Unvented cylinder cost

[miniman]

Had a plumber in today to fit a shower and whilst doing so we discovered the unvented hot water cylinder is dead (and there's no debate, it's properly dead).

Quote to replace is £4k which involves 2-coil tank, draining and refilling solar panel and various other bits.

Thoughts?

[Regbuser]

Capacity of the tank ?

Not many mfrs do a solar coil unit, so that will exclude the cheapest.

[miniman]

200L

Cylinder is £900. Total parts quoted at £2400 which seems like a lot of other bits to me but I'm stuck without any hot water.

[PhilboSE]

My plumbers imploded a solar thermal HWC on mine when they drained the system without opening a tap to let air in (thread on here about 5 years ago).

We compromised (because of course some how this was my fault) that I would pay for the parts to replace and he would do his own labour at no cost.

I paid just under £1000 for the Vaillant tank (big unit too) and all the bits.

Can’t really see where your guy is getting £1600 in additional parts…an expansion tank, a PRV, a few isolators and a bit of 22mm pipe even if you’re going all new. The glycol to refill the solar thermal system isn’t that expensive.

[finlo]

Expansion vessel and inlet set, PRV etc should come with the new cylinder.

Edited by finlo on Friday 4th July 15:56

[miniman]

They also identified a bunch of remedial work to the solar system and the PRV drain gubbins which, given that I know who installed it all, is highly plausible.

We have negotiated a (relatively) agreeable price given I have two annoyed women facing a fortnight of cold showers to deal with

[B'stard Child]

When you say dead - properly dead how?

It’s a cylinder filled with water - has cold mains in and heated water leaves it when you run a tap - if the solar doesn’t work presumably there is an immersion back up or a boiler facility to heat an internal coil

Unless it has a massive leak or has been drained down without venting and it’s imploded I’m struggling to think how it could be properly dead

[miniman]

[119]

miniman said:

Nah thats fine for now.

Just dont fill it to the top.

[B'stard Child]

miniman said:

Hmm been leaking for a while??

However what is the inner tank like - the insulation looks dry?

[Arrivalist]

T’is nothing but a flesh wound

[miniman]

B'stard Child said:

miniman said:

Hmm been leaking for a while??

However what is the inner tank like - the insulation looks dry?

Plumber was not prepared to reconnect and refill it (the top gave way when cutting the outlet pipe to hook up a connection to new shower).

[119]

miniman said:

B'stard Child said:

miniman said:

Hmm been leaking for a while??

However what is the inner tank like - the insulation looks dry?

Plumber was not prepared to reconnect and refill it (the top gave way when cutting the outlet pipe to hook up a connection to new shower).

And that is the right decision.

Listen to what your plumber tells you.

[Regbuser]

Arrivalist said:

T is nothing but a flesh wound

[skyebear]

I paid £1200 supply and install for a 120L unvented cylinder with twin heating elements in November 2024.

At a previous house I paid £1100 for the same thing in 2021.

[Regbuser]

Perhaps the solar juice is an extra special grade, at £200 per litre..