Tank leak repair in Al Zahir Makkah
Al Zahir is an old district at Makkah's northern entrance, with dense apartment blocks and rooftop or high-level water tanks. The tanks here are over twenty years old, mostly old concrete units exposed to extreme summer heat and night cold. Leaks appear through cracks and joints where pipes enter the concrete shell.
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Potable-rated materials
Linings and disinfectants cleared for drinking water tanks, not general-purpose products.
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You get the downtime first
How many hours the tank is out of service, told before we start rather than after we finish.
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A first-draw flush
We run the first draw off after refilling, and the tank is not handed back until the water runs clear.
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Ground and roof tanks
Villas, apartment blocks and premises that need a written record of each visit.
Why the job is different in Al Zahir
Apartment buildings here were constructed in the 1980s and 1990s, and the original tanks now show signs of fatigue and surface cracking. The method is set out in full on what Tank leak repair involves.
Old concrete tanks mounted on building roofs
Most tanks in Al Zahir are aged concrete units fixed to the roofs of modern apartment blocks, exposed to extreme heat swings between scorching days and cold nights. Heat causes the concrete to expand and cold causes it to contract, leading to horizontal cracking around the tank shell.
Supply and drain pipes corroded by salt and age
Copper and steel pipes entering and leaving the tank corrode rapidly because water quality here is high in mineral content. Joints where pipes connect to the tank weaken significantly over time.
Longitudinal cracks from internal water pressure
Large tanks serving apartment blocks carry heavy water loads continuously. Internal pressure causes vertical cracks along the sides, especially at lower corners.
The character of Al Zahir
Apartment district: residential blocks, repeated floors and shared entrances
Al Zahir's apartment blocks are relatively old and tanks are mounted on exposed rooftops subject to intense heat. Tank repair here requires careful scheduling between draining the tank and completing the fix, because water loss affects dozens of residents in a single building.
Where the water leaves decides how it is repaired
An older residential quarter north of Makkah on the Madinah road, multi-storey apartment buildings, bordered naturally by Jabal Al Zahir, Jabal Al Barud and Wadi Al Zahir.
Damp and salt on the outside wall
Horizontal cracks along the top rim result from daily expansion and contraction of concrete due to extreme summer heat and night cold.
The kind of crack
Corrosion at pipe joints where hot and cold water meet weakens the connection inside and out.
The wall to floor junction
Weak points in the concrete appear at lower corners where internal water pressure concentrates.
Pipe entries
High mineral content and salt in the water accelerates corrosion of the concrete shell and internal steel reinforcement.
The condition of the old lining
Long cracks start microscopic and invisible but leak water slowly over weeks.
What the tank is made of
Seeping water leaves damp patches on the ceiling and exterior walls of the building directly beneath the tank.
How we work
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1
Inspect and locate the leak
We close the float valve and the outlet, mark the water level and watch it fall, then check the fittings and the wall beside it. That separates a tank leak from a pipe leak or a float valve that never shuts.
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2
Drain, clean and dry
We empty the tank, lift the sediment off the base, wash back to sound concrete and let the surface dry. No repair holds on a damp or dusty face.
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3
Repair the cracks and the entries
We cut the crack open, fill it with a non-shrink mortar, inject anything still weeping and rebuild around the pipe sleeve. A joint that moves takes a flexible detail, not a rigid one.
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4
Refill, test, then sterilise
We refill, read the level again to confirm the drop has stopped, then sterilise before the water is used, because the tank has been open with tools and hands inside it.
What tank leak repair includes
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A marked level test
A reading before and after with everything shut, which establishes that the loss is the tank and not the plumbing.
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Draining and sediment removal
Water and silt out of the base, so the floor and the walls can be seen as they really are.
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Pressure wash and dry back
The weak layer and the dust come off, because a repair only holds on sound concrete.
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Cracks opened and filled
The crack is cut open and filled with a non-shrink mortar, and anything still weeping under water pressure is injected.
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Refill and a recorded test
We refill, read the level again and write the reading down, so the result is not a matter of opinion.
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Sterilised and back in service
A wash and a sterilisation once the material has cured, and guidance on running the first fill off before the water is used.
What is different about Al Utaybiyah Sub-Municipality
Al Utaybiyah sub municipality covers the old districts north of the Grand Mosque: the hillside quarters of Al Hajun, Al Utaybiyah and Al Bayban, Al Zahir and Al Shuhada at the northern entrance, and the newer Al Zahra, Al Diyafah and An Nuzhah westward. Its building stock is among the oldest in Makkah, stone houses on the hills, packed apartment blocks and sewers decades old, threaded with crowded markets like the Utaybiyah souq and furnished flats that fill in the pilgrim seasons. Wadi Al Zahir and Wadi Al Tanim carry storm water through it, and industrial workshops line Hajj Street.
Questions about this district
How do we tell if the leak is in the tank itself or the plumbing?
We close the float valve and outlet together and monitor the tank for several hours. If the level drops, the leak is in the tank; if it holds steady, the problem lies in the external pipes.
Why are leaks so common here compared to newer districts?
The tanks are very old and have endured years of extreme heat swings and high mineral content in the water. The concrete has cracked and weakened.
Will coating cracks with sealant solve the problem?
It may work temporarily. But proper repair requires draining the tank, cleaning, drying and repairing the crack from inside before any coating is applied.
Is it safe to keep using a leaking tank?
A slow leak may not pose immediate risk. But lost water increases bills and the leak may worsen suddenly.
Is fixing external pipes cheaper than fixing the tank itself?
Fixing pipes is easier and faster because they are external and accessible. Tank repair requires full drainage and waiting for complete drying.
How many drain and refill cycles does a tank need before repair?
One complete cycle only. After cleaning and full drying we locate the crack, assess its size and proceed with repair.
How much does tank leak repair in Al Zahir cost?
It is set after the inspection, because the price follows the type of infestation, the size of the space, how far it has spread and the number of visits it needs. Send a photo and a description on WhatsApp and we will give you an estimate before we reach Al Zahir.
Nearby districts we cover
Other services in Al Zahir
Other services we provide to residents of Al Zahir.
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Water tanks
Water tank cleaning
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Water tanks
Water tank sterilization
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Water tanks
Water tank sealing
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Residential
Cockroach control
Need tank leak repair in Al Zahir? Tell us what you saw and we will tell you what it needs
We reach Al Zahir at a time we agree, and you get the full cost before we start.