Simon Birch Plumbing and Heating

Cylinder changes in Basingstoke.

Hot water cylinder changes for homes across Basingstoke, from a leaking copper cylinder to one that no longer keeps up with the household. We check it really is the cylinder first, tell you whether yours is vented or unvented, and talk you through the options, including a combi where that suits better. Simon Birch Plumbing & Heating is based in Basingstoke and covers the towns around it.

  • Checked before anything is replaced
  • Sized to your household
  • Free quotation, no obligation
Gloved hands using a red pipe wrench on the chrome waste pipe under a basin
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What you get

What is included in a cylinder change.

A cylinder change is one of the bigger jobs in our plumbing work, and it starts with three questions: is it really the cylinder, what type is it, and how much hot water does the household use?

The cause found first

Not every hot water problem means a new cylinder. A cylinder thermostat, a motorised valve or the boiler can all stop the water heating, so we check those first. If one of them is the culprit, you need a heating repair rather than a replacement.

Vented or unvented

A vented cylinder is fed by a cold water tank in the loft. An unvented one runs straight from the mains at higher pressure, with safety valves to match, and comes under Part G3 of the Building Regulations, so it has to be fitted by an installer qualified for unvented systems. We will tell you which you have and what the options are.

Sized to your hot water use

The right size depends on how many people live there, how many bathrooms you have, baths or showers, and how much runs at once. Too small and it runs out halfway through the second shower. Too big and you pay to heat water you never use. A bigger vented cylinder may also need a bigger tank in the loft to feed it.

Working with your heating

Most cylinders are heated by the boiler through a coil inside, controlled by a cylinder thermostat and a valve. We check those work properly with the new cylinder, and the thermostat is set so the water is stored hot enough to be safe.

A combi, where it suits

In a home with one bathroom, a combi boiler can take the place of both the boiler and the cylinder, heating water straight from the mains so the cylinder and loft tanks can go. It works best where one tap or shower runs at a time. See boiler installs.

How it works

Your cylinder change in four steps.

  1. Step 1: Phone call

    Tell us what the hot water is doing and whether there is a cold water tank in the loft. A photo of the cylinder and the label on it helps.

  2. Step 2: Visit

    We check whether it really is the cylinder, tell you which type you have, and talk through how much hot water the household uses.

  3. Step 3: Quotation

    You get a free quotation for the option that suits, with no obligation. We tell you how long the work will take at this stage, including how long the hot water will be off.

  4. Step 4: The change

    The date is confirmed in advance. Before we leave, the new cylinder is heated through, the joints are checked for leaks and the controls are explained.

What it costs Free quotation

The cost depends on the cylinder, where it goes and how much of the pipework changes with it, so we price it after the visit. The quotation is free, with no obligation.

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Common questions

Questions about cylinder changes in Basingstoke.

Something else on your mind? Ask when we call you back, or ring 01256 805 164.

The usual signs are water collecting at the base or dripping in the airing cupboard, green or rust coloured staining on the cylinder, and hot water that takes much longer to heat than it used to or never gets properly hot. In a hard water area, limescale building up on the coil inside is a common reason for slow heating. A leak from the body of an old copper cylinder usually means it has reached the end of its life, while a leak from a joint or valve can often be put right on its own.

If a cold water tank in the loft feeds the cylinder, it is vented. An unvented cylinder has no loft tank and runs at mains pressure, and you will usually see a small open funnel in the pipework beside it, called a tundish, and often an expansion vessel. Not sure? Send us a photo of the cylinder and the pipework around it, or ask when we visit.

Not necessarily. On most cylinders the boiler heats the water through a coil and the immersion heater is a backup, so you may still have hot water from the boiler. A failed immersion element can often be replaced on its own. On an older copper cylinder, though, a seized element can be hard to remove without damage, and if the cylinder is showing its age as well, replacing it can be the better choice.

It depends on how you use hot water. A combi heats water from the mains as you use it, so there is no cylinder and no loft tank, and it suits homes with one bathroom where one tap or shower runs at a time. With two or more bathrooms, or several people showering in the morning, a cylinder is usually the better fit. See boiler installs if a combi sounds right.

Not on its own if it is vented. The pressure comes from the height of the loft tank above the taps, so a like-for-like swap gives much the same flow as before. Unvented cylinders and combi boilers run from the mains instead, and how well they perform depends on the pressure and flow of your supply, so it is worth knowing what yours gives before choosing one.

Cylinder quote

Tell us about your hot water cylinder.

Three quick questions about your hot water, then your details. We call you back to talk through the options.

Free quotation Step 1 of 2

About your hot water

What is the cylinder doing?

Not hot covers lukewarm water, slow heating or no hot water at all.

Is there a cold water tank in the loft?

A loft tank feeding the cylinder usually means it is vented. No loft tank usually means unvented.

How many bathrooms?

All optional. It helps us come prepared.

Prefer to talk it through?

Call the office01256 805 164 Call the mobile07474 666 615 WhatsApp a photoSend a photo of the cylinder, the label on it and any leak. Emailsimon@simonbirchplumbing.co.uk

We carry out cylinder changes in Basingstoke, Chineham, Whitchurch, Andover, Winchester, Alton and Hook.

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