Water Heater Repair Company | Electric Hot Water Heater Maintenance & Repair Service
0161 941 5571 Quote for Repair
Menu

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.

Not Servicing Your Unvented Hot Water Cylinder? You Could Be in for a Premature Replacement

16 Jun 2021

Today’s unvented hot water cylinders are technologically advanced. They benefit from new alloys used to manufacture the cylinder body. Improved component design offers better reliability and operability over time. New materials make gaskets and valves last much longer than ever before. However, for all that, they are not maintenance-free. In fact, forgoing annual service could mean that you’ll be replacing your entire cylinder prematurely, which is a considerable expense. Why would a lack of maintenance lead to premature replacement, though? Pressure Vessel/Internal Expansion Bubble Depletion All unvented cylinders have either an external pressure vessel or an internal expansion bubble. These are designed to allow room for water volume expansion as it heats up. As the water heats up, the air in the expansion bubble/pressure vessel is displaced by hot water, thereby reducing the threat of over-pressure situations. However, over time, pressure vessels and internal expansion bubbles become depleted through normal use. They can be “topped up” during annual maintenance, but if you’re not having your cylinder serviced, that does not happen. This leads to less room for water to expand, which feeds into the next problem. A Dramatic Rise in Pressure With less room to expand, heated water creates a massive spike in pressure within the cylinder. The problem becomes worse and worse each time the cylinder is heated, as well. As the pressure continues to rise, failure cascades throughout the system. Failure of the Pressure Relief Valve The pressure relief valve is designed as a safety feature to help prevent over-pressure situations from continuing or worsening. When the cylinder becomes over pressurised, the valve opens, releases pressure, and returns the system to the safe range. However, if the cylinder become over pressurised every time it is heated, the valve will fail. Cylinder Failure Today’s unvented hot water cylinders are made from very strong steel and are designed to withstand considerable pressure. However, that does not mean that they are indestructible. If the pressure relief valve fails but does so in the closed position, the pressure can lead to structural damage within the cylinder itself. The only option when that occurs is to replace the entire cylinder. How to Avoid Premature Replacement While you can roll the dice that your pressure relief valve will stick in the open position, rather than the closed position, that is a very risky gamble. The only sure way to avoid this situation is to have your unvented cylinder inspected annually. A G3-qualified plumber can provide you with a full inspection, as well as annual maintenance, such as draining hard water build-up, and replenishing your expansion vessel or expansion bubble. Note that unqualified personnel, including non-G3-licensed plumbers, should never attempt to make repairs and valve replacements to unvented cylinders. Ready to protect your water heater from catastrophic failure? Contact EasyFlow today to schedule a consultation with one of our G3-licensed plumbers and to learn more about our annual maintenance plan and how it benefits you.

Read More >

Why Is There a Drip through the Tundish on my Unvented Water Cylinder?

04 Jun 2021

Unvented hot water cylinders offer many benefits over old-style vented systems. They offer full mains pressure at every tap, good flow in showers throughout the home, regardless of elevation or distance from the water heater, and more. They’re efficient, well-insulated, and cost less to operate, and they are also easy to maintain. However, for all those benefits, they are pressurised systems. When water is heated, it expands, putting pressure on the insides of the cylinder walls and other components. If left unchecked, that pressure could eventually lead to catastrophic failure. Safeguards are put in place to prevent that from happening. One of those safeguards is the pressure relief valve – the name is self-explanatory. This valve opens if the system’s pressure rises too high, allowing excess pressure to be vented into the airing cabinet around the cylinder. However, pressure relief valves can and do fail. In this case, water will drip through the tundish. Another possible cause of water dripping through the tundish is if the pressure inside the cylinder is rising too quickly. Possible Valve Failure If the pressure relief valve fails, it will allow water to flow out through the valve and then through the tundish to the drainpipe. You may also notice a drop in system pressure – if the valve fails and is leaking, then the system will not be able to generate the correct amount of pressure. However, seemingly normal pressure at the taps does not guarantee that your pressure relief valve has not failed. Pressure Rising Too Fast Another cause of water dripping through the tundish is if the system has become over-pressurised and the relief valve has opened. In this case, the valve opens, excess pressure is released, and water flows from the valve, down the pipe, through the tundish, and then out the drainpipe. It’s important to understand two things: First, this is precisely how the pressure relief valve is designed to operate. Second, the symptoms are identical to those of a failed pressure relief valve, so the only way to determine the actual problem is to have a G3-certified plumber inspect the system. Annual Service Whether due to a faulty pressure relief valve or an over-pressure situation, chances are good that the problem could have been avoided through simple maintenance. While unvented water cylinders do not require extensive maintenance, they do require an annual inspection for potential problems, as well as important testing and cleaning. The pressure relief valve should be tested annually – if it is showing signs of wear and tear or other forms of degradation, a G3-certified plumber can replace it immediately, avoiding the problem of spotting water dripping through the tundish and emergency repairs down the road. Have you noticed water flowing through the tundish? It could be one of two problems, but the solution for both is the same: Contact EasyFlow today to schedule an inspection and repair. We carry replacement parts for most unvented water cylinders in our vans, ensuring swift, professional repairs. We cover the areas of Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Chester and Leeds. Call us on 0161 941 5571

Read More >

We have engineers
working in

Services

NO HOT WATER?

Investigate a fault and quote for a repair
Call Now
0161 941 5571

What our Clients are Saying

leave your comments

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.

Book annual service

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.

Find out more

Purchase spare parts for your water heater

0161 941 5571 Contact Us
Services
Shop
Know Us
I want to:
Site by Peppersack

Atlantic Business Centre, Atlantic Street, Altrincham, Greater Manchester, WA14 5NQ

Copyright 2015 Country & Town Limited. All rights reserved EasyFlow is a Country & Town Limited service

We accept: