Unvented Cylinder Installation Liverpool
Professional Unvented Hot Water Cylinder Installation
At Aigburth Plumbing & Heating, we install and replace unvented hot water cylinders for homeowners throughout Liverpool and the surrounding areas.
An unvented cylinder can be an excellent hot water solution for a modern home, particularly where there is a suitable mains water supply and a high demand for hot water. Unlike a traditional vented cylinder, an unvented system is supplied directly from the mains rather than from a separate cold-water storage tank.
Choosing the correct cylinder and having it installed properly is important. The size of the cylinder, incoming water pressure and flow rate, available space, existing heating system and household hot water demand all need to be considered before installation.
With more than 20 years of plumbing and heating experience, Aigburth Plumbing & Heating can assess your existing system, explain your options and provide a professional quotation for a new unvented cylinder installation or replacement.
If your existing cylinder is old, leaking or no longer providing enough hot water, we can also assess whether replacement is a better option than continued repairs.
What Is an Unvented Hot Water Cylinder?
An unvented hot water cylinder stores hot water under mains water pressure. There is no separate cold-water storage tank feeding the cylinder from above, which can make an unvented system a good option where space is limited or where a homeowner wants a different hot water arrangement.
Because the cylinder is connected directly to the mains supply, it can provide strong hot water flow to showers, baths and taps when the property’s incoming water pressure and flow rate are suitable.
For a household using several bathrooms or multiple hot water outlets, an appropriately sized unvented cylinder can provide a reliable supply of stored hot water.
Unvented cylinders are available from a number of established manufacturers, including Megaflo, Joule, Telford, Gledhill, OSO and Ariston, along with other manufacturers and models.
Is an Unvented Cylinder Suitable for Your Home?
An unvented cylinder is not automatically the right choice for every property.
Before recommending a system, we look at the existing installation and consider factors such as:
- The incoming mains water pressure.
- The available mains water flow rate.
- The number of people living in the property.
- How many bathrooms and showers are being used.
- Typical hot water demand.
- Where the cylinder will be installed.
- The existing boiler and heating system.
- The condition of existing pipework and controls.
- Whether there are any particular requirements for the property.
This helps us recommend a cylinder that is appropriate for the home rather than simply choosing a size based on the number of bedrooms.
For example, a two-bedroom house with one bathroom may have very different hot water requirements from a larger family home with several bathrooms.
Unvented Cylinder Installation Liverpool
When you are replacing an existing cylinder or changing to an unvented hot water system, the installation needs to be planned properly from the start.
We can inspect your existing system and advise on the most suitable cylinder for your property. Where necessary, existing pipework, controls or other components may need to be altered as part of the installation.
A typical installation may include:
- Removing the existing hot water cylinder where required.
- Preparing the installation area.
- Supplying and installing the new unvented cylinder.
- Modifying existing pipework where necessary.
- Connecting the cylinder to the hot and cold water services.
- Connecting the heating system or other heat source where appropriate.
- Installing and checking the necessary safety and control components.
- Testing the system and checking for leaks.
- Commissioning the cylinder.
- Explaining the controls and operation to the homeowner.
We take care to work neatly within your property and leave the installation area clean and tidy when the work is completed.
Unvented hot water systems are subject to specific safety requirements under the Building Regulations, including requirements concerning temperature, pressure and the safe discharge of water from safety devices. The current regulations in England include these requirements under Part G3.
Unvented Cylinder Replacement Liverpool
Many unvented cylinders eventually need replacing because of age, leaks, component failures or general deterioration.
Replacement may be appropriate when:
- The cylinder is leaking.
- The cylinder is badly corroded or damaged.
- Repair costs are becoming uneconomical.
- Replacement parts are difficult to obtain.
- The cylinder is no longer providing the required hot water capacity.
- The existing installation is old and unsuitable for the household’s current requirements.
- You are renovating or upgrading your heating and hot water system.
We will inspect the existing cylinder before recommending replacement. In some cases a faulty component can be repaired without replacing the complete cylinder.
Where a repair is appropriate, our dedicated Unvented Cylinder Repairs Liverpool service provides more information about the faults we deal with and the repair work we carry out.
Choosing the Correct Cylinder Size
One of the most important parts of an unvented cylinder installation is choosing the correct capacity.
A cylinder that is too small may struggle to meet the household’s hot water requirements, particularly during busy periods when several people are using showers, baths and other outlets.
A cylinder that is larger than necessary may take more space than required and can result in heating more stored water than the household actually needs.
We consider your household’s normal hot water usage, the number of occupants, the number of bathrooms and the expected demand before recommending a suitable size.
This is why we prefer to assess the property rather than simply recommending the same cylinder size for every installation.
Where Can an Unvented Cylinder Be Installed?
Unvented cylinders are often installed in airing cupboards, utility rooms or other suitable areas within the property.
The available space needs to be considered carefully because the cylinder itself is only part of the installation. There also needs to be adequate room for associated pipework, controls and safety equipment, as well as suitable access for future maintenance.
If you are considering moving your cylinder during a renovation, extension or heating upgrade, we can assess the available space and discuss the practical options with you.
Upgrading from a Traditional Vented Cylinder
Some homeowners consider changing from a traditional vented cylinder to an unvented system because they want a different hot water arrangement or better performance from their existing supply.
