leaking hot water tank

[beeseejay]

The hot water tank has developed a leak. The leak is around an inlet/out pipe. The big problem is that we are going away tomorrow and so far have not been able to get hold of a plumber. So ........ would it be ok to drain the hot water tank and turn off the stopcock. before leaving (assuming a plumber does not turn up). Ideally I would like to leave the heating on but would rather return to a cold home than a flooded one. Many thanks.

[AlBags]

For system with diverter/2-way valve:
Drain down cylinder a bit to the leaky connector.
Turn off fill gate-valve (cold to the bottom)
Leave heating on.
(If leakage below top heating coil in cylinder, then best turn off all)
Leave hot water heating off.
This makes sure HW coil is covered with water, although circuit should be off anyway.
For open vent systems with no valve: As above, except ...
Turn off gate valves at HW cylinder heating inlet coil.

[beeseejay]

Thanks a lot. The technicalities of it seem a bit beyond my limited talents! But still have hopes of a plumber riding to the rescue.

[AlBags]

What you should have said was the type of system .. if the leak was a connection on the storage HW cylinder .. and where exactly.
You don't always have to turn all water off. If cold feed from header tank or hot feed from cylinder, it can usually be done with the usually fitted gate-valves.

[beeseejay]

A very belated response. Managed to get advice on following day before we left. Our neighbour kept an eye on the much reduced leak over the weekend and a plumber came and fitted a new immersion tank in our absence. Alls well that ends well. Apart from the bill!