Need more hot water

Naf

HappyMJ wrote: »

That's why pictures are helpful...Is it a modern cylinder?

What is the immersion temperature set to? If you set it higher you get more hot water but.....at the risk of scalding so you need to install thermostatic mixing taps to prevent that.

Interesting that there is no bottom element... Does the cylinder have a coil in it? You should have the cold water feed at the bottom and the hot water outlet at the top. There may also be a couple of holes on the side where you could fit pipes so an old back boiler or normal gas boiler can circulate hot water around it. Maybe a back boiler was in the house, had been removed and the cylinder not updated.

I'd still leave the immersion on 24/7. It won't add much to your bill. Maybe time it so it's off between 6pm and midnight so as much energy is used at the night rate as possible.

I'll have to see if I can get at it for photos.
I have no idea of its age; it has no foam insulation; the red jacket I added sits right on the copper.
I've set the thermostat right up at 70 degrees; the hot water is only really used for showers in the morning so scalding isn't really an issue.
It has the bottom inlet and top outlet; and I'm pretty sure I saw holes for other pipes; but nothing big enough for an additional element. If there was ever another boiler, it would have been electric as the property has no gas supply.
Unfortunately the controls have no option for always on; and the possible timer settings only permit a 7 hour period between midnight & 8 or so...
One of these: http://www.websparky.co.uk/acatalog/Horstman-Economy-7-Timer-HORE7Q.html?gclid=CNXR37vbrrUCFWHHtAodojIAdA