At Heat My House, we are always raving on about making your home more energy efficient with one of our A-rated boilers and lowering your energy bills. However, your heating system should also be convenient and not irritating, and this is how lots of people with vented heat-only systems feel.
This is because vented systems, also known as gravity fed systems, use gravity to supply hot water to outlets in the house. Unvented systems are pressurised systems, and hot water is supplied at a much higher pressure. This can be the difference between having powerful showers and not.
If you're thinking about converting from a vented system to an unvented system, read this article to find out everything you need to know, from the advantages, costs and technical details.
What are the Differences Between a Vented and an Unvented System?
Vented Heating System: This system uses tanks, which are usually in the loft, to maintain water levels and pressure throughout the system. The pressure in the system is equal to the head pressure between the tanks in the loft and the water outlet. This system is classed as a low pressure system. This is why many people add a water pump to increase the pressure in the system.
Unvented Heating System: An unvented system is a sealed pressurised system and does not rely on gravity for its pressure. Unvented systems use a pressurised cylinder and an expansion vessel and maintain a water pressure that is equal to the mains water supply feeding it. Due to the water in the system being pressurised, there is a more consistent water pressure through the property and hot water outlets have a higher pressure.
What Parts are Needed When Converting from a Vented System to an Unvented System?
Below is a list of new equipment that is needed during the conversion:-
- Unvented Hot Water Cylinder - this is the central part of an unvented system. This is where the hot water in the system is heated and stored under pressure.
- Expansion Vessel - this expansion vessel is usually mounted on the hot water cylinder and is there to deal with the expansion of the water in the tank when it is heated.
- Pressure Relief Valve - this is a safety feature of the safety and is there to release pressure from the system if it starts to build higher than the pressure set for the valve. This is to prevent the system over-pressurising and the weakest part of the system from failing.
- New Boiler - this has been added because although it's not essential to replace your boiler when converting from a vented to an unvented system, if your boiler is old it may be worth replacing it along with doing the rest of the job. This will future proof the whole system for many years to come and made your heating system more energy efficient.
How Much Does a Vented to Unvented Conversion Cost?
The cost of converting from a vented heating system to an unvented heating system will depend a few factors such as the size of the unvented hot water cylinder being installed (which is dependent on the size of your home), the brand of equipment being installed and the company you choose to do the installation. It is well known that a certain nationwide energy company is far more expensive than companies like Heat My House.
The cost of a conversion could be between £2500 and £4500. To get an accurate quote from Heat My House, get in touch via our 'contact us' page or call us on 0330 043 8430.
Another factor that will add to the cost of the job, is whether a new boiler is installed too. The cost of a replacement boiler will be different depending if you want a heat-only or a system boiler. Both are compatible with an unvented system but require the heating system to be configured differently.
The cost of a heat-only boiler from Heat My House starts at £2165, and the cost of a system boiler starts at £2335.
To get an accurate fixed price for a replacement boiler within 60 seconds, simply answer several questions on our website - you can find the questions here.
Important Factors to Take into Consideration
Before you commit to converting your heating system, there are a couple of factors to take into consideration, these include:-
- Mains Water Pressure - sealed pressurised system rely on a good mains water pressure so it's very important to check that you have a good water pressure feeding the house.
- Enough space - unvented systems normally come with a larger tank and additional equipment around it. You must have enough room to accommodate the extra kit.
Summary
Converting from a vented system to an unvented system is a significant home improvement and can make a huge difference to everyone living in the property, especially those who like powerful showers! The conversion is a big job and comes with a decent price tag but can make a huge difference to your home.
At Heat My House, we specialise in all things heating and we can assist you in converting your low pressure vented heating system in to a high pressure unvented heating system.
To get an accurate quote from Heat My House, get in touch via our 'contact us' page or call on 0330 043 8430.
To get a quick fixed price quote on a new energy efficient heat only or system boiler, answer these questions.