Hot Water Cylinder Problems & Cures
Martin Smith explains about the standard hot water cylinder problems and the cures. The cylinder on the right has been round for many year and has not changed much since and is still being sold today. In 10-year plus this cylinder has a good chance of being discontinue and replaced with an alternative source of hot water. It is also believed that there may not be another hot water cylinder that will be sold to so many people where there will be more of a choose of cylinder.
As hot water cylinders get more clever in design the harder and more complexed they because to fix when it comes down to hot water cylinder problems.
Just below Martin will explain more about this cylinder due to questions asked and search for.
18 Questions about hot water cylinder problems
- My hot water cylinder has no jacket, is this normal?
- The central heating pipe going into the cylinder, which pipe should be getting hot first and which is the flow & return?
- The pipe going into the bottom of the hot water cylinder, what is that for?
- The pipe coming out of the the cylinder at the top, what is that for?
- Why are cylinder insulated?
- What does the electric element at the top of the cylinder do?
- At the side of the hot water cylinder, there is a little box strapped to the cylinder, what is this for?
- How do I get hot water to my cylinder when the boiler is off?
- Can I heat up the water to the cylinder without having my central heating on?
- To get the maximum efficiency out of the cylinder what make of heat element should be installed?
- How long does a hot water cylinder last for?
- Can a rust spot be cured on a hot water cylinder?
- Why do I have green on my cylinder?
- How do I know if I require a new cylinder?
- How much does a cylinder cost to buy?
- How much does it cost to fit a cylinder?
- How long does it take for a plumber to fit a cylinder?
- How do you check the immersion heater is working on the hot water cylinder?
My hot water cylinder has no jacket, is this normal
When the hot water cylinder and the cost of heating the water up was cheaper, it was seen as normal not to have a jacket around the cylinder, after all, the hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard would also dry the towel and other clothing. In the late 1960’s there was the idea of trying to save heat and trying to make heating cheaper by using red jackets that would rap around the cylinder and was used for the next 30-years. As a better solution, someone came up with the idea of the foam jacket, it was cleaner, better looking and would save again more heat.
The central heating pipe going into the cylinder, which pipe should be getting hot first and which is the flow & return
To try not complicating thing’s the flow and return of the hot water to the cylinder sometimes known as the central heating pipe, is in fact the boiler flow and return, but to keep thing more simple as it is connected more so to the central heating and shares the same water to the central heating we will address it as the central heating pipes. As shown in the picture above, the flow is the top pipe, which means, the pipe at the top of the central heating pipes going into the hot water cylinder, will heat up first. Once the hot water cylinder is hot enough, the return will get warmer, until it becomes as hot as the above pipe.
The pipe going into the bottom of the hot water cylinder, what is that for
The pipe that is all by it’s own and comes gravity fed from the hot water storage tank above, is known as the hot water cylinder feed or cold water supply to the cylinder. Due to heat rising, it is always best to feed the bottom of the cylinder, where it is coldest, rather than it mixing with hot water, making it insufficient.
The pipe coming out of the the hot water cylinder at the top, what is that for
The pipe coming out of the hot water cylinder is known as the hot water supply to the hot water outlets. Due to heat rising, it is always best to keep the hot water supply at the highest point of the cylinder.
Why are hot water cylinders insulated
Hot water cylinders are insulated to save on cost and making the hot water cylinder more sufficient, lasting longer, without having to heat up the hot water cylinder again.
What does the electric element at the top of the hot water cylinder do
The electric element known as the immersion heater at the top of the hot water cylinder is, to heat the hot water within the cylinder and is only used as a back up incase the boiler is off. To save cost on your gas and electric, it is best to make sure the immersion heater is off at all times and let your boiler heat up the cylinder. If in doubt take a gas & electric reading and do your testing, adding up the sums.
At the side of the hot water cylinder, there is a little box strapped to the cylinder, what is this for
The small box next to the cylinder is known as the stat, what it does is, once the hot water gets to a certain temperature, for example 62°, it then send a message to the diverter valve or the boiler to turn off, depending on the set up.
How do I get hot water to my cylinder when the boiler is off
To get hot water to your cylinder, when the boiler is off, you will need to turn the immersion heater on, which is the element that goes into the cylinder at the top.
Can I heat up the water to the cylinder without having my central heating on
If the set up is of current standard, then yes, you can turn the central heating off at the control setting and choose to heat up the water only. Another easy but insufficient way is to, use the immersion heater at the top of the cylinder.
To get the maximum efficiency out of the cylinder, what make of heat element should be installed
If your looking for an immersion heater that is most efficient, then the best buy would be the Heatrae Sadia made out of Titanium. The Titanium immersion heater has a 5-year guarantee unlike most other immersion heaters, that have a 1-year guarantee, however expect to pay double. If your a customer that just relies on immersion heaters, then a 5-year guarantee is the better option and will save you in future costs for when the immersion next goes faulty.
How long does a hot water cylinder last for
A hot water cylinder generally last for if fitted to the highest standard about 30-plus years. If a cylinder is fitted with an extremely slow leak which is un-noticeable, then this can shorten the life expectancy, depending on how bad the water leak is.
Can a rust spot be cured on a hot water cylinder
A rust spot can be cured depending on how bad it is, if the rust has spread through the metal, then rather than cutting it out, it is cheaper to buy a new cylinder, but again every cylinder is different. To clear the rust on the cylinder, you will need some wire wool or a sanding pad made for wiping down copper. Once this has been done completely, it is most important to make sure there is no more left and the copper stays dry from water and any acid products.
Why do I have green on my cylinder
If you have green on your cylinder, because there is copper corrosion taking place, which is most like from an acid attack of flux or there is water surrounding the area. A high amount of moisture in the air can also be the cause of corroding copper.
How do I know if I require a new cylinder
Once you find your hot water cylinder is slightly leaking water, but drying at the same time, that is the time you require to replace the hot water cylinder, because at any point, the leaking water can get worse, causing damage. Always check for any damp patches surrounding the cylinder, as small leaks may not always be detected. If your unsure about a slow water leak, always consult your plumber and ask for any plumbing advice or even get him round to check for any signs of a slight water leaks or get a full plumbing inspection done at the same time.
How much does a cylinder cost to buy
To buy a standard and most common hot water cylinder as shown in the picture above, you would probably pay about £350, which includes all the materials. As there is so many different type of cylinders now, the cost of the cylinder can be so different.
How much does it cost to fit a cylinder
To fit a cylinder you will probably spend between £200 and £300 or more depending on the complications.
How long does it take for a plumber to fit a cylinder
For a plumber to fit a cylinder, it will most likely take about 6-hours, depending on accessibility. A direct cylinder is more easily fitted, taking about 4 to 5-hours to fit, where an indirect cylinder will most likely take 5 to 8-hours.
How do you check the immersion heater is working on the hot water cylinder
Please visit how to check an immersion heater is working on the cylinder.
If you are looking for us to recommend a good plumbing engineer to visit and fit a hot water cylinder, then give us a call on the number at the above and we will book you in very quickly. If your an emergency plumber and think you can do a quality job, then feel free to look at our plumbing register.
