When choosing a hot water cylinder for your home, it is helpful to understand how a water cylinder works, the different types of cylinders available and benefits of installing the best one to suit your requirements.
What is a hot water cylinder?
A hot water cylinder is a tank that is used in domestic and commercial buildings to provide hot water throughout the property. There are various types of hot water tanks including indirect, direct, vented and unvented.
What is the difference between a direct and indirect hot water cylinder?
Direct hot water cylinders store the water before heating it with an internal electric immersion heater. An indirect cylinder requires an external heat source to create the hot water, such as a boiler, heat pump or solar panels.
The Grant High Performance Wave Cylinders offer indirect single and twin coil cylinders, heating water quicker than a direct or standard cylinder. By installing the Grant High Performance Wave Cylinder with the Grant Aerona³ R32 air to water air source heat pump, you can also improve your energy efficiency, future-proofing your home to meet legislative targets.
What is the difference between a vented and unvented hot water cylinder?
A vented hot water cylinder requires a cold-water tank to be stored within the property. The cold water is fed into the cylinder and later heated by immersion or boiler. Vented cylinders have recently decreased in popularity as they often result in lower shower pressure, resulting in the installation of an electric pump. The low pressure occurs as the cold-water tank must be installed in the attic or loft of the property, and relies on gravity rather than pressure, causing poor water flow on the upper levels of your home.
An unvented cylinder, like a Grant High Performance Wave Cylinder, does not require a cold-water tank. The water enters the hot water cylinder via the mains supply and is heated using the relevant heat source to the cylinder type (boiler, heat pump or solar panel), resulting in higher efficiency and better flow rates. A core benefit of the unvented cylinder is the flexibility it permits with regards to space in the property. There is no requirement for a cold-water tank, meaning the cylinder itself can be installed in the attic or loft, creating more immediate space in your home.
How do I decide what type of cylinder is best for my home?
There are a number of things to consider when choosing a hot water cylinder, including cost, maintenance, size and space.
When choosing the size of your hot water cylinder it is important to consider the size of your home, including the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and family members. If the cylinder is too small, you may find that you constantly run out of hot water however, if it is too big the tank will store and heat more water than is necessary, wasting money and energy. A hot water cylinder is typically measured in litres, making it easier for your installer to decide on what size is best for your home, in line with the heating source it will be running with.
It is also important to consider the cost of installation and maintenance of the hot water cylinder. The Grant Pre-Plumbed Cylinders are pre-wired with the Grant wiring centre, speeding up the installation process. The wiring centre is pre-plumbed and allows the installer to connect controls, pumps and motorised valves in a coherent and simple manner, providing ease in the installation process.
When considering space availability in your home, it may be best suited to install an unvented water cylinder as there is no requirement for a separate cold-water tank. This allows the hot water cylinder to be installed in the loft, creating more immediate space in your home. Alternatively, hot water cylinders that can be installed within the domestic spaces of your home can allow for much needed space. The Grant AWave Integrated Unit features aesthetically pleasing white paneling and stands at 1.8 metres high, allowing seamless integration into the domestic spaces with your home.