Vented vs unvented, which is right for you?
Vented (open-vent) cylinders rely on a cold water tank in the loft for pressure. Cheap and simple, but pressure upstairs is always weak. Unvented cylinders run directly off the mains, pressure is the same at every tap on every floor. Unvented is the right answer for nearly every modern home with reasonable incoming mains pressure (2+ bar). Where mains is poor, we'll quote a thermal store or a mains booster pump as the honest alternative.
Sizing, the number that actually matters
Under-sizing is the single most common cylinder mistake. Rule of thumb: 1 bath = ~100L of hot, 1 shower = ~50L, two-bath house = 200–250L minimum, three-bath family = 250–300L. We size for peak simultaneous draw, not for 'one tap at a time'. Going one size up costs ~£150 in cylinder cost and saves a decade of cold-shower complaints.
Why unvented MUST be G3
Unvented cylinders are pressurised vessels. Building Regulations Part G3 makes it illegal to install one without a G3 qualification, and home insurers void claims on unrecorded installs. We're G3 certified, every install is registered with the local authority where required, and you get the certificate in your hand on the day.
Annual servicing of unvented cylinders
G3 servicing is a separate annual check from your boiler service. It covers expansion vessel charge pressure test, PRV (pressure relief valve) test, T&P (temperature & pressure) valve test, immersion check, anode inspection on older units, and a flow/temperature performance test. Most cylinder failures are preventable with this annual check. Available standalone or bundled with your boiler service contract.
Brands we install
Heatrae Sadia Megaflo (industry standard, widest range, 25-year warranty), Telford Tempest (best stainless build, strong on bespoke sizes), Gledhill Stainlesslite (good value, solid 25-year). We don't fit budget no-brand cylinders, the saving is real on day one and gone within 5 years.