Critical Tips to Help You Save Energy with Your Unvented Cylinder

Your unvented cylinder provides you with a reliable source of hot water for all your bathing and washing needs. Life without access to hot water on demand would be unthinkable, and certainly less than ideal. However, that water cylinder requires energy to heat water, and that costs money. While you can’t eliminate those costs entirely, there are ways to make your cylinder more efficient, reducing energy consumption and your bill at the same time.

There are two primary costs involved with your unvented cylinder – the cost of the water you use (if you’re connected to the municipal water supply), and the cost of the energy used to heat the water that you use. Both of those costs can be reduced with one simple step: insulating your hot water pipes.

As water travels through the piping away from the water cylinder and toward the tap, it cools. To get water at the temperature that you want, you might have to open just the hot tap and leave it running for several minutes.

However, with insulation, you may find that you need to run the water very little to get up to temp and that you can even reduce the flow of hot water. That reduces the amount of energy used to heat water and the amount of water used.

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Another hidden cost of operating an unvented cylinder comes from wasted water dripping into the tundish. If your pressure regulating valve has not been properly maintained, it can become stuck, gummed up with mineral deposits from the water. This allows water to drip from the valve into the tundish, which wastes water but also requires additional energy.

By having your unvented cylinder inspected and serviced every year, you can prevent water from dripping into the tundish. That reduces water and energy use.

A dripping tap is more than just an annoyance – it’s a waste of resources, particularly if it’s the hot tap that’s dripping. Every drop of water comes from your water cylinder, which means a couple of things. First, that water dripping down the drain has been heated (requiring resources you’ve paid for). Second, it means that fresh water is moving into the cylinder to replace what’s being wasted running down the drain.

We all want good pressure at the taps, and for some of us, there’s an idea that higher pressure levels are better. Sure, solid pressure in the shower or while washing dishes is a great thing, but there is such a thing as too much pressure. With the pressure set too high, the flow from the taps is excessive. Ultimately, it means that you’re wasting water (and the energy required to heat that water). By reducing the pressure (via a pressure reducing/low flow showerhead or faucet), you reduce the flow of water and the amount of water you’re wasting.

Finally, check the temperature on your cylinder’s thermostat. You need to maintain your water at a minimum of 60 degrees C, but much higher than that could mean that you’re wasting energy to heat water.

If you’re not sure how to insulate your pipes, install low-flow fixtures, adjust your temperature, or maintain your cylinder, get in touch with EasyFlow.