For your nearest branch

please enter your postcode below

Name*

Telephone*

Email*

Postcode*

Boilers

• Boiler Repairs
• Boiler Servicing
• Boiler Installations
• Gas Safety Certs

Central Heating

• Installations
• Power Flushing
• Radiator and Pipes
• Pumps and Valves
• Immersion Elements
• Underfloor Heating
• Commercial Plumbing

Plumbing Repairs

• Leaks and Bursts
• Showers
• Toilets
• Taps
• Gas Fires
• Blocked Drains

Plumbing Installations

• Bathrooms
• Refurbishments
• Unvented Cylinders
• Showers
• Appliance Installations

Saving Energy

• High Efficiency Boilers
• Solar Water Heating
• Heat Pumps
• Biomas Boilers

• Plumber West London
• Plumber North London
• Plumber Northwest London
• Plumber East London
• Plumber Southwest London
• Plumber Southeast London
• Plumber Greater London
• Plumber Middlesex

It may appear like a basic hot water system for many of our European neighbours, but it is only now finally catching up in the UK.

Unvented hot water tanks and central heating systems provide hot water at mains pressure.

 

Unvented systems ensure that there are no more cases where two users cannot draw hot water at the same time, for example with one member of the house having a hot shower while another tries to do the washing up in the kitchen.

 

Unvented systems build on the mains pressure infrastructure to retain sufficient pressure of hot water around the entire house.

This is in contrast to the traditional gravity fed systems with a feeder tank (which is normally positioned in the loft), offering low pressure in the top floors, due to lack of head for the hot water to build up pressure.

With many new houses now boasting two or more bathrooms, along with an impressive array of systems that use hot water (whirlpool baths, jet shower), users do not accept a system that cannot cope with the hot water demands of modern life.

 

With long working hours, time in the home is valuable and people these days do not want to wait for the hot water, nor do they accept a trickle form the hot water shower. An unvented cylinder and central heating system is the answer, providing virtually unlimited volume of hot water, in a convenient pressure for the shower or any other domestic use.

 

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 metal cylinders - the most popular type in most European countries and the cheapest of the three. Inner enamel glazing ensures virtually no build up of scale.

 

They provide the highest heat retention performance of the three, but also are the heaviest.

Before choosing and making your purchasing decision, it is important to keep in mind several points regarding your unvented cylinder:

Volume and external dimensions - a typical household (4-5 people) in the UK will require a 200 litre 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 - since the hot water cylinder is primarily there to store the hot water, it is important to check what insulation it has. The thicker the insulation the better heat retention it will have and less heat would be lost during the day. For reference, good cylinders lose less than 3 kW per 24 hours.

Manufacturers service and warranty - although unvented tanks have good record of reliability (they have virtually no moving parts), it is important to note what warranty and service level is provided by the manufacturer.

 

Back to Resources

Why Alliance?

• We can visit you today.
• All parts and labour guaranteed.
• Written estimate within 24hrs.
• Reliable Engineers!
• Great Customer Feedback!

• Peace Of Mind As Standard

Testimonials

• It is heartening to come across a company that takes its responsibility for quality and customer service as seriously as you do

• Mrs. Lamb

• Click to view more testimonials.

Useful Links

• Institute of Plumbers
• Energy Saving Trust
• The Carbon Trust
• Gas Safe Register