We have been plagued by problems of minor (thankfully) leaks in our airing cupboard which is a spaghetti of pipework around the how water cylinder. The main culprit was the essex flange and this was replaced and, despite needing tightening recently, is now watertight. The exacerbating factor has also been that we were running the water much too hot with the therrmostat on the element turned up full (80deg) - lovely hot baths but lethal and I can't imagine it's done much for all the joints etc.
Anyway we now find there is a slow but steady drip coming thru the boards on which the tank sits but I cannot see the source of the leak itself. I can see only four joints that could leak - the element, the inlet, the main outlet and the essex shower outlet - all of these appear to be sound and dry.
Is it possible that the tank itself (copper with that dry foam insulation stuck all over it and about 20 years old I imagine) has some kind split/hole in it?
Is there anything we could use like radweld (?) to seal it up? The thought of having to replace the tank (meaning getting a plumber in to do it) is a bit of a nightmare cost-wise!
Thnaks, RB