Water tank sealing in Al Utaybiyah Makkah
Al Utaybiyah is an old crowded quarter on steep hillsides north of the Grand Mosque, with ageing houses and tanks installed irregularly over decades. Ancient foundations and narrow lanes make tank access difficult, and the aged sewer network raises moisture levels across the area.
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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 Utaybiyah
Houses here were built forty years or more ago, with rooftop tanks installed using outdated methods and never subjected to modern standards. The method is set out in full on the full Water tank sealing page.
Tanks mounted on aged house rooftops
Most tanks in Al Utaybiyah sit directly on old house roofs with insufficient thermal insulation. The roofs themselves are weak and brickwork and concrete crumble under heat and moisture.
Aged joints and rusted metal pipes
Metal pipes in the district are very old and rust penetrates pipe walls. Joints between tank and pipes have been broken for years.
High moisture from an aged sewer network
The sewer network here is over forty years old. Elevated moisture seeps through soil and foundations to the tanks. Salt and minerals from soil precipitate on the coating.
The character of Al Utaybiyah
Historic district: close-set buildings, narrow lanes and ageing services
Ageing houses in Al Utaybiyah mean tanks rest on very old and weak foundations. Treatment must account for high moisture from soil, the aged sewer network, and the salt and mineral residue they leave behind.
What we read before any material is opened
An old densely packed quarter of ageing houses on hillside slopes north of the Haram, best known for the Al Utaybiyah popular market on Hajun Street, less than three kilometres from the Haram, where shops sell clothing, household goods and pilgrim supplies, busiest in Ramadan and Hajj.
Cracking in the wall
Coating inspection shows rapid wear from salt, minerals and high moisture seeping from surrounding soil.
The floor to wall joint
Joint inspection shows failure of very old caulking and separation between tank and foundation.
The condition of the old lining
Metal pipe inspection shows deep rust and leakage at connection points.
Sediment and scale
Moisture level inspection shows water wicking through weak foundations and broken joints.
The pipe entries
Tank bottom inspection shows salt and mineral deposits from groundwater.
The hatch and the vent
Water quality inspection shows cloudiness and sediment from rust, salt and minerals due to aged pipes and poor sealing.
How we work
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1
Inspect with the tank empty
We drain it and read the surface dry: whether the water leaves through a crack, a joint or a pipe collar, and what the outer face of the wall and the ceiling below are telling us. A level test with the valves closed separates a leaking tank from leaking pipework.
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2
Clean and prepare the substrate
Sediment out, a high pressure wash, the loose old lining and the weak surface layer of the concrete taken back, then dried. The material grips sound substrate and nothing else.
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3
Make the cracks and joints good
Cracks are chased out and filled with a repair mortar, a cove is formed where the floor meets the wall, and every pipe collar is treated on its own.
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4
Lining, fill test, sterilisation
Successive coats, each run across the one beneath it, on the face the water touches. Then a full cure, a fill with the level watched, and sterilisation with the first fill run to waste before the tank returns to use.
What water tank sealing includes
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Finding where the water leaves
Carried out drained and dry: cracks, joints, pipe collars and the outer face of the wall.
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Draining and sediment removal
The last of the water and the settled layer on the floor come out, because a lining does not stick over sediment.
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Cracks and joints made good
The crack opened and filled, a cove formed at the floor to wall junction, and each pipe entry worked separately.
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Lining coats on the water face
More than one coat, each crossing the one below, in material made for drinking water tanks rather than roof waterproofing.
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Curing, fill test and sterilisation
The material is left to cure, the tank is filled and the level watched, then sterilised and the first fill run to waste. How long the cure takes follows the material and the weather, and we tell you before the date so you can plan around the supply.
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A follow-up level check
We come back once it is in service to read the level and check the outer face, because any remaining loss shows up then rather than on the day of the work.
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
Why do Al Utaybiyah tanks leak more than tanks in new areas?
Houses here are very old and tanks have been installed using unstandard methods for decades. Roofs are weak and original sealing was never tight.
Does high moisture from the old sewer network affect the tanks?
Yes. Elevated moisture speeds coating and joint failure. Salt and minerals deposit on tank walls from outside.
Can rusted metal pipes be repaired or must they be replaced?
If rust is surface only, it can be sealed. But if rust has penetrated the walls, pipes must be replaced with new ones.
Does treatment require foundation repair beneath the tank?
If foundations are very weak, they may need reinforcement. But good sealing may protect the tank without foundation repair.
How often should tanks be inspected in Al Utaybiyah?
Regular inspection every six months is important here. Moisture and salt accumulate faster than in other areas.
Do old houses need special tank sealing?
Yes. Old houses need very strong sealing. Moisture, salt, minerals and weak foundations must be dealt with together.
How much does water tank sealing in Al Utaybiyah 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 Utaybiyah.
Nearby districts we cover
Other services in Al Utaybiyah
Other services we provide to residents of Al Utaybiyah.
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Water tanks
Water tank cleaning
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Water tanks
Water tank sterilization
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Water tanks
Tank leak repair
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Residential
Cockroach control
Need water tank sealing in Al Utaybiyah? Tell us what you saw and we will tell you what it needs
We reach Al Utaybiyah at a time we agree, and you get the full cost before we start.