Having hot water in the house is something that some of us take lightly, until our hot water cylinder stops to work. This is why it is important to think which hot water cylinder will meet your home’s needs going forward. That way, you will be prepared when you face a dreaded cold shower in the morning.
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How a Hot Water Cylinder Works
You will find hot water cylinders in commercial and domestic buildings. They keep hot water at the temperature of 65 degrees Celsius and are often connected to our showers and taps. To minimize the temperature to make it suitable for use, it mixes with the cold water at your tap. This way, your entire home will get constant supply of hot water without the need of waiting for cold water to heat again.
Common Types
The kind of cylinder you need will depend on a few factors. For instance, the kind of heating system, which is connected to, can have a great impact on the decision you make. Common types of cylinders you can buy in the market are these:
1. Solar Cylinders
Manufacturers have specifically designed these cylinders for installations of solar heating systems. A mixture of Glycol liquid and water often passes via a solar panel, heat gets transferred to stored water through internal coils, and then heated water is rerouted to the solar system for reheating.
2. Indirect Cylinders
These types of hot water cylinders require external sources of heat, which in this case, are boilers. At times, these cylinders are fitted with immersion heaters for boost functions or as a backup heaters. The water in the heating coils isn’t potable and doesn’t come into contact with potable water. The external energy source can be a solar panel, a heat pump, ora heating boiler.
3. Unvented Cylinders
Usually, these cylinders are directly hooked up to the main supply of water. This means these cylinders are high-pressure systems, with strong flow of water. Because of that, they don’t need separate cold-water tanks and you can connect them to an existing heating system, enabling you to install them almost anywhere. Mostly, they are made of stainless steel that retains more heat than other materials, like copper.
4. Vented Cylinders
These are a gravity-fed system, which requires cold water tanks in a loft to heat water. They are often made of copper and connected to main supply of water through a vent pipe. Compared to system boilers, vented cylinders are simpler, but some come equipped with an immersion heater to improve supply of hot water.
5. Direct Cylinders
Direct cylinders use immersion heaters to heat water. These heaters often feature elements, which are powered by electricity. The heaters also sit inside cylinders so they can directly heat water. Some direct cylinders have several immersion components that give faster and easier access to the hot water.
A hot water cylinder is a very important component of domestic heating systems. It provides an energy-efficient, comfortable, and convenient way of heating water at home. So, if you plan to buy a new hot water cylinder and want to make the right choice, contact a reliable plumber to help you.