Cylinders
A cylinder stores hot water ready for use. A DIRECT cylinder heats the water using the electrical elements within the cylinder itself, whereas an INDIRECT cylinder stores water heated by another heat source (most commonly, a gas boiler). Read this article in the Advice Centre or Travel to this page to get a feel for their differences. Usually, these cylinders are fed directly from the mains, and so run at mains pressure, and can therefore be sited anywhere in the house. They range in size from 60 litres up to over 600 litres – much above that and you will need a commercial-grade cylinder. Browse our range of Indirect and Direct cylinders here.
Instantaneous Water Heaters
Also called ‘Tankless’ water heaters (particularly in the USA), these are small units which store no water, but heat it at the moment you turn on the hot tap. They are therefore both very compact, and efficient to run, since you only heat the water you need. They sound ideal, and in many situations, they are exactly that, but there are several factors to consider before deciding one is right for you. Have a browse through this article and this one to check how it fits in your particular situation. Browse our Instantaneous Water Heater range here.
On-Wall Water Heaters
Ranging from a small 5-litre unit which sits under a basin, to a 100-litre wall-hung water heater which could service a small apartment, there is a very wide range of these types of heaters available to suit everyone’s pocket. Check out Ariston Water Heaters here. Running at mains pressure, they will usually also require an expansion vessel (supplied with every heater of 30 litres or more, and available as an option on all smaller heaters) to cope with the water expansion during operation heating. This will be the case unless they are described as a ‘vented’ water heater – read about the difference in this article. https://electricaldealsdirect.co.uk/advicecentre/do-i-need-a-vented-tap-with-my-vented-water-heater.html
Electric
Boilers heat water for hot water and/or central heating and are either powered by gas or electricity. Electric central heating boilers can be very compact and are also called ‘Flow’ boilers, as they heat the water as the water flows through them. In this category, you will also find 'Combi boilers' which cater for both the hot water and the central heating and although gas combi boilers do not store any water, most (but not all) Electric combi boilers.
Should you need to talk any aspect of your requirement through, we are always happy to discuss your needs and make a recommendation: just call one of our experts on 01934 253600.
Not sure which one you need? Our "Help Me Choose My" section takes you from "What is a water heater?" through to comparing two models side by side.
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