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While unvented hot water heaters are quite common, thermal store water heaters are also widely used in homes and apartments throughout the UK. These systems work very differently from unvented systems, and actually get around some of the more pertinent disadvantages of unvented water heaters.
Thermal store water heaters are capable of providing the high flow rates of mains water pressure without the need for a reduction valve. They’re actually surprisingly simple in terms of basic operation – water within the cylinder is heated, and is then heat is disbursed through the home’s pipes by a heat exchanger without the heated water in the system ever actually coming into contact with the mains water. At EasyFlow, we can offer thermal store water heater repair services for customers in Manchester, Liverpool and the surrounding areas.
Unlike vented systems, thermal store water heaters are fully vented into the atmosphere. They are also not pressurised. There are two separate water reservoirs here – a main cylinder, and a separate cold water chamber. The second chamber is both an expansion tank and a feed for the main tank.
Within the main tank, you’ll find an electric immersion heater element. These may be on an economy tariff, or they may not be. Note that thermal stores can be used with other sources of heat, and are particularly well suited for working with renewable energy sources, such as solar heating or heat pumps.
In an unvented hot water heater, the heated water is actually channelled through the home and disbursed through the pipes to the taps. However, thermal store water heaters do not distribute water through a home. Instead, the water actually stays within the cylinder at all times. They actually work in the reverse fashion of standard domestic hot water heaters.
Thermal store water heaters first warm and then store water in the cylinder. This heated water is then passed across a heat exchanger between the hot water heater and the main water lines, allowing heat from the water in the cylinder to warm the main lines, before the water is warmed once more, creating a constant cycle of hot water to maintain the optimum temperature within the water lines.
There are several reasons this is beneficial. First, it ensures that the quality of water in the main line remains as high as possible, removing the possibility of rust or corrosion from old water tanks contaminating a home’s water. Second, it conserves water and energy. Because the water within a thermal store water heater is never depleted, it can be more easily maintained at the optimum temperature without significant expenditures of energy.
There are a couple of different forms that heat exchangers can take with thermal store hot water heaters. One of those is a coil. In this system, mains pressure water passes through a coil of metal inside the hot water heater’s cylinder. The coil is wound a number of times to create a very large surface area.
Some of the heat from the store (maintained at 75 degrees centigrade) is transferred to the water in the coil. In normal operation, the temperature of the water leaving the cylinder is far too high to be sent straight to the taps. Instead, it is mixed with cold water in a blending valve so that the temperature drops below 55 degrees. As a result, the water heater is able to deliver more usable water at 55 degrees than the cylinder actually holds, which offers significant space savings over conventional hot water heater designs.
Both designs reuse the same water over and over again, but the way they do this is different. In a system utilising a coil within the cylinder, the water is static, the only movement coming from expansion. In a plate heat exchanger setup, the water is pumped out the top of the unit and then back in at the bottom. To prevent mixing hot and cold water, a series of baffles is used.
Another deign is to incorporate a plate heat exchanger. In this type of system, the principle is similar to that outlined above, but the water flowing through the exchanger is regulated by a flow switch, a pump and often, a heat sensor.
In both of these designs, water pressure at the taps is dependent on the flow and pressure of the supply lines. So, if the water pressure at the inlet is low, then it will be low at the taps.
In comparison with unvented hot water heaters, thermal store water heaters can offer a number of crucial advantages. These include the following:
EasyFlow will guarantee the work we undertake for you, but not manufacturer parts. Most manufacturers offer a 12-month warranty on parts, and we pass that on to you. Note that some manufacturers do not offer a warranty on new parts fitted to an old water heater.
EasyFlow is a Country and Town Limited Service and we provide thermal store water cylinder repair and service for customers in Manchester, Liverpool and the surrounding areas.
If you need assistance with any hot water heater repairs, to schedule hot water heater maintenance, or to install a new hot water heater, call EasyFlow at 0800 433 4043
Our maintenance plans are designed to ensure our customers enjoy peace of mind, and constant hot water. We keep your hot water flowing while minimising your costs and eliminating stress. Let our experts identify and correct water heater faults, while you enjoy low monthly payments.
Thank you very much for the quick and excellent service
Colin, Liverpool
12th July, 2022
Replacement Valves
Just a word of thanks for the emergency support and repair carried out this week. Once again the work was carried out expertly, without leaving any mess and with great courtesy. Well done and thanks again for the support in our hour of need, much appreciated. Regards
BRH, Manchester
10th January, 2022
No Hot Water
Really appreciated the immediate answer when I phoned on Tuesday, which was a Public Holiday, about a significant leak in our pressurised hot water system. Really appreciated the quick call back to discuss the emergency situation and for the repair carried out by him on Tuesday this week. Once again the work was carried out expertly, without leaving any mess and with great courtesy. An excellent service. Well done and thanks again for the excellent support in our hour of need; much appreciated.
Brian, Styal Road Wilmslow
28th December, 2021
Maintenance Plan
After a few years of struggling to get adequate hot water our landlord finally brought in the right people for the job. Chris our engineer was superb, after a brief chat with myself he diagnosed & repaired the issue in under two hours. Excellent service & very professional. Thanks to you we now have plenty of hot water 24/7.
Chris Sheridan, Manchester
23th March, 2021
Blending Valve Replacement
After having a bad experience with a Company pretending to be local who pretty much ripped me off, I was glad to find Easy Flow were local and the service from start to finish was excellent. Got a call back within ten minutes and was promised someone would be round to review that evening and then complete the job a couple of days later if needed. Chris, who attended texted me to give me an ETA and arrived when promised, masked up and Covid friendly. Really nice guy who told me the problem and was looking at his diary and decided to stay and complete the job then, so stayed on a Friday evening for almost two hours, leaving at 7.30, ensuring the job was done... Could not recommend highly enough...
Terry Garnett , Salford
15th January, 2021
No Hot Water
Very efficient and thorough - thanks again.
Danny Benson, Castlefield
10th August, 2020
Annual Service
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
17th 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
30th March, 2020
Annual Service