The majority of properties in the UK have open vented or “gravity” heating and hot water systems. This means water storage tanks in your loft space for the heating, cold water and hot water cylinder supply. By it’s very nature it is a low pressure system as it vents to atmosphere.

 

 

If you require a “power shower” experience or better hot water supply booster pumps, shower pumps or secondary circuits are required to boost pressure to where it’s needed. If this is for perhaps one room in the house it is a sensible option however if you have multiple bathrooms and outlets being run at the same time a gravity system will not be able to cope with the demand and a noticeable pressure drop will be apparent.

 

A pressurised or “unvented” cylinder is connected directly to the cold mains and still heated by the boiler (and/or electric immersion). As it is connected to the mains no further storage tanks are required so if possible these can be removed.

 

 

Assuming you have sufficient mains pressure (min 3BAR) the cylinder will provide equal high pressure (2-3BAR) hot and cold services to all outlets in the property. Even if two outlets are demanding water at the same time the cylinder can regulate supply with little pressure drop.

A detailed survey is required to provide an accurate quotation, there is also an option to pressurise the heating circuit further increasing efficiency.

In summary the benefits are:

• Hot and cold water supply to all outlets at relatively high pressure
• Drinking water at all cold outlets
• Balanced hot & cold water supply to all outlets (many modern thermostatic valves and basin mixers insist on this criteria)
• Good shower flow and force without the need for pumps
• No water storage in the loft so no stagnation or legionella risk.
• No risk of frost damage to loft storage or pipework
• Highly insulated steel construction means much more efficient at storing hot water

 

Telford Unvented Cylinders

 

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