Re: [OT] Thermal Stores for hot water/heating

[Mal Lansell <mal@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've never priced them up, but I'd imagine they would cost more - just
because of the lower volume of sales.  Unvented tanks will cost more due
to all the extra plumbing / pressure relief etc.  And then I guess
you'll need a heating engineer with above average knowledge, so they
might cost a bit more too.

That aside, from a practical standpoint I think they are far superior to
a standard hw tank or combi system.  I believe they are well suited to
other sources of heat too, such as solar, and you can also still have an
imersion heater for backup - something sorely lacking in a combi.

Mal


Paul Gale wrote:

>Are they not quite expensive though?
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>Paul.
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>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf
>>Of Mal Lansell
>>Sent: 29 May 2007 23:33
>>To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
>>Subject: Re: [ukha_d] [OT] Thermal Stores for hot water/heating
>>
>>They're not very common, so I guess most plumbers won't know too
much
>>about them.
>>I had a flat once that had a thermal store - it worked great.  You
get
>>mains pressure hot water without the crap performance and constant
>>cycling every time you turn the tap on.
>>
>>You can get vented thermal stores - there's no need for them to be
>>sealed and pressurized (except to earn the heaitng trade their
annual
>>maintenance fee, as you mention).  The vented ones don't need
building
>>control approval either.
>>
>>The calcification issue sounds like B.S to me.  The water flowing
>>through the boiler is not being constantly refreshed - it's no more
>>likely to calcify than in a regular hot water tank system, and you
can
>>add all the inhibitors etc you want.
>>
>>Mal
>>
>>
>>Jonathan Shaw wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>I read a lot about hot water cylinders before talking to
plumbers and
>>>decided that with underfloor heating + radiators & a
condensing
>>>boiler that a thermal store was the best option as theory is
that
>>>even when heating the house (rather than water) the themal mass
of
>>>the heatstore gives the boiler something to work on and
>>>prevents/reduces boiler cycling/ inefficiency associated with
>>>condensing boilers and zoned heating whre only one room may be
>>>calling for heat.
>>>
>>>None of the (getting on for 10) plumbers I have spoken to think
this
>>>is a good idea. All generally vague reasons that seem to centre
>>>on "I fit what I know" rather than listening to
customer; oh and the
>>>annual service for the pressure relief valves needed for
unvented
>>>cylinders, nice litle earner. One suggested in hardwater areas
the
>>>heat exchanger would calcify, but Googling doesn't seem to back
this
>>>up. Naturally eh suppliers (Chelmerheating, Nu-heat, Gledhill)
all
>>>deny this is a problem.
>>>
>>>Are there any heating engineers on the list that can offer
advice?
>>>Or anyone with a thermal store in a hardwater area?
>>>
>>>TIA
>>>Jon
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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