ALS Plumbing and Heating Services

Plumber in Haywards Heath: Other Systems

As mentioned combination boilers have limitations, leading to the employment of other systems. These systems could be a sealed systems boiler or a regular .

System Boiler: Plumber in Horsham

A System boiler utilises a sealed, pressurised heating circuit, doing away with the need for a feed and expansion tank. The excess pressure during heating is accommodated via an expansion vessel located within the boiler. The boiler is sized according to heating and hot water requirements. The benefits of this boiler include space saving in the loft, reduced risk of frost damage and reduced corrosion of heating system. In large properties an extra expansion vessel may need to be added due to the large water content of the system. When replacing a regular boiler with a system boiler, the job is referred to as a boiler conversion. The feed and expansion cistern is removed, the pump is removed(boiler has internal pump), plus the vent and gravity cold feed pipes are disconnected. Also a mains supply is run, usually near to the boiler, for the filling of the heating circuit via a filling loop.

Regular Boiler: Plumbing West Sussex

Regular boilers are vented boilers, where the heating circuit is fed via a feed and expansion cistern. The expansion of the heated water circuit is accommodated by a vent pipe leading back to the system. Like system boilers, sizing is based on calculations made for the heating requirements of the property. Regular boilers are being replaced in the domestic market by system and combination boilers, though there is still a place for them. On large properties they are preferred as they are more economical and cope better with large water content systems than system boilers. Regular boilers and there installations are more prone to break downs as there is more elements of the system to contend with.

Regular boilers are the cheapest option to install if replacing an existing regular boiler, but beware, most installations have gone years with out modernisation, leading to alterations. This makes installing system boilers and combination boilers a more piratical option, as with their installations, the system is already being altered.

Unvented cylinder v Vented cylinder with pump

Vented clingers by themselves can deal adequately with traditional bathrooms, but with customer demand for power/specialised showers, modern taps and efficient multi use systems increasing, other options for hot water supply have to be considered. An unvented cylinder is a pressurised cylinder that can heat stored mains water, thus when installed correctly can give mains pressure hot water at very high flow rates. Due to this storage facility, multiple draw-offs can be used simultaneously. Unvented cylinders can be potentially dangerous and come with 3 safety features, they can only be installed by a LICENSED ENGINEER and need an annual service by law. Unvented cylinders are not suitable for all properties as decent mains static and working pressure, along with high flow rates are required.

Pumps are connected to stored hot and cold supplies, so are ideal for properties with low mains pressure and flow rates. The pump choice and size depend upon the layout and requirement of properties, eg positive or negative head, type of shower etc. A disadvantage of pumps is noise, which increases with the out put power of a pump, eg a 1.5bar rated pump is quieter than a 4bar rated pump. For the larger properties, 5 bedrooms and 2 bathroom , the installation of separate super boosters for hot and cold supplies would prove the best choice.

Which system is better is not a straight forward answer, it depends on the set up of your property, the performance of supplies and what demands will be placed on those supplies. Consultation with a fully qualified engineer must be sought.

For further information regarding your needs and options please contact ALS PLUMBING AND HEATING on the numbers provided. Covering Horsham, Haywards Heath, Brighton and West Sussex.