Call: 01793 569521

Email: info@emergencyplumberswindon.co.uk

Hot Water Cylinder Replacement in Swindon

An old hot water cylinder that leaks, struggles to keep up or loses heat quickly can be costly and frustrating. Replacing it is a bigger job than most plumbing work, so it helps to understand the choices before any work is planned. This page explains what to think about when replacing a hot water cylinder in a Swindon home, from capacity and location to the type of system that suits your property.

Request Plumbing Assistance

Tell us what is happening and where, and we will get back to you about the next step.

The right replacement depends on how your home is heated, your water pressure and how much hot water your household uses.

Signs a Cylinder May Need Replacing

Cylinders are often replaced when the body starts to leak or shows heavy corrosion, which usually cannot be repaired reliably. Others are replaced because they are too small for the household, take too long to reheat, or have thin insulation that lets heat escape.

Changes in the home can also prompt a replacement. A new bathroom, an extra shower or a growing family can all increase the demand for hot water. Changes to the heating system, such as a new boiler or a heat pump, may also need a different type of cylinder. Our guide on how long a hot water cylinder usually lasts explains the warning signs of wear.

Like-for-Like or a Different System?

Replacing a Vented Cylinder

Replacing a vented cylinder with a new vented one is often the simplest option. It keeps the existing cold water cistern in the loft and uses much of the same pipework. Modern vented cylinders usually have factory-fitted foam insulation, which can reduce heat loss compared with older lagged copper cylinders.

Changing to an Unvented Cylinder

Some households consider an unvented cylinder, which runs at mains pressure and can give stronger flow at taps and showers. Whether this is suitable depends on the incoming mains pressure and flow, the size of the supply pipe and where the discharge pipe can be routed.

Unvented cylinders are covered by specific Building Regulations requirements for hot water safety. Installation should be carried out by an appropriately competent person, and the work may need to be certified through a competent person scheme or building control. If you are considering an unvented cylinder, please ask us first so we can confirm whether we can help or whether a specialist installer is needed. Our article on the difference between vented and unvented cylinders explains how each type works.

Choosing the Right Cylinder

Capacity

Cylinder capacity is measured in litres. The right size depends on the number of people in the home, the number of bathrooms and showers, and how hot water is used. A cylinder that is too small runs out quickly, while one that is too large takes longer and costs more to heat.

Location and Space

Most replacement cylinders go in the same airing cupboard as the old one. Space, access for removal, the strength of the floor and room for pipework and valves all need checking, particularly if a larger cylinder is planned.

Heating Method

Cylinders can be heated by a boiler through an internal coil, by an immersion heater, or both. The new cylinder needs to match the way your home’s heating and hot water are controlled.

What Replacement Usually Involves

Replacing a cylinder usually means isolating and draining the old one, disconnecting it from the hot, cold and heating pipework, and removing it. The new cylinder is positioned, connected and filled, then checked for leaks and tested.

Existing pipework may need adapting to suit the new cylinder’s connections. Electrical connections to an immersion heater or controls need a competent electrician, and any work on a gas boiler needs a Gas Safe registered engineer. If your hot water flow is weak because of the cold supply, our water pressure problems page explains how pressure issues are assessed.

If only a valve or connection is faulty, a repair may be enough instead of a full replacement. For advice about cylinder work at your property, our team can offer professional plumbing assistance once we know which type of system you have.

What Affects Cylinder Replacement Costs?

The cost depends on the type and size of the new cylinder, whether it is a like-for-like swap or a change of system, and how much pipework needs altering. Access to the airing cupboard, removing the old cylinder and any electrical, boiler or certification work also affect the overall cost. Old pipework around the cylinder may be worth renewing at the same time, and our pipe repair and replacement page covers that work. Our guide on what affects the cost of replacing a hot water cylinder explains these factors in more detail.

Cylinder Replacement FAQs

Common questions about replacing a hot water cylinder.

How long does cylinder replacement take?

It depends on the type of cylinder, access and how much pipework needs changing. A like-for-like vented swap is usually simpler than changing system.

What is the difference between vented and unvented cylinders?

Vented cylinders are fed from a loft cistern at low pressure. Unvented cylinders are fed from the mains and store hot water under pressure.

What affects cylinder replacement costs?

The cylinder type and size, pipework changes, access, removal of the old cylinder and any electrical, boiler or certification work.

When should an old cylinder be replaced?

When the body leaks or is badly corroded, it cannot meet the household’s hot water needs, or the heating system is changing.

What size cylinder do I need?

It depends on how many people live in the home, the number of bathrooms and showers, and how hot water is used.

Can I switch from a vented to an unvented cylinder?

Sometimes. It depends on mains pressure and flow, space and discharge pipe routing, and must be done by a competent installer.

Talk to Us About Cylinder Replacement

If you are thinking about replacing a hot water cylinder at a property in Swindon, call us on 01793 569521 or send us a message through our contact page. Tell us about your current cylinder and send a photo of its label if you can.

Emergency Plumber Swindon helps homes and businesses in Swindon with burst pipes, leaks and urgent plumbing repairs. Call 01793 569521 to talk through your plumbing problem.