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Commercial Hot Water Cylinder

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Commercial Boilers, Heating & Hot Water

Commercial Hot Water Cylinder

A commercial hot water cylinder is essential in providing your business with a continuous supply of hot water. Investing in a high-quality cylinder and proper maintenance ensures operations run smoothly and you comply with UK regulations.

Are you looking for commercial hot water cylinder installation, maintenance, or repair services? Call Robinsons Facilities Services today at 01423 226578.

Our accredited heating engineers can advise you on the best heating system for your commercial premises. We offer professional installation, maintenance and hot water cylinder replacement services across Yorkshire.

What are Commercial Cylinders?

Commercial hot water cylinders, ranks, or calorifers facilitate a large-scale flow of hot water and fast flow rates. As such, they are common in hotels, hospitals, sports and leisure centres, office buildings, and schools that require large amounts of hot water quickly.

Commercial cylinders come in a range of options to best suit your commercial needs.

Our accredited heating engineers can install, service, and repair all types of commercial cylinders. 

Get in touch for more information about our full range of commercial hot water services.

Types of Hot Water Cylinders 

There are two types of hot water cylinders: direct and indirect.

Direct vs Indirect Cylinders

  • Direct cylinders – an immersion heater inside the cylinder heats the water. You may need multiple heaters or heating elements inside to reach the temperature required for commercial settings.
  • Indirect cylinders – the water is heated by a boiler or other source, and that hot water is fed into the cylinder by a pipe. Consider it storage for your hot water. For instance, this can come from your main boiler or a solar thermal system.

Open Vented vs Unvented Cylinders

Are you unsure whether to choose an open-vented or unvented cylinder? Here’s a breakdown of how each cylinder works.

  • Open-vented cylinders (“cold-water storage fed” cylinders) – work with a gravity-fed system and reply on the natural circulation of water. They’re best suited for commercial properties with lower water pressure and a gravity-fed system already fitted.
  • Unvented cylinders – pressurised systems that don’t require a cold water storage tank, as they are connected to the mains water supply. They provide higher water pressure and have additional safety features like pressure relief valves and expansion vessels to handle excess pressure. What’s more, they take up less space as you don’t need a separate cold water storage tank.

While open-vented systems are still in use, many businesses are shifting to commercial unvented hot water cylinders due to their power and additional safety benefits. 

Not sure what hot water cylinder solution is best for your business? Contact our expert team for a consultation.

Benefits of a Quality Hot Water Cylinder

Any commercial property manager will understand the importance of having an adequate and reliable hot water supply. This is especially true if you have a lot of employees or customers using the facilities.

Investing in a quality hot water cylinder will give you:

  • A constant flow of hot water on demand
  • Minimal or no heat loss
  • The ability to store large amounts of hot water
  • Excellent energy efficiency and lower bills
  • Longer warranties due to being made of high-quality materials

Using a reliable commercial hot water cylinder installation company will also help to ensure your system is working properly.

Commercial Hot Water Cylinder Size Guide

Getting the right size of hot water cylinder is vital to ensure you have an adequate supply of water without it being excessive. As such, we recommend consulting with our experts to get an accurate estimate.

Follow the steps below to work out your size requirements:

  • Step 1: Determine the peak hot water demand. This is the maximum amount of hot water you’ll need at any one time. You can estimate this based on the number of users, the type of fixtures and appliances, and the flow rates of each.
  • Step 2: Calculate the required storage capacity. Once you determine the peak hot water demand, you will need to calculate the required storage capacity of the cylinder to meet that demand. To do this, factor in the recovery time of the system (i.e., how quickly it can heat up new water) and the maximum allowable temperature drop in the stored water.
  • Step 3: Consider the heating system. The size of the heating system (e.g., gas, electric, solar) will also affect the sizing of the cylinder. You will need to consider the heating capacity of the system, the type of fuel or energy source used, and any other factors that may affect the efficiency of the system.
  • Step 4: Factor in any special requirements. Depending on the specific needs of your business or building, you may need to factor in additional requirements such as insulation, space constraints, or compliance with local codes and regulations.
  • Step 5: Consult a professional. Sizing a commercial hot water cylinder can be a complex process. So, it is best to consult with a professional plumber or engineer who has experience with commercial systems. They can help you ensure that your calculations are accurate and that your system will meet your needs.

