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Unvented Water Cylinder Engineers
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Troubleshooting “No Hot Water” in Unvented Cylinders: Step-by-Step Checks Before Calling an Engineer 30 Dec 2025 Waking up to no hot water is frustrating, especially when your unvented cylinder has always been reliable. The good news is that many “no hot water” problems have simple explanations, and there are a few safe checks you can make before calling an engineer. This guide focuses on unvented hot water cylinders commonly installed across the UK, such as Megaflo, Range Tribune, Heatrae Sadia, Telford, and others. The steps below will help you diagnose the likely cause and decide whether a professional visit is necessary. 1. Check Whether Your Immersion Heater Is Actually Powered It sounds obvious, but it’s the… Read more
Thermal Store Systems vs Unvented Cylinders Which Is More Efficient in 2026 23 Dec 2025 Considering an upgrade to your hot water system? Maybe you’re just reviewing energy efficiency. In either case, you’ve probably wondered whether a thermal store system or an unvented cylinder is better for your home. Both have their own pros and cons, but understanding how they work and how they affect running costs is central to making the right decision in 2026. What Is a Thermal Store System? A thermal store is really just a large insulated cylinder that stores heat rather than hot water directly. Unlike unvented cylinders, which hold ready-to-use hot water, thermal stores contain “primary” water. Hot water… Read more
Is It Cheaper to Leave Your Hot Water On? Updated 2025 Analysis for UK Households 16 Dec 2025 One of the oldest questions when it comes to managing energy in a home is whether it’s cheaper to leave your hot water on all the time or switch it off when not in use. With rising electricity prices and smart tariff options, the answer isn’t always obvious. The best thing to do is learn more about cylinder insulation, timers, standing losses, and peak versus off-peak tariffs, so you can make the most cost-effective choice for your home. How Hot Water Cylinders Lose Heat All hot water cylinders lose a small amount of heat over time. This is called “standing… Read more
How the Boost Button Really Works on Unvented Water Heaters (And When You Should Use It) 9 Dec 2025 If you have an unvented hot water cylinder or thermal store, you’ve probably noticed the boost button on the controller. For many households, it’s the most misunderstood feature on the system. Some people use it daily, others never touch it, and plenty don’t actually know what it does. When used the right way, boost can be very convenient. However, using it incorrectly can increase your energy bills and shorten the lifespan of your immersion heater. This guide explains how boost works, when you should (and shouldn’t) use it, and how it interacts with your timer or programmer. What the Boost… Read more
Combination Valves on Unvented Cylinders: What They Do and How to Spot Problems Early 2 Dec 2025 If you have an unvented hot water cylinder in your home, the combination valve is one of the most important components. Despite being relatively small, this single assembly performs several critical jobs: regulating incoming mains pressure, preventing backflow, and protecting the system from dangerous over-pressure. When it isn’t functioning correctly, you might expect anything from low flow rates to high energy bills. In some cases, you may have a complete loss of hot water. Understanding how combination valves work and recognising early signs of problems can help. What a Combination Valve Actually Does A combination valve is a multi-function unit… Read more
Why a Combination Valve Failure Might Cost You More Than Just Hot Water 29 Oct 2025 When you turn on the tap, you expect hot water to flow. That ability depends on several components in your unvented cylinder, and one of the most important is the combination valve. This small but important part regulates incoming water pressure, prevents backflow into the mains, and protects your system from dangerous overpressure. If it fails, you might first notice it because there’s no hot water. However, the hidden consequences can run much deeper (and can be much more expensive) than having to take a cold shower. How a Combination Valve Works (and Why It Matters) A combination valve typically… Read more
Smart Maintenance: How a Simple Tundish Check Can Prevent Major Expenses 23 Oct 2025 Your unvented hot water cylinder has several safety features. One of the most visible (but least understood by UK homeowners) is the tundish. This small fitting sits in the discharge pipework between the cylinder’s safety valves and the drain. Its job? To give you a clear view of whether water is escaping from the system. It’s a low-tech part, but its job is pretty important. Checking it regularly could save you hundreds, if not thousands, in repair bills. Why the Tundish Matters Normally, your tundish should be dry. It only carries water if a pressure relief valve or temperature relief… Read more
Smart Controls & IoT for Hot Water: Save Energy, Avoid Cold Showers 15 Oct 2025 Heating your hot water shouldn’t be guesswork. However, in many homes, the hot water cylinder runs on a fixed timer, heating the same amount every day, whether you need it or not. That equals wasted energy and higher bills or, worse, running out of hot water when you need it most. Modern smart controls and IoT (Internet of Things) technology can help you avoid that fate. They give you control over your hot water supply, improve efficiency, cut waste, and make cold showers a thing of the past. How Smart Hot Water Controls Work Smart controls replace or integrate with… Read more
Signs Your Hot Water Cylinder is Working Too Hard (and Wasting Your Money) 7 Oct 2025 Your unvented hot water cylinder is designed to deliver hot water reliably and efficiently. But like any system, it has limits. When it’s overworked, there could be subtle (or not-so-subtle) signs that it’s struggling. Not acting now can push up energy bills, shorten the lifespan of your cylinder, and even leave you without hot water when you need it most. Here’s how to spot an overworked system and what you can do about it. 1. Hot Water Cylinder Running Constantly If your cylinder seems to be heating all the time, even when you’re not using much hot water, it’s a… Read more
How Hard Water Silently Damages Your Unvented Cylinder (and What to Do About It) 30 Sep 2025 If you live in a hard water area (which is much of the UK), you already know about kettle scale and cloudy glassware. However, what you might not realise is that the same mineral build-up is quietly forming inside your hot water system, and fixing that is far more expensive than replacing a kettle. Your unvented cylinder is designed for reliability and efficiency, but limescale will slowly and silently destroy it. Over time, lime deposits reduce performance, waste energy, and could even leave you facing a “no hot water” emergency. Why Hard Water Is a Problem Hard water is rich… Read more Categories
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