Hot water heater buying guide

Vented cylinders are known as the traditional option, as they have been around for decades, vented cylinders store and heat water that is fed directly from a tank in the loft. this provides a natural gravitational force of water to the system, enabling it to provide a flow of hot water to the tap outlets throughout the property.they are the most common cylinder found within properties across the UK,

Pros:

• • Cheaper to install and maintain
  • ‘like for like’ replacement
  • Consistent water pressure and supply when mains pressure is low due to high demand

Cons:

• • Dependent on a water tank in the loft
  • Relies on gravitational pull of water for pressure flow to outlets

An unvented hot water cylinder differs in that it provides mains pressure hot water directly from the cold mains as opposed to tank pressure water provided with a vented cylinder.

As the mains pressure hot water provided by an unvented system is fed directly from the cold mains, it provides a better pressure performance than a vented cylinder. They cylinder must requires regular maintenance to meet safety regulations.

Pros:

• • Solution to space restrictions – can be installed almost anywhere in the property
  • No need for water tank
  • Provides mains pressure hot water for better flow rates

 Cons:

• • • More expensive to install – requires a G3 specialist
    • Requires annual maintenance to meet safety regulations

A combi boiler is a central heating boiler and water heater in one. Everything a combi needs is within the boiler itself, meaning there's no need for additional tanks or cylinders (great news if you're tight on space!)

Pros:

• Higher efficiency condensing = Lower energy bills could save you up to £300* on your heating bills in one year.
• Easy to install an all-in-one unit and can be fitted almost anywhere saving you space
• Hot water on demand there’s no need to use a storage cylinder hot
• Mains water pressure supply directly from the mains this should mean you get a much stronger flow of hot water.

Cons:

• Not suitable for large homes /or has several bathrooms it will have to split the flow making it weaker.
• Not ideal for homes with weak mains pressure If the mains pressure is weak or inconsistent, your showers and taps will be too
• Not always compatible with old pipework your existing pipework and radiators may not cope with mains pressure.

Although carrying a different name, these heaters are effectively boilers. The only difference is that boilers heat the central heating, and usually the hot water for your taps too, whilst the multipoint heater will just provide hot water for your taps and your shower  these heaters just provide hotwater for tap and shower in the home.

Pros:

• Although the cost of the boiler itself is very similar, the cost of installing central heating is very high, and it will be much cheaper just to run pipes to the taps that might need hot water than to plumb in radiators as well.
• You may wish to install a water heater in a part of the home that does not need central heating, but does need hot water. This could be an annex or workshop for example.

Cons:

• The multi point heaters often come with average control of water temperature, risk of scalding hot going into the sink,
• Having a split system can to be less efficient than having one system controlling everything.
• It is also going to take up more space and could require more maintenance.