Vented taps / unvented taps??

[parsman]

Hi,
this might sound like a silly question but I haven't got much experience in plumbing. Well, can anyone tell me the difference between vented and unvented taps. We'll be installing a under the kitchen sink electric water heater and Redring WS7 probably. It mentions that vented taps are needed. At the moment we have a 2 hole mono mixer tap (Wickes). would this do or do we have to replace it with special "vented" taps?

Thanks.

Parsman

 

[ChrisR]

Bad news. Vented taps are ones which dribble to let expanding water out. They are very expensive and only come in boring designs. Don't use a water heater which needs them, unless you have a special reason to.

Unvented (sealed) ater heaters are harder to install (properly, which almost nobody does) but let you use any old tap. Even wickes ones at a pinch.

 

[parsman]

There's this model I've seen,

http://www.hycomanufacturing.co.uk/speedflowunvented.html

with a pressure relief value, which I guess does the "dripping" instead, so normal taps are usable... plan to get a plumber to install it.

Just curious, anyone has any web links to any examples of electric water heaters that are vented and can use "normal" taps. Room use to have gas powered heater (vented, so there is a readymade hole in the wall, but now only has cold water pipe and electrical supply?

Pars