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What seems like a basic hot water system in many countries around the world is finally catching up in the UK. Unvented hot water cylinders and central heating systems provide hot water at mains pressure level. Unvented systems eliminate cases where two users cannot draw hot water simultaneously, for example when one member of the household having a shower while another tries to do the washing up. Unvented systems use the pressure of the mains infrastructure to retain sufficient pressure of hot water around the entire house. This is in stark contrast to the traditional gravity fed systems with a feeder tank 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. Hectic lifestyles mean high demand from the basic systems in the home. These days we do not expect to wait for hot water, nor do we expect to get hit by a cold flush of water in the shower when someone else turns on the hot water tap in the house. Furthermore, many modern houses have two bathrooms, as well as a host of other appliances that put pressure on the hot water systems, such as a whirlpool bath or a jet shower. Only unvented systems can offer the reliable supply of hot water in the right quantity and pressure to allow for all this to work seamlessly. 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 shell - the price of copper cylinders has risen recently along with the cost of copper in the world commodity markets. Copper shells are very popular in the UK, offering lightweight and relatively reasonable prices. They offer the lowest level of heat retention among the three metals. * Stainless steel cylinders - provide middle ground in terms of heat retention and weight, compared to copper and sheet metal. They are the most expensive type, but offer the longest lifetime guarantee (normally around 20-25 years). * 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. When making your selection of the unvented hot water cylinder, there are several important points to pay attention to: * Volume and dimension of the cylinder - there is a wide variety of unvented cylinders sold in the UK. A typical household of 4-5 people would be well served by a 200 liter cylinder. It is also important to check that the cylinder would fit into the airing cupboard (replacing the existing cylinder). * Heat retention performance - since the main purpose of a hot water tank is to retain the water inside hot, it is important to check the heat loss score of the tank. A good tank loses less than 3 kW per 24 hours). * Manufacturers' warranty and support - unvented cylinders are simple systems, with no moving parts. This makes them reliable over many years. However, it is important to check which warranty and service support is offered by the manufacturer.
Article Source: http://www.ezine-directory.info
Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes content about central heating, Wimbledon plumbers, boilers, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating
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