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It is obvious that one cannot repair large holes and cracks himself. It requires an external party to identify and solve the problem. In case of minimal damage, such as small holes and cracks in the tank sail, it is up to you:

• Are you having the tank sail repaired by a professional?

If you don't want the silo or the basin to run empty to perform a small repair, you can employ professional divers who are experienced in tracking and resolving leakages in silos and basins. The advantage is that you do not spilled valuable water. 

• Or will you repair the tank sail yourself?

You can repair small holes in the tank sail yourself using a repair set. This requires you to first empty the silo or the basin though, thoroughly clean the tank sail and degrease it and allow it to dry before you can start repairing the leak.

There are two possibilities or preparing the tank sail yourself:

1. Repairing by use of glue – repairing the tank sail using glue is really only suitable for very small holes and is often applied as an emergency. When repairing tank sail with glue, you need this repair set. This set consists of, for example, different sizes of round stickers, the required two-components glue and rubber gloves to protect the hands. Using the film parts and the glue, you can seal small holes and cuts. 
2. Repair by use of a heat gun – if there is a larger hole in the tank sail, we recommend that you repair this using a heat gun. This technique is much more reliable than the gluing technique. You need a repair set for this and a special heat gun. Using this heat gun you can melt the sail and stickers together. 

Between the sail and the zinc corrugated sheets of a silo one can find so-called wall felt. Before sealing the leak, it is imperative to check if that wall felt is wet. If it is then there is a risk that rust formation will be created on the zinc corrugated sheets. Since rust formation is detrimental to the lifespan of the silo, it is advisable to check this. If no rust formation is visible, but the wall felt is wet though, then allow the wall felt to first dry entirely before repairing the small leak in the tank sail to prevent rust formation. 

Important: when the silo is older than 7 years, you are obliged to have it inspected once every year or every two years.  

Can't find your answer? Fill out the contact form and our specialist Giel van der Hoeven will get back to you. On weekdays, even within 24 hours.