Hi Darren
I had an unvented hot water cylinder fitted 7 years ago, but it proved to be a major headache (mega understatement). Don't get me wrong though, unvented hot water cylinders are ideal for those suffering from low-pressure mains.
First, the lack people in the plumbing industry who were certified to fit unvented hot water cylinder proved to be a major hurdle.
Secondly, there are a number of companies that manufacture this appliance, including, but not limited to:
- Glow-worm
- Heatrae Sadia [their unvented hot water cylinder product is called Megaflo]
- Ariston Thermo Group
- Main [who are part of the part of the Baxi Group, and so are Heatrae Sadia - so Main and Heatrae Sadia are sister companies)
- McDonald Engineers
- OSO Hotwater UK (UK subsidiary of a Norwegian company)
and it proved to be a challenge to determine who would give the best price to performance ratio, because unvented hot water cylinder do not come cheap.
Having located an apparent local plumber who claimed they could install one, and have done many previously, I requested references concerning this plumber and he had many satisfied customers, however none were for unvented hot water cylinders. At that time, it didn't concern me.
Prior to having the unvented hot water cylinder fitted, the two en-suite shower rooms that had a mains shower fitted, had an abysmal water pressure such that it was pretty much impossible to take a shower - a trickle of water is all we had. So we all had to make do with the main bathroom - so much for the plush en-suites.
Once the unvented hot water cylinder was fitted, both en-suites had excellent water pressure. It was a delight.
Then weeks later, impending disaster became to take shape. The unvented hot water cylinder that replaced the old bog-standard hot-water cylinder in the airing cupboard, began to leak, although I knew not from where. The tell-tale signs was the ceiling and the wall of one of the reception rooms (directly beneath the airing cupboard) that began to show a yellow discoloration.
The plumber dismissed this as something unconnected with the installation of the unvented hot water cylinder, and a week later, water was visible, trickling down the sides of the wall of the reception room.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, after calling numerous plumbers, most of whom had no or little experience in fitting unvented hot water cylinders, within a month and a half, part of the cavity wall and ceiling literally crumbled into rubble on the floor. There was so much internal seepage of water down the cavity wall.
Googling/Yellow pages searching and calling out for experienced plumbers proved to be fruitless and a waste of time, and within 3 months part of the ceiling beneath the hot water cylinder had collapsed, and the cavity wall of the reception had rotted badly.
Exacerbating this situation, most of the radiators on the ground floor were leaking to the extent the carpets in all the affected rooms were water-logged permanently - due to the pressure of the water circulating in the radiators.
The house stank and the atmosphere was putrid.
Q: What do I do when no one could give any resolution to this problem ?
A: Quit now whilst the house is still standing, and sell.
I was particularly fortunate, in spite of the worsening state of the house, I moved within 8 months of having the unvented hot water cylinder fitted.
Having pursued the initial plumber with litigation, he had moved from his 25 year base - he got scared and did a runner. The f**k**g basket-case.
Lessons to learn
----------------------
(1)
GET SOMEONE QUALIFIED TO FIT an UNVENTED HOT WATER CYLINDER - CHECK UP WITH THE MANUFACTURER OF THE APPLIANCE TO SEE IF HE IS ACCREDITED OR NOT.
(2) Get the Unvented Hot Water Cylinder fitted in the garage, to save yourself from any potential disaster. In the loft is a bad bad idea.
(3) Better to get one of the cylinder's MANUFACTURER to recommend an engineer/installer to fit one.
(4) Seek advice from forums such as these. I wish I had.
(5) Don't get put of by my incident, just be far more savvy than I was.
(6) Good luck, you'll need it.
