Our Plumbers at RDH Plumbing & Heating our fully qualified and have many years experience in fitting both Vented and Unvented Water Cylinders. There are a few factors that will determine whether you will require a Vented or Unvented Cylinder, so whats the difference?
Water Cylinder Installation
Vented Cylinders
Vented Water Cylinders are fed with cold water from a Watertank that’s usually located in the loft; hot water is distributed around the home using gravity, most older houses will have a Vented system.
Vented Water Cylinders are cheaper to install and easier to maintain than pressurised Unvented Cylinders, and as they are not connected to the mains supply, you will also have some water if the mains supply is switched off for any reason.
As Vented systems rely on gravity, tap pressure can vary in different rooms of the house, the pressure could be good upstairs but poor downstairs so sometimes a pump may be required to establish desirable pressure throughout your home.
Unvented Cylinders
Unvented Cylinders have become more common over the last 30 years primarily in newer homes. The system is fed directly from the cold water main (so no water tank is required) they also operate at mains pressure resulting in higher pressure and consistent hot water flow in your taps and showers.
Unvented Cylinders are a sealed system, so water contamination is highly unlikely, they are quieter than vented cylinder systems, and they can be placed anywhere in the home, a water tank isn’t required which frees up loft space and eliminates the risk of freezing in winter.
Unvented Cylinders systems are more technical than Vented Systems and can be unsuitable to combine with some power showers.
Both Cylinders offer advantages and disadvantages. The right one for your home will depend on these factors
- The size of your house
- Mains Pressure
- Your existing heating system
- Your existing pipework and radiators
- Your existing shower system
- Installation & Maintenance Cost
- Running Costs