Megaflow v. Santon

[YarisSi]

Hi,

Plumber has asked if I want a Santon 210L or Megaflow 210L cylinder for the loft it will be heated by a gas boiler and solar panel.

What do people recommend? Which is most reliable? Does one have better insulation? Pressure? I read that the main difference is Santon has a seperate pressure tank whereas Megaflow have a internal "bubble" which needs "pumping up" every 9-12 months. Someone has also mentioned Oso cylinders.

So what would you go for and why?

Thank you,

Simon

Just seen Vailant do a simialr product as well as others. The gas boiler will be A Vailant Ecotec if that makes any difference?

Edited by YarisSi on Friday 12th August 15:43

[Grayham]

We have had a Megaflow in for about 5 years now.

Never had a problem with it.

[astroarcadia]

We have had a Santon for about 5 years now.

Never had a problem with it.

HTH

[YarisSi]

Any reasons why you went for a Santon/Megaflow?

From what I can see the Santon or similar with external pressure cylinder is better as you don't have to keep creating air bubbles for the megaflow to be pressurised and they appear cheap to replace.

The other difference seems to be how they balance the hot and cold water.

Do you have to get these unvented cylinders inspected annually? Is this expensive or just done along with the boiler service.

Edited by YarisSi on Friday 12th August 17:25

[dirkgently]

I was quite impresed with the Oso when I looked at there new design, very neat and well thought out.

eta. just add a remeha boiler and job done.

Edited by dirkgently on Friday 12th August 18:37

[GarryA]

Grayham said:

We have had a Megaflow in for about 5 years now.

Never had a problem with it.

Same here,

[YarisSi]

GarryA said:

Same here,

Have you had to get the bubble "reinstated" by bleeding the cylinder or however the do it?

Do you have to get it safety checked each year?

Do you think the Megaflow is worth the extra £380?

[YarisSi]

dirkgently said:

I was quite impresed with the Oso when I looked at there new design, very neat and well thought out.

eta. just add a remeha boiler and job done.

Edited by dirkgently on Friday 12th August 18:37

I mentioned something about those boilers but they had not heard of them and suggested WB or Vaillant as being the best of the common boilers.

Are there any problems with the Ecotec Plus 618?

[dirkgently]

I would mention Remeha again, unles you want to pay over the odds for an inferior product (imo of course).

[Arthur Jackson]

We fit Remeha boilers and Main cylinders. Lovely bit of kit, the Main cylinder at a sensible price that doesn't include paying for the Megaflo name. (A name which has been sold on since they were good anyway.) I'm not sure I'd ever spec one up in the loft. The discharge pipework can get a bit awkward and the weight of a 210 litre on a 600mm footprint might worry the architect. Not being able to see the tundish is a slight issue, too.

Edit:
Ah, I just re-read. I'm not sure Main do a Solar cylinder yet.

Edited by Arthur Jackson on Friday 12th August 19:38

[Arthur Jackson]

YarisSi said:

I mentioned something about those boilers but they had not heard of them

I think this says something about the tradesman...

[anonymous-user]

YarisSi said:

Have you had to get the bubble "reinstated" by bleeding the cylinder or however the do it?

You don't need to get someone to do it, after 5 years I've finally learned how to do it as a few plumbers i called hadn't a clue.

It's a bit of a pain but you basically switch off the mains cold water supply, open the lowest hot tap completely to drain all water, then, whilst leaving the lowest hot tap open hold the pressure release valve open on the megaflo cylinder until the gurgling sounds stop (i.e. all pressurised air and water is out), took me about 15-20 minutes. Then let go of pressure release valve and it'll self close, turn mains cold water on (it'll spurt and splutter from the hot taps once it runs through), then when hot tap runs as normal just turn off and let it heat back up when the timer is next set to come on.

If you don't do it the megaflo can be problematic, mine used to leak/drip from the pressure overflow valve (tundish) into the overflow pipe, which runs to the outside - if this happens in winter the water dripping outisde will freeze, the frozen pipe will back right up, and the water has nowehere to go except overflow into the cupboard or wherever the cylinder is located.

Its a great system IMO, we get enough pressure to run a couple of power showers simultaneously and even having washing machine on or running hot taps etc doesn't affect hot water supply to them, we rarely run out of hot water.

P.S. I have no plumbing experience per se, but have learned through the system malfunctioning, leaks, collapsed ceilings on Christmas day, plumbers scratching heads etc how the system works, and that as long as you keep an eye on it, it's pretty damn good!

[condor]

GarryA said:

Grayham said:

We have had a Megaflow in for about 5 years now.

Never had a problem with it.

Same here,

I've had a Megaflow for a similar 5 years and always seem to have a problem with it. Cost of plumber to restore the bubble varies between £25-50 a visit for a few minutes work - I try and find out how they do it by watching them, and have even asked them but they don't want to particularly share their knowledgs.
It leaks out of the bottom external overflow, due to this bubble problem. In the winter this 'leak' freezes and backs up the water so I have to spend ages trying to defrost the ice to get it flowing again.
When it gets really bad it deposits the water over the floor.
It's housed in an airing cupboard - but as there is no heat it's not an airing cupboard in the true sense of the word.

It's only benefit was to deliver hot water at mains pressure meaning you could have a shower without a pump - however, depending on the size of the tank, the hot water is limited.

It was a bad decision when I bought my Megaflow, I certainly wouldn't buy one again.

[anonymous-user]

condor said:

I've had a Megaflow for a similar 5 years and always seem to have a problem with it. Cost of plumber to restore the bubble varies between £25-50 a visit for a few minutes work - I try and find out how they do it by watching them, and have even asked them but they don't want to particularly share their knowledgs.
It leaks out of the bottom external overflow, due to this bubble problem. In the winter this 'leak' freezes and backs up the water so I have to spend ages trying to defrost the ice to get it flowing again.
When it gets really bad it deposits the water over the floor.
It's housed in an airing cupboard - but as there is no heat it's not an airing cupboard in the true sense of the word.

hehe, see my post above!

[Arthur Jackson]

Er....
ALL the safety devices should be checked annually. The air-bubble issue is only an issue on the Megaflo now, I think, everyone else uses a pressure vessel.


It's worth bearing in mind that compared to an unvented cylinder the explosion available from a gas boiler is fk all.....

[Arthur Jackson]

condor said:

It was a bad decision when I bought my Megaflow, I certainly wouldn't buy one again.

Simply tee a pressure vessel in between the PRV and the cylinder inlet. Job done.

[condor]

yellowbentines said:

hehe, see my post above!

same time that we both posted - cheers for that, will try it

[dirkgently]

To be fair to Megaflo, the instructions for restoring the bubble are written on the side of the cylinder.

[anonymous-user]

dirkgently said:

To be fair to Megaflo, the instructions for restoring the bubble are written on the side of the cylinder.

Assuming an unscrupulous fitter hasn't removed them so the customer phones them to do it...

[condor]

dirkgently said:

To be fair to Megaflo, the instructions for restoring the bubble are written on the side of the cylinder.

I will look tomorrow morning when it's daylight and report back - but I've never seen any instructions on restoring the bubble previously.