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Vented/Unvented cylinders
Vented/unvented cylinders can be confusing, but our gas engineers will give you the best professional advice for you to make an informed decision. Any central heating system, except combi boiler, needs a hot water cylinder to store and provide hot water. Find out more information about combi boiler here. The size and type of cylinder required depends on property size and level of hot water needed.
Vented cylinders
Vented system, also known “gravity fed hot water system”, requires the installation of a large water storage tank. A hot water system depends on gravity to heat the water. So gravity carries water from water tank through the vent pipe into a hot water cylinder.
For that reason the water storage tank/cistern is usually installed in the loft. Since the system relies on gravity, the higher the cold water tank is, the better pressure will be delivered to taps.
A direct vented cylinder is heating cold water from an immersion heater within the cylinder opposite to an indirect vented cylinder which is heating water through the central heating boiler.
Vented cylinders are not fed by cold water mains, and not always offer a high pressure of flow rates. In that case the gas engineer can install a pump for a better water pressure.
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Accredited Installer
Accredited Installer
The heating system that will never let you down
10 years STANDARD manufacturer’s guarantee
Accredited Installer
Unvented cylinders
A direct cylinder is heating the water using its own elements controlled by a thermostat. And an indirect cylinder is connected to an external source, for example a boiler which heats the water. The flow rates are much better when the system operates at mains pressure.
When is not much space for a central heating, an unvented cylinder can be a better option since it does not require the installation of a water storage tank. Such system requires though the installation of an expansion vessel. Hot water increases its volume and needs a place to go and therefore it goes into the external expansion vessel.
The unvented cylinder can be built in with an internal air bubble at the top of the cylinder to compress the water as expands. But it needs an annual service in order to check the bubble is working properly and prevent unsafe discharges.
Our gas engineers have the necessary
qualifications and experience
to install
both vented and unvented cylinders
Installation
Only Gas Safe register engineers should install cylinders due to safety requirements.
An incorrect installation can lead to a built up pressure inside the cylinder which consequently could cause failure or even explosion.
A gas engineer with the right qualification knows what parts to fit to prevent that from happening.
For instance, an overheat thermostat can detect the overheat in the cylinder and make the motorised isolating valve to close, therefore preventing an explosion.
The pressure reducing valve is extremely important to limit the pressure of the incoming mains water to a safe level at which the cylinder is approved to operate. Since high pressure and hot water is a powerful but dangerous mix, only qualified engineers should install this type of heating system. A certified professional would know to fit correctly the relief pipework and other safety mechanisms so your hot system is safe to use.
A qualified engineer will take all the safety measures necessary for the water pressure and temperature not to rise to dangerous levels to cause an explosion.
Once work is done the gas engineer will hand in the necessary documentation that the system is safely installed, certified and safe to use.
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Vented/unvented cylinders service
As with any other heating system, the vented/unvented hot water cylinder should be annually checked by a qualified professional.
An unvented cylinder should be installed and serviced only by gas engineers who have a G3 qualification due to its high pressure performance and the strict safety regulations that have been put in place.
Although this type of heating system is very advanced and reliable, parts do start to fail sometimes.
Therefore it is very important for your safety to have it thoroughly checked and maintained to ensure it delivers the best service.
To service a vented cylinder can take up to 3 hours whereas an unvented cylinder up to an hour.
Megaflow cylinders
A megaflow cylinder is a high efficient hot water system. It connects directly to the mains to deliver hot water at the pressure existing in the mains.
One of the best unvented hot water cylinder on the market is Megaflow cylinder. Firstly it can last up to 25 years, is made of duplex stainless steel and higher resistant to corrosion especially in very hard water areas.
Secondly the system has a very fast heat recovery time and can deliver up to 72 liters per minute. Further more it has an internal floating baffle system for water expansion. Such system is absolute necessary when the water heats up and increases its volume. In addition to that, an immersion heater deep into the tank increases water temperature and a “coil-in-coil” heat exchanger delivers high performance. Using water inlet controls the flow rates increase up to 20%.
In the UK there is a legal requirement for a gas engineer to have a G3 qualification to install and service unvented cylinders.
