in ireland and the water pressure in my area is very bad.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

When you run the hot water does the loft tank fill ?

 

[dgee2040]

yes it fills i often hear it after i shower?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Any chance of a pic of the bottom half of the cylinder ?

Edit just seen the gate valves are labelled turn the one hot off you might need a pair of grips to totally turn it off,

Should stop then give it a /16 more of a turn