An unvented cylinder removes the need for a separate cold-water storage cistern, which can free up space and alter how the hot water system operates.
However, converting an existing system is not simply a matter of removing one cylinder and installing another. The incoming mains supply, pipework, heat source, controls and installation space all need to be assessed.
We can explain whether an unvented cylinder is suitable for your property and what would be involved in changing the existing system.
Unvented Cylinder Installation and Your Existing Boiler
An unvented cylinder can work alongside a suitable central heating boiler to provide stored hot water.
If you are already replacing or upgrading your boiler, it can be sensible to consider the heating and hot water system together rather than treating them as completely separate projects.
We can discuss how your cylinder works with the existing heating system and whether any associated controls or components may need upgrading.
For homeowners also considering a new boiler, our Boiler Installation Liverpool service explains more about replacing or upgrading your boiler and heating system.
Megaflo and Other Unvented Cylinder Systems
We work with established unvented cylinder manufacturers and can install and replace systems from brands such as Megaflo, Joule, Telford, Gledhill, OSO and Ariston.
Megaflo cylinders are a particularly common choice, but the best cylinder for a property depends on the installation rather than simply the brand name.
We can discuss the available options and help you choose a system that suits your property’s hot water requirements, available space and existing heating system.
What About an Existing Faulty Cylinder?
Not every cylinder problem means that the whole cylinder needs replacing.
For example, faults involving components such as valves, thermostats, expansion vessels or other controls may be repairable.
If your existing cylinder is leaking, making unusual noises, losing pressure, discharging water or failing to provide hot water, tell us what is happening when you contact us. We can assess the problem and advise whether repair or replacement is the more sensible option.
For more information specifically about faults and repairs, see our Unvented Cylinder Repairs Liverpool service.
Looking After Your New Unvented Cylinder
Once a new cylinder has been installed, proper maintenance is important for safe and reliable operation.
The manufacturer may specify servicing and maintenance requirements, and the system’s safety and control components should be checked as appropriate.
Our Unvented Cylinder Repairs Liverpool service can help if your system develops a fault, while our Boiler Servicing Liverpool service covers servicing of the boiler and heating side of the system.
If you are unsure what maintenance your particular installation requires, we can advise you based on the equipment installed.
Why Choose Aigburth Plumbing & Heating?
More Than 20 Years’ Experience
We have more than 20 years of experience working with plumbing and heating systems in homes across Liverpool.
Local Liverpool Service
We work throughout Liverpool and surrounding areas, including Aigburth, Allerton, Mossley Hill, Woolton, Garston, Childwall and Wavertree.
Honest Advice
We will explain the options available and recommend the most suitable solution for your property rather than automatically replacing equipment that may still be repairable.
Professional Installation
We take care over the installation itself, including pipework, controls, safety components, testing and commissioning.
One Company for Plumbing and Heating
An unvented cylinder is often part of a wider hot water and heating system. As a plumbing and heating company, we can also help with associated boiler, heating and plumbing work where required.
Areas We Cover
We provide unvented cylinder installation and replacement throughout Liverpool and surrounding areas, including:
Aigburth, Allerton, Mossley Hill, Garston, Woolton, Childwall, Wavertree, Speke, West Derby, Crosby, Bootle, Huyton, Prescot, Maghull, Kirkby and Formby.
If you are outside these areas but close to Liverpool, contact us and we can confirm whether we cover your location.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an unvented cylinder last?
The lifespan of an unvented cylinder depends on the quality of the cylinder, water conditions, installation and maintenance. A well-maintained system can provide many years of reliable service, but eventually components or the cylinder itself may need replacement.
Do I need a cold-water storage tank with an unvented cylinder?
No. An unvented cylinder is supplied directly from the property’s mains water supply, so it does not require the separate cold-water storage cistern used by a traditional vented system.
Will an unvented cylinder give me better water pressure?
It can provide strong hot water flow when the incoming mains water pressure and flow rate are suitable. The cylinder itself cannot overcome a poor mains water supply, which is why checking the incoming supply is an important part of assessing an installation.
Can you replace my old vented cylinder with an unvented cylinder?
A change may be possible, but the property needs to be assessed first. We would check the mains supply, existing pipework, heating system and available installation space before recommending whether an unvented cylinder is suitable.
What size unvented cylinder do I need?
The correct size depends on your household’s hot water demand rather than simply the size of the property. The number of occupants, bathrooms and typical usage all need to be considered.
Can you repair an existing unvented cylinder?
Yes. Some faults can be repaired without replacing the entire cylinder. If you have a leaking cylinder, loss of hot water, pressure problems or another fault, our Unvented Cylinder Repairs Liverpool service explains more about the problems we deal with.
Contact Aigburth Plumbing & Heating
If you are considering a new unvented cylinder or need to replace an older hot water cylinder, contact Aigburth Plumbing & Heating to discuss your requirements.
We can assess your existing system, advise on the most suitable options and provide a clear quotation for the work.
Whether you are upgrading an older hot water system, replacing a leaking cylinder or looking for a better solution for a busy family home, we provide unvented cylinder installation throughout Liverpool and surrounding areas.
Contact Aigburth Plumbing & Heating today to arrange an assessment or request a quotation.