Why Install Tanks Years Early?

Why install water tanks and heaters years before families move into new homes? That was the question raised by Southern Municipal Council chairman Abdulla Ibrahim Abdullatif, who proposed fitting them only one month before beneficiaries take possession.

Abdullatif said tanks and heaters typically carry warranties of three to five years, meaning equipment installed years before handover could approach the end of its warranty before a home is occupied. He said residents had reported leaks shortly after moving in, leaving them to deal with equipment whose warranties had already expired.

Installing the equipment closer to handover would reduce replacement costs for the ministry and ensure residents receive new tanks and heaters that have not deteriorated or rusted through years of non-use, he said.

The proposal was discussed during the council’s meeting yesterday in the presence of Housing Maintenance Services Head Abdulhamid Al Mahmood. Members also discussed damage to water tanks left unused for long periods and a proposal to install tank coolers.

Housing Ministry adviser Faheem Abdullah said tanks and heaters in housing apartment buildings are covered by a five-year warranty. Defects during the warranty period are repaired or replaced according to the terms, while maintenance and replacement after expiry fall under the responsibility of each building’s owners’ association.

Abdullah said the proposal for tank coolers could not be supported on cost and fairness grounds, as extending the service to Southern Governorate projects could create a need to provide it across housing developments nationwide.

He said Bahrain currently has 217 social housing apartment buildings, with additional projects under construction in East Hidd Housing City and Salman City, alongside redevelopment of older buildings. The ministry, he added, considers the cost and number of beneficiaries when assessing additional services, noting that around 48,000 families are currently on housing waiting lists.