Electric hot water system

I need to make a flat habitable again. However, the place is due for demolition in the next couple of years, so I don't want to spend a fortune. It had GCH, but that is all sludged up, and the boiler is completely shot. Besides that, it has a combined cold water tank/hot water tank in the airing cupboard, and this is also shot.

My preferred solution is to use electric fires for heating, and to heat the water electrically. I would like to run the water direct from the mains, so as to do away with the cold water tank. It's only got to serve the kitchen sink and the bathroom. I'm looking for a hot water heating and storage tank that can run off mains pressure and isn't too expensive. It needs to be big enough to run a bath. There are only two places to put the tank, one is 20" x24" and the other is 16.5" x 39" (both internal measurements).

The alternative might be to heat the water as it is needed, but that will require masses of new wiring and in any case the electricity supply to the flat may not be adequate to heat a reasonable flow of water.

I guess that I need to check the electricity supply into the flat is adequate - is it enough just to check the main fuse on the distribution board?

Reply to
GB
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Sounds like yon need an unvented hot water cylinder with immersion heater(s)

That would be a start. Make a list of an other "big" electrical items already in there as you go.

Reply to
John Rumm

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Reply to
AA

Mains pressure (unvented) cylinders tend to be expensive - would you be able to re-use it in another location after demolition?

Either way, individual radial circuits would be required for a water heater and for fixed space heating.

As you've still got mains gas, could you use an instantaneous gas multipoint - Main Multipoint Balanced Flue comes in about =A3300 which I think compares very favourably with a Megaflo type cylinder. Again if you have a possible use for it elsewhere after demolition that would affect the decision/cost.

Owain

Reply to
Owain

You could use a copper hot water cylinder with a header tank, or a combined fortic tank. In both cases the HW isnt at mains pressure, eliminating legal and safety issues, and making it easy to get hold of the necessary tank/s for peanuts used.

NT

Reply to
NT

Thanks very much for all the suggestions. I can't find an unvented direct tank that will fit into any of the spaces. Besides that, they are all rather expensive, as you say.

That leaves me with two alternatives:

  1. Is a combination cylinder + header tank. That would work, but it's not ideal as the pressure would be quite low. OTOH, as you say, there are no safety issues. Where do I look for a secondhand one of these?

  1. Is an instantaneous electric water heater. That's beginning to look like the simplest and cheapest solution. Do you know if there are any special regulations for fitting these, as there are for Megaflos and the like?

I don't really fancy fitting a Main hot water heater, as I want to be gas-less if at all possible.

Reply to
GB

any plumber / heating engineer / scrap dealer / ebay / a local company could keep the next one for you etc

the issue is the current draw. To fill a bath at sensible speed would take a whole lot of power.

Of course there is this way to do it :)

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I don't really fancy fitting a Main hot water heater, as I want to be

NT

Reply to
NT

That was quick! Thanks.

Yes. I might have to remove the bath and fit a shower.

Thanks to everyone again.

Reply to
GB

Stick the shower over the existing bath and leave the bathtaps as cold only, I thought this was supposed to be a cheap job.

Owain

Reply to
Owain

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