Hot water cylinders and mains pressure hot water
If you have a big house, two bathrooms, or a shower that dies the moment someone runs a tap, an unvented cylinder is usually the answer. I install, service and repair unvented and vented cylinders, and replace old hot water tanks across Northumberland and Newcastle.
Vented or unvented
A vented cylinder relies on a tank in the loft and gravity, so upstairs showers can be weak. An unvented cylinder runs at mains pressure and gives you a proper shower without a pump.
Unvented work is notifiable and needs the right qualification. I size the cylinder to the household and fit the discharge pipework correctly rather than the quick way.
Servicing an unvented cylinder
They need checking every year: expansion vessel charge, pressure reducing valve, temperature and pressure relief valves. Skip it and you get lukewarm water and dripping outside pipes.
Common questions
- How much does a new hot water cylinder cost?
- The cylinder itself is the smaller part of it; the price depends on the size, whether it is direct or indirect, and how much pipework and controls have to change to go from a vented tank to unvented. I price the whole job after seeing the airing cupboard, including the discharge pipework and the notification.
- What size cylinder do I need?
- Roughly, a two bedroom house with one bathroom is fine on 150 to 180 litres, a family house with two bathrooms wants 210 to 250, and larger houses go up from there. I size it on how many showers actually run at once, not on the label.
- What is the difference between direct and indirect?
- An indirect cylinder is heated by your boiler through a coil, which is what most houses have. A direct cylinder is heated only by immersion heaters, which suits all electric houses and works well on a cheap night rate.
- How long does a hot water cylinder last?
- A copper vented cylinder often runs 20 to 30 years; a stainless unvented one 15 to 25 if it is serviced. If yours is leaking, rumbling or never quite hot, it is usually time rather than a repair.
- Do unvented cylinders need servicing?
- Yes, annually. It keeps the warranty valid and stops the expansion vessel problems that cause weak or scalding hot water.
- Can you fit a cylinder for a heat pump?
- Yes. Heat pump cylinders need a much bigger coil to work at lower flow temperatures, so it has to be the right cylinder rather than a standard one. I fit the cylinder and pipework, and arrange the heat pump itself through a qualified partner.
Need a price?
Tell me what you need and I will come and look at it. You get the price before I start.