When looking for a water cylinder, deciding which one to buy can take time and effort. There are many types of cylinders, and you need to know what heating system is best for your home. This blog post will give you essential tips for choosing the right hot water cylinder for your home.
Here are the things you need to consider when choosing a water cylinder:
Tank capacity:
Tank size is the first thing you’ll want to consider when choosing a cylinder. Tank capacity refers to how much hot water the cylinder can hold, and it is an important factor in determining whether it will meet your family’s needs.
Tank capacity is measured in litres and should be at least 50% of the total hot water needed for the household.
Types of tank:
There are several types of cylinders, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a look at the three most common kinds:
- Direct Expansion (DX):
- Instantaneous (IN):
- Indirect Heat Exchanger (IHX):
So before you buy one, it’s important to know all the types and which best suit your home needs.
Insulation:
Insulation is the material that surrounds the water tank and protects it from heat loss. This feature aims to increase energy efficiency by reducing the amount of heat lost through the cylinder, which means you will require less fuel to heat your hot water. Therefore, insulation is an important thing to consider when it comes to choosing a cylinder.
Size of your property:
It is important to consider the size of your home carefully and how many people will use the water cylinder at any time. The total number of people living in your home, including visitors and guests, should be considered when determining the required size of your hot water system.
The size of each bathroom should also be considered, as it determines how much you can produce hot water at any given time. In addition, if you have an outdoor swimming pool or spa, these must be considered when assessing which type and size of the cylinder best suit your needs.
A washing machine is another appliance that uses up a lot of hot water, so if you have more than one appliance running simultaneously, then it may be worthwhile considering installing two smaller sized tanks rather than one large tank so that there are enough resources available for all appliances in need at once
Water pressure:
It is important to ensure that you have enough water pressure before buying a cylinder. The recommended minimum pressure is 1 bar, but if you have a large family or plan on using the cylinder for more than just washing, it may be worth considering one with higher pressure.
A high-pressure hot water cylinder will heat up faster and allow more showers. However, if your existing plumbing cannot support this pressure level (e.g., due to old pipes), it could cause damage to the valve/heating element.
Reliability and Warranty
Another important consideration is the warranty. A good warranty indicates that the manufacturer stands behind its product, always reassuring you have any issues.
It’s also worth looking into what exactly is covered by the warranty—the heating element or the entire cylinder. If it’s just for a single component, this could indicate poor build quality or inferior materials used.
A good cylinder for hot water should come with a 10-15 year warranty that covers everything inside, including valves and heat exchangers; some even provide lifetime coverage on their main components!
Installation Cost:
The installation cost of a water cylinder can vary greatly between different products, so it’s important to consider it when choosing the right hot cylinder. It is also worth comparing the installation costs of different products as they can differ significantly.
The best way to get an idea of how much you’ll be paying for installation is by looking at the price of the actual water cylinder itself. It will give you a rough estimate of how much someone else will cost to install your chosen product in your home or business.
Conclusion
In the end line, it’s important to remember that hot water cylinders are a vital part of any home or business, and someone with the right skills and experience should install them. You need to consider tank capacity, types of tanks, insulation and water pressure before deciding on a hot water cylinder. The size of your property is also an important factor to consider.
