I had a leaky hot water cylinder. Plumber confirmed this diagnosis and quoted for replacing it. He replaced it while I was at work. I came home to find a beautiful cylinder which seems to be beautifully installed. I also found that the join immediately below the pump had sprung a leak that wasn't there before and is worse than the cylinder leak was. Plumber says he'll sort it, and that it's another big job as it requires draining the system.

As the cylinder doesn't need to be drained, as far as I know, draining the system in my little 2bed starter house takes all of ten minutes. And the same amount to fill it back up.

Within 24 hours, I guess I'd used all the water in the cylinder because the hit water ran out. As in, there is no water coming from any of the hot water taps.

So I was wondering if anyone could give me an indication of what work and or cost I might have to suck up, and what I should look for or ask to prevent being screwed over?

Where are you located? Cylinder is not a commonly used name for a hot water heater. Just shut off the supply line to the heater and the power /gas or you will either overheat or burn out the elements if electric. How far from the "cylinder" is the leak?

Ah, I'm in the UK.

In the uk cylinders are common - I'm given to understand that They are little known outside the uk. And the pump is about three feet below and one foot to the side of the cylinder.

If there was no leak under the pump before the plumber came then he caused the leak and he should repair it at no charge. Is the heater gas or electric? The plumber has to come back to repair the leak he caused and have him get your hot water back online.

This work should be done at no charge to you if you have an honest plumber. Let me know how you make out. Good luck, Tom

Thank you, Speedy! I did get charged, but a very small nominal amount. I stood ground, and he backed off trying to ramp up costs attributable to me (he was trying to make out that draining the system would take a good couple of hours and much labour, which I know to be untrue unless you're emptying the cylinder in my house) very quickly and only argued one point, which I felt he was probably right on. On the one hand, I think he's basically a good guy trying to maximise on a job. On the other, I could easily have ended up paying money that I can't afford for nothing, which I object to on many levels.

Let us just see how complicated and time-consuming changes system can be.
You open to valves, one to drain and the other to prevent airlock. You then sit back and have a cup of tea for 15 minutes water system drains. Sound complicated and time-consuming to you? You were correct in questioning your plumber. He was puffing the job and not being truthful. He may be a nice guy, but I wouldn't trust his statements. Good luck, Tom