Article Advise

submitted: Oct 10th 2008 | by: TalPotishman | Total views: 1 | Word Count: 534 | |

Unvented hot water systems are finally growing in popularity in the UK, which is still mostly reliant on gravity fed systems throughout the housing stock. This system which has its roots in the nineteenth century, suffers from low pressure of hot water (especially in the top floors), and limited availability of hot water to more than one user. It is common for one user to have a shower, only to be surprised by a splash of cold water as soon as another household member turns on the hot water tap elsewhere in the house. Compare this with a steady pressure (equal to the mains pressure of the cold water) all around the house even if more than one tap is used at any point in time.

In recent decades, typical dwelling designs have evolved remarkably. Many households now have two bathrooms, and many others have a whirlpool bath, multi jet shower or other appliances that use hot water. More so, our hectic lifestyle means we want hot water on demand, without having to wait for it, or having to accept a trickle in the shower. A correctly sized and designed system around an unvented cylinder can provide the perfect solution for all those demands, offering a reliable availability of hot water any time of the day in a sufficient pressure for domestic needs, be it the hot water shower, or the kitchen tap.

There are three main groups of materials that are used in the manufacturing of unvented cylinders. Each of these has their respective advantages and disadvantages. The three types of materials are copper, Stainless Steel and sheet metal.

* Copper cylinders - the lightest material, and used to be relatively cheap until the recent sharp increase of the commodity prices of copper. Still they are very popular in the UK, despite having the lowest heat retention properties of the three.

* Stainless Steel tanks - the most expensive of the three, offering longer lifetime, but at a price. They have good heat retention, and only a little heavier than copper tanks.

* Sheet metals tanks - very popular on the continent, they are much cheaper than stainless steel, and offer the best heat retention among the three types of tanks. They normally come with inner enamel glazing which reduces the build up of scale inside the tank. They are also the heaviest.

There are several important parameters to remember when choosing your unvented hot water cylinder:

* Volume and external dimensions - a typical household (4-5 people) in the UK will require a 200 liter cylinder. However, the cylinders come in different shapes and dimensions. Make sure to check the width and height of the cylinder, so that it fits in the airing cupboard (or any other space you plan to position the tank in).

* Heat retention properties - check the heat loss specifications of the cylinder. A good cylinder will lose very little heat (e.g. less than 3 kW per 24 hours). This will reduce energy wastage and cut your heating bills.

* Warranty and after-service - unvented hot water cylinders have good record of long life and little in the way of faults. Nevertheless it is important to check what warranty and service you get from the manufacturer.

About the Author

Tal Potishman, member of Heating Central, writes content about central heating, Bromley plumbers, boilers, heat pumps and solar heating. He specializes in helping save money by consulting on efficient heating

Comments

No comments posted.

You do not have permission to comment. If you log in, you may be able to comment.