HOT WATER CYLINDERS
OFTEN A FORGOTTEN PART OF WIDER HEATING SYSTEMS, HOT WATER CYLINDERS ARE KEY TO EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF HOT WATER WITHIN HOMES, EXPLAINS BAXI PRODUCT MANAGER FOR CYLINDERS RAMAN SOHAL… Reconsidering the hot water cylinder
With combi boilers gaining popularity over the years, fewer households have needed to rely on hot water cylinders. However, with rising heat pump uptake, cylinders are making a comeback as part of low-carbon heating solutions. As a result, now is a good time for installers to promote the benefits of hot water cylinders to their customers. RELAYING THE BENEFITS Hot water cylinders play a key role in larger properties by providing a consistently-powerful flow rate to multiple hot water outlets and a backup provision of hot water. While customers are likely to understand this, having data to back up that advice is useful for homeowners wanting to understand the reasons why installers may choose a specific cylinder. This could include how many people live in a property, the number of baths and showers, and whether outlets are running at the same time. There is a solution for every installation with the Megaflo Eco 2 and Baxi cylinders which range from 70 to 300 litres. Applying this data to real-life scenarios could make this more easily understood, like explaining how many litres per minute of hot water they deliver for powerful showers and filling baths. For example, while with a Baxi Indirect Cylinder it’s possible to achieve a flow rate of up to 76 litres per minute, even a lower flow rate of 22 litres per minute will fill a typical bath with hot water in less than five minutes. Recovery times are also important, which is where the quality of the heat exchanger comes in. High-performance coil heat exchangers in cylinders such as Megaflo Eco2 or Baxi Indirect Cylinder, for example, deliver brilliant recovery times. Taking a 125-litre Megaflo Eco cylinder as an example, it is possible to see 70% of the cylinder’s volume recover in as little as half an hour. A cylinder’s insulation is another factor installers should consider as this will improve efficiency levels, retain heat for hot water demand across the day and, in turn, have an impact on energy bills. For customers in the Republic of Ireland,
“With rising heat pump uptake, cylinders are making a comeback as part of low-carbon heating solutions.”
Hot water cylinders provide a consistently powerful flow rate to multiple hot water outlets and a backup provision of hot water.
the Baxi Assure range of direct, indirect, SystemReady and SystemFit cylinders offers the same efficient hot water delivery. SERVICING CONSIDERATIONS Servicing unvented cylinders mitigates the risk of unexpected repair or replacement costs and ensures cylinders remain safe to operate – something customers should be reminded of. The longevity of a hot water cylinder and the validity of its warranty will more than likely include regular servicing as a requirement. Cylinder maintenance ensures the three tiers of safety remain in place. These include: control stat (how hot the water comes out), temperature and pressure relief valve (T&P) and energy cut out (overheat stat). Homeowners may be concerned with pressure, water leaks and limescale build-up, but sticking to this three-tier guide will control the heat and the risk.
Though the installation document will always contain the full servicing instructions, it is a good idea to discuss the steps and reasons for carrying them out with homeowners. A basic servicing checklist for cylinders will usually include: 1. Inspection 2. Strainer cleaning
3. Descaling immersion heater(s) 4. Expansion volume recharge 5. Re-commissioning
Installers are seen as a trusted advisor for all their customers’ heating questions, whether they are about changing a heating source or for reassurance around energy consumption. Now, they have the opportunity to make homeowners aware of hot water cylinders as a holistic solution to a range of heating queries. For more information, visit: www.baxi.co.uk/products/cylinders For the Republic of Ireland, visit: www.baxi.ie/products/domestic- products/cylinders
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