Unvented cylinder required

[James Salisbury]

Hi,

Any suggestions where to get a replacement 210 L unvented cylinder? Yes I know that I will have to get a propper plumber in to fit it...

Thanks

[Doctor Drivel]

Get your self a thermal store or heat bank. Don't bother with an unvented cylinder.

[Ed Sirett]

I'm interested to know how such an expensive piece of kit failed. What was the make and model so I can avoid it?

Most are high quality stainless steel pressure vessels.

In a hurry is the difficult aspect here. Even the bigger PM's tend to order such expensive items in to order.

Most can get you one in a day or two.

[Doctor Drivel]

Most are not. Most are glas lined mild steel. There are lots of copper ones around too.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Googl megaflo(w)

Pick a decent stainless one

Target price sub £700.

[The Natural Philosopher]

The one I ordred for a mate (online) took 3 days to be shipped direct.

[James Salisbury]

It is an orginal 210L Tribune from 1991, it looks like it has started to weep somewhere.....

I am looking at either the Stanton Plus 210L, the mega flow, albion or ariston. I think I may go for the Albion, any negative comments?

Thanks

[Doctor Drivel]

Yes. Avoid unvented cylinders. They require an annual service, which costs. No service no insurance claim. They can do this:

can take down the side of a house.

Use a vented thermal store or heat bank. Cannot explode and gives mains pressure hot water. Use an "integrated" store, DHW & CH. The CH can then run off it and prevent inefficient boiler cycling and have TRVs on all rads using a Grundfos Alpha pump. A much better option all around and costs about the same, if less.

[Jim Alexander]

The Megaflow has a baffle system to maintain air volume, the others use a pressure vessel. Presents different maintenance issues. Based on my boiler experience I have little confidence in pressure vessel longevity and will go for a Megaflo when my Tribune Premier fails. That said the TP pressure vessel has not required re-pressurising in over ten years.

Jim A

[Ed Sirett]

They use an external expansion vessel. This is a plus and a minus, plus you don't have to renew the air bubble from time to time, minus is that if it goes wrong you will need to replace it (c. £50).

MegaFlow are the market leaders.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Not really. You can simply pump them up again - mostly.

A LOT of companies call their pressurized cylinders megaflo or megaflow.

So be warned.

[timegoesby]

Only once have I come across an unvented cylinder leaking and I needed to replace it. I replaced it with an Albion Mainsflow. I didn't need to have an unvented ticket to fit it. They are well priced and probably cheaper than an unvented cylinder.

best of luck

[Ed Sirett]

IME mostly not. When then fail it's the diaphragm or some leakage which means that pumping up will only be a temporary fix. Having said that there is no reason why they shouldn't last 20 years.

Indeed so.

[James Salisbury]

How much should I pay, I am near Oxford. The plumber wants £1600 does this sound about right?

[The Natural Philosopher]

Installed perhaps. Bare around £600-800