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Hot water is just as important as heating when it comes to relaxing in comfort in your home. If your hot water system fails it can be a major inconvenience to day to day life. At Oakhill Plumbing and Heating not only do we diagnose and repair faults on hot water systems, we also offer replacements and upgrades to ensure you have a hot water system you can rely on. The most common types of hot water systems are gravity fed systems and pressurised systems.
Gravity fed systems require a large storage cistern tank in the loft area. This tank is filled using the mains water via a float valve. Water is then supplied from this tank to the cold outlets in the bathrooms and is also used to fill the hot water cylinder using gravity. This type of system contains a vital component called a ‘vent pipe’. This allows the water in the tank to expand and contract as the water heats and cools. It is also a safety device that allows water to discharge into the storage tank in the event of an overheating issue. Gravity systems often suffer from low water pressure at tap and shower outlets. This can be rectified by the installation of a shower pump, retro fitted to the system, and will allow the client a much wider choice of options when it comes to replacement shower units and taps designed to work with high pressure systems.
Pressurised systems are becoming a popular choice in the domestic sector. Pressurised systems come with a variety of benefits including mains pressure at hot outlets, no need for water storage tanks in the loft area, no need for shower pumps. Pressurised cylinders also utilise a larger diameter heating coil aiding quicker heat up times and are manufactured to a much higher level of efficiency resulting in quicker heat recovery times than a standard gravity fed cylinder. Things to consider when thinking about converting your system to a pressurised one are correct tank sizing for your requirements, location and most importantly safety In order to install pressurised hot water systems the installer must hold the relevant qualifications. Oakhill Plumbing and Heatings engineers are fully qualified and well experienced in the installation of pressurised systems so please don't hesitate to get in contact if you have any questions relating to a pressurised system conversion or you require a free no obligation quote.
Both pressurised and gravity fed hot water systems are heated via one or multiple internal coils connected to a boiler or alternate heat source such as solar, wood burning fires, air or ground source heat pumps. These are known as ‘indirect cylinders’. Alternatively ‘Direct cylinders’ are heated via an electrical immersion. Immersions are also a common feature on ‘indirect cylinders’ and are used as a backup in the event of a boiler breakdown.
Oakhill Plumbing and Heating can also offer the installation of above and below sink water heaters in the event a full cylinder install is not required. Water heaters are commonly installed in office spaces or kitchenettes where the requirement for hot water is minimal, for instance a wash hand basin. As above our installers hold the relevant qualification to install these appliances so please get in contact to discuss all your hot water requirements.