cold water tank

[Kassee]

Have just looked in my loft space, very creepy space with lots of cobwebs, and lots of horrible itchy insulation stuff - can just about see my cold water tank - and it doesnt seem to have a lid on it. I cant believe it with all the muck up there. We have a bungalow with loft conversion, so only small space all around the loft conversion.

What shall I do - am single parent - who do I call to help me? HELP - is it a plumber ?

[The Builder]

It should have an insulated lid on it Kassee................ see if you can get to it and at least put a board of some sort over it to stop any more stuff getting in to it.
You don't drink it ............. it's just for your hot water.

[Kassee]

oh thank you, Mr Builder. I thought I was drinking it - wondered how we weren't getting ill and feeling yucky. So where is my cold water that I drink, please.

[albaqwerty]

straight from the mains and fine for drinking :)

[puternut]

Sort of a follow on question : I believe the only LEGAL/REGULATION is that the cold tap in the kitchen has to be connected directly to the mains and its not compulsory for wash hand basins in the batroom. As a further complication some properties do have more tha the kitchen cold directly fed.

Is this correct?

[puternut]

I have a batHroom not a batroom

Fat fingers again

[albaqwerty]

I think you could be right puter, as I've seen signs saying "this water is not for drinking" but usually in commercial/industrial premises. I'm no expert like The Builder or Buildersmate.

[The Builder]

good point puternut ................. it's been standard practice for as long as I can remember to have mains-fed cold supplied direct to the bath and basin............. but, thinking about it......... there must be places out there that still have roof tank-fed cold taps in the bathroom.
Kassee .............. turn off the incoming mains............. probably under the sink ........... if the basin and bath are still running, then they must be roof tank-fed.......................... best not to drink it then ............

[gucciman]

regardless what the tank is for get a lid put on it anyway as if debris builds up in the tank it can work it's way down the cold feed and cause a blockage

[buildersmate]

Found a dead bat in mine when I drained it. It was a few years ago now though - before I knew much about building.

[Kassee]

thanks for all your helpful advise - so I have to crawl in with the spiders to put a top on my tank - or buy bottled water for ever more.

I do remember as a kid I was always told not to drink the cold water in the bathroom as it wasnt fit for drinking but only drink the cold water in the kitchen - so there must be truth in this then !! Thanks