WHAT ARE HOT WATER CYLINDERS?
Depending on the type of system you have installed in your property, you may have hot water stored in a cylinder. Hot water is pre-heated and stored in an insulated hot water cylinder, usually found in an airing cupboard. This is different to a combi boiler, which heats the water on-demand.
There are two main types of Hot Water Cylinder System available:
UNVENTED CYLINDER SYSTEMS
Unvented Systems are often referred to as a Megaflo
These cylinders also require a small expansion vessel next to the main cylinder to accommodate variations in storage pressure.
What are the advantages of an Unvented System?
Un-Vented Boiler Systems have the advantage that you can use multiple hot taps at the same time with no loss of water pressure. You also don’t need reserved loft space for a water tank in the loft.
What are the disadvantages of an Unvented System?
The down side is that your hot water can temporarily run out so you’ll need to wait for the tank to reheat. You will also have to ensure there is a suitable airing cupboard or similar to site the larger boiler cylinder and expansion vessel.
VENTED CYLINDER SYSTEMS
Vented Systems are often referred to as Open Vent Cylinders
This type of boiler system requires both a water cylinder in an airing cupboard and a water tank in the loft.
What are the advantages of a Vented System?
The loft water tank provides suitable water pressure to the hot water storage cylinder in areas where water pressure is too low. This gives the advantage that you can use more than one tap at a time in your property without any loss of pressure.
What are the disadvantages of a Vented System?
The disadvantage is that your hot water can temporarily run out so you’ll need to wait for the tank to reheat. You will have to ensure there is a suitable airing cupboard or similar to site the water cylinder. There is also the addition of the extra loft space needed for the water tank. We can happily upgrade these older systems to a Combi-Boiler or Un-Vented System Boiler if required.
COMMON HOT WATER CYLINDER FAULTS:
NO HOT WATER
OVERHEATING
FAULTY IMMERSION ELEMENT
OVERFLOW LEAKING
LACK OF PRESSURE
LEAKING CYLINDER
FAULTY THERMOSTAT
DISCHARGING WATER
AIRLOCK
BOILER BRANDS
Our engineers can repair boilers of any make & model
