Attic Water Tank Replacement & Repair in Sligo

The cold water storage tank in your attic is one of the most important - and most neglected - components of your home’s plumbing system. Out of sight in the loft, it quietly supplies water to your hot water cylinder, bathroom taps, and toilets day after day. Most homeowners never give it a second thought until something goes wrong. And when an attic tank fails, the consequences can be devastating - hundreds of litres of water flooding through ceilings, destroying plasterwork, electrics, furniture, and personal belongings in the rooms below.

For homes across County Sligo, attic water tanks face particular challenges. The harsh Atlantic winters bring freezing temperatures that can crack tanks and burst connecting pipes, while the damp climate accelerates corrosion in older metal tanks. Our attic water tank service provides inspection, repair, and replacement to protect your home from water damage and ensure a clean, reliable water supply.

What We Offer

We provide a complete attic water tank service covering everything from a routine inspection to a full tank replacement:

• Tank inspection and condition assessment - We check the tank for cracks, corrosion, bulging, and contamination. We also inspect the ball valve, overflow pipe, supply and distribution pipes, and insulation.
• Ball valve repair and replacement - The ball valve controls the water level in the tank. When it fails, the tank either overflows (wasting water and potentially causing damp) or does not fill at all (cutting off your supply).
• Overflow pipe repair - A blocked or disconnected overflow pipe means a faulty ball valve has nowhere to discharge excess water, leading to flooding. We ensure the overflow is clear, correctly routed, and visible from outside.
• Full tank replacement - We remove old galvanised steel or deteriorating plastic tanks and install new food-grade polyethylene tanks with proper lids, connections, and insulation.
• Pipe insulation and frost protection - All exposed pipes and tanks in the attic are insulated to protect against freezing. This is particularly important in County Sligo, where attic temperatures can drop well below zero during winter cold snaps.
• Tank removal - If your system has been converted to a combi boiler or unvented cylinder and the attic tank is no longer needed, we safely drain, disconnect, and remove it.

Why Attic Tanks Fail

Understanding the common causes of attic tank failure helps explain why regular inspection is so important:

Corrosion is the leading cause of failure in older galvanised steel tanks. Many homes in Sligo Town, Ballisodare, and across the county still have the original metal tanks installed when the house was built. Over decades, the galvanised coating wears away and the steel underneath corrodes, eventually developing pinholes or seam splits that leak.

Frost damage is a significant risk in County Sligo. When water freezes in the tank or in the connecting pipes, it expands with enormous force. A frozen overflow pipe is particularly dangerous because it prevents the ball valve’s safety mechanism from working - if the valve then fails to shut off, water has nowhere to go except over the top of the tank and through your ceiling. Homes in exposed locations - the hills around Knocknarea, the elevated ground above Strandhill, and rural areas throughout North Sligo - are especially vulnerable.

Contamination occurs when attic tanks lack proper lids. Debris from the attic, insulation fibres, bird droppings (if there is roof damage), and even rodent activity can contaminate the water supply. Modern replacement tanks have integral, close-fitting lids that prevent this.

Age and material degradation affects even plastic tanks over very long periods. The earliest plastic water tanks installed in Irish homes in the 1970s and 1980s can become brittle and prone to cracking, particularly if they have been exposed to temperature fluctuations without adequate insulation. If you are not sure whether your tank needs replacing, our article on when to replace your attic water tank provides clear guidance on the warning signs.

When to Call a Professional

Your attic water tank should be inspected at least once a year, ideally before winter. However, you should call a plumber promptly if you notice any of the following:

• Discoloured water from your cold taps - particularly a brown, rusty, or dark tinge that was not there before
• Damp patches or water stains on the ceiling of an upstairs room, particularly near the centre of the house where the attic tank is typically located
• Reduced water flow from bathroom taps and toilets, which can indicate a ball valve problem or a blockage in the supply pipe
• Continuous sound of water running in the attic when no taps are open, which suggests the ball valve is not shutting off and water is draining through the overflow
• Water dripping from the overflow pipe on the outside of the house - this is your ball valve telling you it needs attention
• You cannot remember the last time anyone checked the attic tank - if it has been years since anyone looked, it is time for an inspection

Do not climb into the attic and attempt to inspect or repair the tank yourself unless you are confident working in confined spaces with limited lighting and on boarded attic surfaces. Our plumbers bring the right equipment and know how to work safely in attic environments.

Preparing Your Attic Tank for Winter

Given the severity of Sligo winters, preparing your attic water tank for cold weather is one of the most valuable preventive measures you can take:

• Insulate the tank on all sides and the top (but not underneath, so some warmth from the house can reach it)
• Insulate all exposed pipes in the attic, particularly the overflow pipe and any pipes running along external walls
• Check the ball valve is working correctly - it should shut off cleanly when the tank is full, without dripping or running
• Ensure the overflow pipe is clear and correctly routed to discharge outside the building
• Keep the attic hatch slightly open during extreme cold spells to allow warm air from the house to reach the loft space
• If going away in winter, leave the heating on a low background setting (12-15 degrees) to prevent freezing

If you would like professional help preparing your water system for winter, we offer a pre-winter inspection service that covers the attic tank, pipes, and insulation.

Protect Your Home from Attic Tank Damage

Do not wait for a leak to remind you about the tank in your attic. Call us on 087 341 0745 to book an inspection or replacement. We serve all of County Sligo with transparent pricing and no hidden fees. A small investment now can prevent thousands of euro in water damage later.