Unvented Hot Water Heater Maintenance and Repair Service Company

Unvented Cylinder Repair and Maintenance

Repairs from £120 with a Maintenance Plan

EasyFlow specialize in unvented water cylinders. We have years of experience installing and repairing mains pressure unvented cylinders and are quick to respond to calls. We always investigate faults and provide quotes prior to undertaking any water heater repairs. Our engineers carry many spare parts on the van and are often able to make the repair immediately. We also offer maintenance plans, which help spread the cost and provide total peace of mind. If you have a fault or need and annual service, contact us today on 0800 433 4043

How To

Information and advice on how to safely use, operate and save money with unvented water cylinders, thermal store water heater and electric boilers.

What Does the Anode Rod in My Water Heater Do?

19 Sep 2020

Water heaters are essential to modern life. However, most of us have very little idea of how they work, beyond the basics. We know that water flows into the cylinder from the mains, that it is heated, and that the temperature is maintained by good insulation around the cylinder, but that’s about it. Most of the other components are mysteries to us. For instance, what’s an anode rod and what does it do? What Is an Anode Rod? You may hear it called an anode rod, or a sacrificial anode rod, but they are both the same thing. It’s a metal rod that’s extended into the cylinder of the water heater. It serves just one purpose – to attract corrosive elements and prevent them from causing damage to the cylinder walls. An electric current flows through the rod, charging it, and attracting particles with the opposite charge. As the particles collect, the rode corrodes, eventually succumbing to the damage and needing to be replaced. What Is an Anode Rod Made From? Anode rods are made from metal, but different metals can be used. You will find they’re made of either magnesium, aluminium, or zinc. Each metal offers something a little bit different. Magnesium – Magnesium is the best-performing metal for anode rod construction, but it’s the least durable. It generates around 1.6 volts in the cylinder but may need to be replaced every year if your water is particularly hard or soft. Aluminium – Aluminium generates 1.1 volts and is the middle ground when it comes to anode construction. You’ll need to inspect it annually, but usually, they will only need to be replaced every five years or so. Zinc – This is the lowest performance material, generating just 1.05 volts. It has a lifespan pretty comparable with aluminium. What Happens When an Anode Rod Fails? So, what happens when you anode rod eventually reaches the end of its lifespan? Does your water heater stop working? No, but the process of failure is accelerated. The anode rod prevents corrosive agents from attacking the walls of the cylinder. Without it, those corrosive elements go to work eating away at the inside of your cylinder, eventually causing serious problems, and, ultimately, failure. Signs of Anode Rod Failure How do you know when your anode rod has failed? Ideally, you’ll have a water heater maintenance service inspect everything once per year. This is the only way to guarantee that you are able to replace the rod before it fails completely and extend the lifespan of your water heater. However, there are signs you can look for that may indicate your rod has already failed. It may or may not be too late to save the cylinder. Some of these signs include: Popping sounds during water heater operation Clogging faucet aerators Slimy gel on faucet aerators Water is warm but not as hot as it used to be Concerned that your anode rod might be about to fail, or have already failed? Contact EasyFlow to schedule an inspection from one of our water heater specialists.

Water Heater Troubleshooting: Understanding Common Problems with Unvented Cylinders

13 Aug 2020

Today, unvented cylinders are the most frequently recommended option for residential hot water needs. They offer superior pressure in the shower and at the taps compared to vented cylinders. They do not take up as much room as vented cylinders, and they can be installed just about anywhere that there’s access to the mains, as well. However, they can suffer from a few common issues. For homeowners, it’s important to understand the most common problems you might face with an unvented cylinder. No Hot Water Perhaps the single most common problem you might experience with an unvented cylinder is no hot water. This can present as cold water when you open the hot tap, or no water flow at all from the hot tap. A couple of different issues can cause this problem, including no power to the water heater due to a tripped circuit breaker, or a problem with the residual current device installed on the unit. Regular maintenance will ensure that there are no reasons for your water heater to trip the breaker and that the RCD is in good working condition, as well. Thermostat Issues Your unvented cylinder will be equipped with a thermostat. This allows you to set the temperature on the water heater to your preferences (and to ensure safety for members of your household). It is also an important tool for helping to prevent overheating and overpressure situations. It is possible for the thermostat to malfunction in a number of ways, all of which can be prevented through annual inspections and regular maintenance by a G3-certified plumber. Expansion Vessel or Air Bubble Problems Unvented cylinders have either an expansion tank or an air bubble system. This allows the unit to accommodate the increased volume of heated water without any danger. However, both expansion tanks and air bubble systems can become depleted over time. This mean there is less expansion room for heated water and increased risk for your home. Annual maintenance is the best way to avoid this problem. Pressure Relief Valve Hot water creates a great deal of pressure within an unvented cylinder. If this builds up to dangerous levels, the tank could split. A pressure relief valve helps prevent this from happening by allowing excess pressure to be vented. If the valve fails, this cannot happen, though. Again, annual maintenance ensures that this valve is in working order. Pressure Reducing Valve Failure Because an unvented cylinder is connected directly to the mains, a pressure reducing valve is needed to ensure that incoming water pressure remains at a safe level. If the valve were to fail, the cylinder could become over pressured. Annual service ensures that your valve remains in good working condition. As you can see, the single most important thing to do to prevent these common problems with unvented cylinders is to ensure that your water heater is properly serviced and maintained. Call EasyFlow on 0161 941 5571 to schedule your maintenance.

