We’ve all heard the phrase ‘make a house a home’ but what elements make this actually true? Whilst a fresh lick of paint on the walls, stylish decor and comfortable furniture all absolutely create the full homely feel, its basic foundations such as a working heating system and hot water that brings a home to life.
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The different types of hot water systems that you can choose from to achieve the ultimate comfort in your home each have their own respective pros and cons. Learning the differences between each can help you to identify the best pick for your humble abode. One of these options to help keep your home warm and save on your energy bills is an unvented hot water cylinder.
What is an unvented hot water cylinder?
An unvented hot water cylinder is a water cylinder that is connected straight to your mains water supply. Unvented cylinders store large amounts of water at high pressure which makes sure to deliver hot water at a high flow rate to your water outlets such as taps and showers. Many UK homes now have unvented hot water systems installed.
How does an unvented cylinder work?
There’s no need for a dedicated cold water storage tank in the loft with an unvented water system. Instead, the cold water supplied to the unvented system is provided via the mains. When a tap is turned on, the pressure from the cold water gets funnelled through the cylinder, allowing for the hot water to be pushed out the top whilst cold water is simultaneously fed into the bottom of the cylinder.
An unvented cylinder will use either electricity (direct) or a boiler (indirect) to heat the water. A direct cylinder is heated by an immersion heater and doesn’t have the necessary connections to work alongside a boiler . An indirect cylinder has a copper coil installed where the heating water generated from the boiler travels through and the heat is transferred into the hot water cylinder.
How is an unvented cylinder different from a vented one?
A vented cylinder stores water in a separate tank typically situated within an attic or loft. The water in the cylinder is then moved around the house using gravity once it’s been heated. A vented cylinder demands extra space due to the additional cold water tank in the loft or attic space.
An unvented cylinder doesn’t have a dedicated water tank but rather sources water directly from the house mains supply. As the water is supplied via the mains, the flow rate is much better than vented, making for more pleasing showers.
What are the benefits of having an unvented hot water cylinder?
What makes an unvented hot water system worth the investment? If the thought of an enjoyable shower experience wasn’t enough, the other benefits of having an unvented hot water cylinder installed may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
Easy to maintain
Whilst it’s important to be able to do some basic care checks on your cylinder, there’s little to no reason for you to keep on top of any heavy maintenance. The servicing engineer will schedule inspections to keep the warranty valid.
High water pressure
There’s nothing worse than popping into the shower to be greeted with weak water flow. The high pressure release of an unvented cylinder means a better shower experience.
Doesn’t require a cold water tank
Due to the fact that there’s no cold water tank installed alongside the unvented cylinder, more space is left available, typically in the attic, for you to use and to fill with all of your Christmas trinkets.
Can be installed almost anywhere
An unvented hot water system doesn’t require any designated space or location for installation within a home, meaning it can be put wherever is most convenient for you.
Long warranties
The life expectancy on an unvented hot water system is much longer compared to a lot of other types of plumbing installations. Each hot water cylinder that GreenSmart provides comes with a manufacturers warranty of at least 25 years.
Will my hot water system need servicing?
We would recommend getting your unvented hot water system serviced at least once a year to keep it performing in optimal condition. Neglecting your unvented hot water system will likely cause complications and costly repairs. We can arrange yearly servicing preparations to assist with keeping your new unvented cylinder healthy and viable.
So what what now?
It really is worth the investment of getting a hot water cylinder installed in your home, simply due to its sheer impressive and effective nature. So if you would like one we can install one for your home. You can either call us on 01225 982222 or drop us an email at [email protected].
