Benefits of 'downsizing' HW cyclinder?

amcluesent

So, my lifestyle means I have moderate needs for h/w; currently running the gas boiler for 20 mins in the morning is more than enough.

Anyone tried downsizing their cylinder to one like this, it's about 600mm high -



One downside I can see is there's no provision for an immersion element as a backup to the gas.

spiro

If you think about it, how often do you loose your gas supply? If the elec goes, you loose your gas heating because the boiler needs elec. Only thing you loose is the heat your water tank provides into the house but if you have it on for such a little time is probably makes no difference.

markbloke

True enough, but if the boiler breaks down it's easy enough to set up some electric heaters and switch on the electric immersion for hot water when you need it. No hot water in the dead of winter even once in your life will make you think twice about giving up that option, especially if you've got a family.
Urgh, I'm getting flashbacks now...

SuiDreams

We have a full size tank and no immersion heater, our boiker has broken twice in 9 years we used a kettle for hot water until it was fixed. I've neber missed having an immersion heater

Cardew

I wouldn't have thought that the savings in running costs would justify the capital expenditure in replacing the HW tank.

A well lagged full tank of Hot water will 'lose' about 3kWh in 24 hours. Let us assume that this small tank only loses 1kWh.

So you will 'save' a theoretical maximum of 730kWh a year - about £20.

In practice the savings will probably be a lot less than £20; and that lost heat goes to warm the house anyway; which is why tanks are normally in an airing cupboard.

I don't know how much a tank will cost to buy and install - remember the feed pipes will need to be lengthened - but I suspect £hundreds?

It will also detract from the value of your property.

Andy_Hamilton

If your original tank is full of calcium (not enough hot water to fill a bath) or leaking then you will save money fitting a smaller tank but if there is nothing wrong with your current tank your payback will take more than 10 years.

I've just saved 15% on my water heating bill by adding extra lagging to a well lagged boiler.

amtrakuk

Another option If your heating water by electric is to have what I have a Tankless water heater. I myself have a 12kw Redring Powerstream, Its worlk on the same principle as a combi boiler, therefore only using electricity as and when you want it and therefore zero electricity wasted heating a tank you may not use.