Tips to Help You Maximise the Lifespan of Your Unvented Cylinder

Purchasing an unvented cylinder is an excellent choice. It ensures you have mains pressure hot water at all your taps, even those located higher up in the home. It also gives you a great deal more flexibility when it comes to installation location than what’s possible with an old-style vented cylinder. However, you’ll need to properly maintain that cylinder if you want it to last as long as possible. Below, you’ll find important tips to help maximise your cylinder’s lifespan.

Have a Qualified Engineer Perform an Annual Check

This is the single most important tip we can provide. Make sure you have your unvented cylinder professionally inspected by a qualified engineer every year. In most cases, your home’s insurer will require this. Your cylinder’s manufacturer may also require this to maintain your warranty.

Don’t have a professional in mind? Get in touch with the team at EasyFlow. We offer annual maintenance plans to fit any need and ensure that you’re in good standing with the cylinder manufacturer and your insurer. Plus, our engineers are all qualified to install, service, and maintain unvented cylinders within the UK.

Flush and Fill

Once per year, you should flush the cylinder and then refill it. This is particularly important for those who live in areas with hard water, but all water contains particulates that will settle to the bottom of the cylinder and eventually compromise performance.

By flushing the cylinder, you minimise particulate build-up and ensure that the cylinder stays in good working order for longer. Note that if you’re not a qualified engineer, you should not flush/fill your cylinder.

Inspect the Cylinder

An important part of being a proactive homeowner is regularly inspecting the exterior of the cylinder. This should include the following areas:

• Temperature and pressure (T&P) relief valve

• The tundish and surrounding areas

• The pressure on the expansion vessel

A quick visual inspection will help you spot potential problems, such as leaks so that you can call a qualified engineer to repair the issue.

Insulate Your Cylinder

The most common issue with unvented cylinders is the failure of the heating element(s) as the unit ages. The more frequently the heating elements turn on and off, the more wear and tear they sustain. Eventually, they will fail.

To help prolong their life, you can insulate your cylinder and the pipes leading out from it to your taps. Insulation helps maintain a stable temperature within the cylinder by preventing heat loss to the surrounding environment. The more you can maintain a stable temperature, the less often the heaters will turn on and off, thereby extending their lifespans.

In Conclusion

When properly maintained and serviced, your unvented cylinder can last for many years to come. You can enjoy a constant, reliable flow of hot water, whether you’re washing up after a meal, bathing, or doing something else. However, your unvented cylinder does require regular maintenance and a qualified engineer must be the one to perform it. The EasyFlow team simplifies your maintenance with our annual plans. Get in touch for more information.