Common cylinder installation mistakes and how pre-plumbed and pre-wired cylinders can help
Installing a hot water cylinder as part of an air source heat pump system involves getting several things right.
For experienced G3 installers, many of these details will be second nature. If you're new to heat pumps and unvented cylinders, knowing where issues commonly arise can help make an installation smoother and avoid unnecessary troubleshooting later.
From pipework configuration to sensor placement, a few seemingly small details can have a big impact on how the system operates. The good news is that pre-plumbed and pre-wired cylinders can reduce some of the risks for error whilst also saving time on-site.
We’ll look closer at:
Pipework configuration errors
Incorrect coil connections
Sensor placement problems
Airlock and flushing issues
Valve and divertor mistakes
The importance of correct wiring
How pre-plumbed, pre-wired cylinders help
Pipework configuration errors
With a conventional cylinder installation, there are a number of connections to make and configure correctly. Getting the pipework arrangement wrong can result in poor system performance, difficult commissioning or time-consuming fault-finding. This is important as the cylinder forms part of the wider system rather than simply providing stored hot water.
Pre-plumbed cylinders have key hydraulic components and connections assembled as part of the cylinder. This reduces the amount of plumbing work required on-site and gives you a simplified setup that can also increase the speed of installation. Your customers might be interested in the neater, more aesthetically appealing finish, whilst the simplified process will help to minimise disruption and reduce installation time in their home. For developers, a pre-plumbed cylinder also offers a plug and play setup, creating a uniform approach across properties.
Choosing a pre-plumbed, pre-wired cylinder lets you carry out the installation with confidence and your customer is reassured that their system is designed specifically for their property’s requirements.
Incorrect coil connections
Cylinder coil connections need to be correctly identified and connected to the appropriate circuit. Getting the flow and return connections the wrong way around can affect heat transfer and reduce efficiency.
An incorrect configuration may also lead to air being trapped, causing airlocks and preventing water being reheated fully, leaving the homeowner having cooler or lukewarm water and loud rattling noises coming from within their cylinder.
Pre-plumbed cylinders have all the required connections already in place, so that mistakes associated with coil connections are removed. This also prevents the need for callbacks to resolve coil connection errors.
Sensor placement mistakes
Sensors play an important role in controlling the cylinder and telling the system what is happening with stored water. Placing the sensor in the wrong place can deliver inaccurate measurements which can lead to inefficient operation.
For instance, a sensor installed too high within the cylinder will only measure the hottest water layer. This could result in only short bursts of hot water being delivered before the heating system shuts off and runs the risk of all the water below this point not reaching the desired temperature.
A sensor that is too low could mean that excessive energy is used to heat the entire tank or could even cause incorrect temperature readings.
Airlock and flushing issues
Air trapped within the system can cause problems during commissioning and operation. Flushing and venting the system correctly is an important part of commissioning the system. Using a pre-plumbed, pre-wired cylinder can help clear air locks by using the integrated components.
Valves and diverter mistakes
Heat pump cylinders often involve valves and controls, and it is important each component is connected and configured correctly. A valve that is incorrectly connected, wired or configured can lead to inefficient system performance. It is important the right port connections are used so that high temperature water doesn’t circulate through emitters intended for low temperature design.
The factory fitted components of pre-plumbed, pre-wired ASHP cylinders can help to minimise the likelihood of errors.
The importance of correct wiring
The electrical connections between the cylinder, sensors, valves and heat pump controls need to be correctly configured for the system to operate as designed. A wiring error can mean the system doesn’t recognise the cylinder temperature correctly, the system doesn’t operate as expected, or even pose a fire hazard.
In a pre-wired cylinder, these connections are factory installed and safety tested. Not only does this reduce the risk of potentially dangerous errors, but you can carry out the work swiftly, reduce the opportunity for connection errors and make the final system easier to check and commission.
How pre-plumbed, pre-wired cylinders help
By having key components, pipework and electrical connections assembled off-site, the pre-plumbed, pre-wired ASHP cylinder helps to reduce the number of connections and configuration decisions that need to be made during installation. This can help to cut down installation time as well as preventing common installation errors. This allows for making the finished system easier to check, commission and create an atheistically neater installation for the homeowner.
As an installer, using a pre-plumbed cylinder takes away the guesswork and uncertainty around a cylinder installation, and can help minimise disruption to your customer and reduce the potential for callbacks.
Learn about our pre-plumbed, pre-wired cylinder and the support we provide for these installations below.
Backed by Baxi
From training to technical support, our experts are here to guide you with ASHP installations. You can be sure that Baxi has your back.
Baxi cylinders
Our ranges of cylinders are designed and manufactured in the UK by Baxi's hot water storage experts to the very highest quality and specifications. They will give you invigorating showers, fast-filling baths and plenty of hot water, whenever you need it.