Unvented Cylinder

If you are not sure what cylinder you have fitted, then there are some facts below to help you to identify the cylinder in your loft. Firstly the cylinder is usually out of copper and can have a fibreglass cover or sometimes a foam insulation. On the top of the cylinder is a pipe that stands out and then immediately turns to the side in a horizontal plane. Then it rises in a gentle fashion. South Bank Plumbers are trained on all types of cylinders and can service this them. Then, the pipe then divides into a T shape with one side going upwards and the other going downwards. Follow the pipe upwards you will soon arrive at a cold-water storage tank, with this vent pipe finishing over the top of it. It is designed so that if water fills the pipe it will pour out and into the cold-water storage tank. Finding this pipe means you have a vented hot water cylinder.
If you didn’t, the odds are you have an unvented cylinder, which will have the following general characteristics:


1). It’s outer skin is usually made from thin steel and you cannot see the insulation. A South Bank Plumber can tell the difference.

2). It has a series of valves attached to it, or to the expansion vessel.

3). There is a tundish nearby, or a gap in the pipe which allows you to see the water running through it. The gap is there in order to indicate that there is a problem with the boiler, so if you see water in the pipe, this probably due to a device failure so you need to contact a professional with the relevant G3 qualifications to check the cylinder.

4). It’s either has a flat top or there’s an expansion vessel close by.