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What our Clients are Saying

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EasyFlow installed a new thermal store water heater in our flat in Manchester city centre. Throughout the whole process, from the initial inspection, the quick turnaround in providing a quote through to full installation, we were extremely pleased with the service provided and would highly recommend to anyone in need of a heating specialist.

Matt and Alice, Manchester, UK

17^th May, 2020

Installation

Engineer was prompt, very thorough, I had asked for service and repair. This was done swiftly and his knowledge of the product instilled confidence in his work. Quick, clean and good job well done. I shall be booking an annual service next year.

Beverley Venyige , West Yorkshire

30^th March, 2020

Annual Service

Great service, pleasant/reliable staff

Kay Kitchen, Manchester

12^th March, 2020

Replacement Valves

Great service, pleasant/reliable staff

Kay Kitchen, Manchester

12^th March, 2020

Replacement Valves

The engineers and the receptionist are really nice, they are always on time and let you know if they are stuck in traffic and they know what they are doing which is the main thing.

Adam Rooney, Manchester

05^th March, 2020

Annual Service

Squeezed us in at short notice and once on site offered a cost effective solution to what was uncovered, rather than necessitating a second visit. Drained down the tank, replaced immersion elements and provided a full service all with minimum fuss. Very professional, personable and hard working.

Annette Graham, Sports City, Manchester

25^th February, 2020

Replacement Immersion Heaters

Great courteous communication from start to finish, service arranged without fuss, clean efficient part replacement without any mess, in under 2 hours, and follow up call to ensure all working properly. Level of customer service and prompt attention was highly appreciated. Many thanks to Chris and Lisa.

Mr Das, Manchester

20^th February, 2020

Replacement Valves

I can’t recommend EasyFlow enough! From quick responses, visits and a solution all in the few days before Christmas, they have been amazing.. A huge thank you to Chris!

Liz Hulme , Manchester

23^th December, 2019

Replacement Valves

After a few years not having my hot water tank serviced (my own fault) I had a persistent weep from the valves on top of the tank, an initial visit by Easyflow quickly assessed the repairs needed and I received a quotation for the work a day later. It only took one week for parts to arrive and a repair visit to be arranged. Both visits were by the same engineer who was very pleasant to deal with and very informative of the repairs required. Very please with the repairs carried out and all is working fine now.

Richard Hawkins, Bolton

16^th December, 2019

Replacement Valves

I’ve been really impressed with the professional service at Easyflow during the large job of replacing my old defunct boiler and installing a completely hot water and central heating system. They have been absolutely fantastic throughout. I was particularly grateful to Chris who came round to show me how to work the new system and he was incredibly helpful and really responsive when there was a small issue, rectifying it straight away. Thanks so much would definitely recommend!

J Lindsay, Didsbury, Manchester

04^th December, 2019

Installation

Gledhill Boiler Repairs

EasyFlow is one of the few companies that specialize in the repair and maintenance of Gledhill boilers. We have years of experience repairing the Gledhill ElectraMate 2000 and carry most spare parts for this boiler on the van. We also carry parts for the Gledhill PulsaCoil A Class, Gledhill PulsaCoil 2000, Gledhill Torrent and Gledhill Stainless Lite. EasyFlow is now the preferred contractor for many North West property companies.

Annual Service

The EasyFlow Annual Service is a great way to keep your unvented water heater safe and in good working order. Having your unvented water heater serviced each year is an important task, and is recommended by water heater manufacturers. We are competitively priced and provide a certificate for insurance purposes after the annual service is complete.

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Maintenance Plans

The EasyFlow Maintenance Plan is a way for property owners to avoid expensive repair costs. Once a plan has been set up, the property owner pays a monthly fee and all call outs, parts and labour to make repairs is included. We also include the annual service for unvented water heaters worth £90.

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