Domestic Hot Water Tanks, Cylinders and Storage Vessels - Tanks and Cylinders

Terminology

to the Hot water cylinders - sizes and prices

We often hear people refer to....

• The Hot Water Tank

• The Immersion Heater

• The Hot Water Boiler

.... when in fact they are actually talking about the Hot Water Cylinder.

Water storage vessels are of course available in many shapes and sizes, but it is common these days to find them cylindrical in shape and almost always made of copper.

At least one immersion heater is often incorporated in a hot water cylinder or tank. An immersion heater is an electric element which is immersed in the water contained within a tank or cylinder. A vessel storing hot water may be heated electrically (the direct type) by an immersion heater or the immersion heater may be used as a booster in a boiler heated type (Indirect). The vessel, tank or cylinder should not be referred to as an immersion heater.

Whilst it is the function of the tank or cylinder to store hot water, it is not nor should it be referred to as 'the boiler'.

Insulation

To avoid wasting energy and to comply with Building Regulations, hot water storage vessels should be insulated.

Insulation helps the contents of the vessel stay hot for longer by reducing loss and comes in several forms. Common types of insulation include:

• Sprayed-on polyurethane foam

• Insulating Jacket

Depending on its composition, a jacket can sometimes offer better insulation than sprayed-on foam. The better your insulating jacket the longer your water will remain hot. This saves energy and reduces the cost of maintaining a tank full of hot water.

In years gone by it was possible to purchase a bare cylinder (one without insulation). This now contravenes regulations. All new cylinders will be supplied insulated.

Specifying the size of a replacement Hot Water Tank or Cylinder

Remember when you are specifying the size of a replacement not to include the insulation in your measurements. The industry see insulation as an addition and therefore only refer to the size of the bare cylinder or tank in specifications. Remember to check the thickness of the insulation when ordering as this must be added to the over all dimension of the cylinder or tank. For example:

Failure to observe this advice may result in you ordering a cylinder that simply won't fit through an airing cupboard doorway for example.

So remember

If you order a cylinder with dimensions of 1050 x 450 you will receive an insulated cylinder measuring 1080 x 510

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