Forgotten Cylinders: The Key to Unlocking Low-Carbon Heating

Think unvented hot water cylinders are a thing of the past? Well, we’ve got news for you. Find out more about how cylinders can help lead the low-carbon heating revolution

What’s the first thing that springs to mind when we say ‘low-carbon heating solutions’? More than likely, it’s a heat pump. But do unvented cylinders also come to mind?

Well, they should because while hot water cylinders have taken a back seat over the years amid the rising popularity of combi boilers, these systems have been silently waiting for an opportunity to take centre stage once again. Read on to find out more about the untapped cylinder potential.

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Firstly, it’s important to emphasise that a high-performance cylinder can significantly maximise the efficiency of homes with a traditional boiler setup – something which we’ll discuss later in this article. However, cylinders are also perfectly primed to help futureproof householders’ heating setups.

Heat pump technology has grown to become one of the most effective ways to decarbonise properties. And this is where the trusty cylinder comes into focus. Any homeowner looking to make the transition from boiler to air source heat pump (ASHP) will need a way to store hot water for when they need it. This means they will need to be made aware of just how important a well-designed ASHP cylinder is to their hot water performance.

The properties of hot water cylinders are straightforward and easy for you to explain to your customers – especially when you’re equipped with relevant data and insight. Put simply, cylinders play a vital role in larger homes mainly by ensuring a consistently powerful flow rate is provided to hot water outlets while supplying a standby provision of hot water.

But there are several other factors beyond the cylinder that you might want to cover with your customers to ensure you choose the right product for their heating setup:

• The energy infrastructure of the home itself, for example carrying out heat loss calculations to establish how efficient the home is.
• Whether a combination of electrical solutions may be beneficial, for example the use of solar PV panels with a solar PV cylinder

The Nitty Gritty: Flow and Performance

As well as a brief understanding and overview of the role a cylinder plays, it can be beneficial for homeowners to understand the factors that influence your choice of cylinder size for their property.

By being equipped with basic data, you can offer the most suitable advice during property visits and build rapport with your customers. This includes information such as the number of occupants, showers and baths, as well as the likelihood of simultaneous usage. Then you can decide on which solution is right for the job.

You might also want to use real-life situations to help communicate technical information effectively. For example, an explanation of the hot water delivery rate in litres per minute and how this translates to the performance of a shower or the time to fill a bath can be useful.

When speaking to customers who have busy households where simultaneous showers and baths may be commonplace, recovery time is a crucial consideration to make sure they aren’t left waiting for hot water when they need it most. Cylinders like the Megaflo Eco range or Baxi Indirect are equipped with high-performance coil-in-coil heat exchangers and offer impressive recovery times. For instance, a 125-litre Megaflo Eco cylinder can recover 70% of its volume in approximately 30 minutes.

The insulation level of a hot water cylinder is another crucial factor for you to consider as it directly impacts on efficiency and energy bills. By reminding customers that their hot water cylinder is retaining heat effectively throughout the day, installers can save them energy and provide peace of mind.

Thinking About the Long Term

Cylinders often have a longer lifespan when compared with boilers and heat pumps, so it’s important that system needs are cared for to ensure long-term efficiency. While boiler servicing is spoken about regularly, it’s equally vital to remind homeowners about the need to service unvented cylinders too. Even though it might seem simple, regular maintenance is key to ensuring an unvented cylinder is safe and efficient, in addition to extending the appliance’s life and complying with warranty conditions. Not only can this avoid unexpected repair costs, but also checking the three tiers of safety – control stat, T&P valve and energy cut-out – is crucial for maintaining high levels of performance and user safety.

If a customer needs to replace their cylinder, they could consider an ASHP ready cylinder. Designed for improved heat transfer, having this installed with the boiler will mean one less thing to worry about if the customer is considering a full heat pump set up.

Your customers more than likely view you as a trusted adviser for heating questions and someone who can offer tips on energy use and system performance. So, it's a great time to highlight hot water cylinders as a comprehensive solution for many heating needs.