Our experienced team can assist you in deciding the best cylinder size for your property and needs. Send an enquiry today.

Commercial Hot Water Cylinder Maintenance

As with anything, a commercial hot water cylinder will require some maintenance over its lifetime. Scheduling regular services by a qualified heating engineer is the best way to properly maintain your system..

In order to stay in line with health and safety regulations, we recommend checks at least twice a year

The more you use your system, the more often you should schedule maintenance checks, especially if you have hard water. This will help to increase the lifespan of your system, improve energy efficiency, and spot any potential issues early.

At Robinsons Facilities Services, we offer bespoke service and maintenance schedules to suit your business. Our highly-trained engineers work with all models of commercial hot water cylinders across diverse industries. So, you can rest assured your property is in good hands.

We’re proud to be one of Yorkshire’s leading commercial hot water cylinder maintenance companies.

 

Bespoke scheduled maintenance packages

Our maintenance packages include:

  • Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) – We offer fast response times (within 4 hours across Yorkshire), 24/7/365 callouts, flexible contracts, and competitive rates.
  • 24/7/365 Callout Facility – We’re here when you need us with our emergency callout service.
  • Reactive-only services – Our “as and when needed” services mean we’re always on hand when you need maintenance services.

Get a free quote now to see how much you could save with our facilities management maintenance services.

Commercial Hot Water Cylinder Replacement Yorkshire

Has your commercial hot water cylinder broken down? Take action fact by following the steps below:

  • Look for signs of a gas leak, unusual odours, or other hazards. If you find any of these issues, call emergency services and evacuate the premises immediately.
  • Find the isolation valves for the hot water system and turn them off to stop leaks and prevent water damage.
  • Take photos of any visible damage to help the engineer diagnose the issue
  • Call an experienced commercial heating engineer or plumber. If your system uses gas components, make sure they’re Gas Safe registered.
  • Give the engineer as many details as possible about the issue, as well as maintenance history and any previous problems you’ve experienced.
  • Implement emergency hot water measures while waiting for replacement or repairs to minimise the impact on your business operations.
  • Notify your insurance provider or the manufacturer if the cylinder is under warranty.
  • Schedule regular maintenance to prevent further breakdowns or possible replacement.

Our Gas Safe engineers offer fast, reliable emergency breakdown services across Yorkshire, so you can get back up and running as soon as possible. Call us now at 01423 226578.

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Commercial Hot Water Cylinder FAQs

In most cases, the answer is a firm no. The cylinders need to be installed by a qualified installer with relevant CITB and G3 training. These systems require a lot of pressure and store a lot of water, which can be a huge issue if something goes wrong.

If you have a hot water cylinder that is much bigger than your needs, then you can end up paying more to heat water that isn’t required. Therefore, sizing your water cylinder is crucial.

You should expect to get around 10 years of use from a hot water cylinder, but it is possible that a quality cylinder can last longer.

A little noise is normal, but if a water cylinder or water heater is making screaming or whistling noises, then there could be a problem with valves or other water line issues.

The replacement cost of a hot water cylinder will vary depending on the type of cylinder, its size, and location. To give you an idea, replacing a minor unvented cylinder typically costs around £600. On the other hand, commercial cylinders could cost up to a couple of thousand pounds to replace.

The gallon capacity rating is the biggest difference between commercial and residential hot water tanks. In general, commercial water heaters tend to be over 75 gallons, while residential ones are usually between 10 and 75 gallons.

As a general rule, you should replace your commercial hot water cylinder every 7 to 10 years. However, if you notice signs of damage, it’s important to get it replaced immediately. Always find a reputable HVAC engineer to carry out the work.

Look out for the following signs that it’s time to replace your hot water cylinder:

  • It’s not heating water properly
  • There’s a leak
  • It’s making strange noises
  • You notice discoloured hot water

If you see any of these issues, call a professional hot water services contractor right away.

We recommend having your hot water cylinder serviced once a year to ensure you stay compliant with UK regulations. In addition, you should call a reputable hot water cylinder repairs company like Robinsons Facilities Services if you notice any issues with your unit. 

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