Electric hot water system
 

I need to make a flat habitable again. However, the place is due for
demolition in the next couple of years, so I don't want to spend a fortune.
It had GCH, but that is all sludged up, and the boiler is completely shot.
Besides that, it has a combined cold water tank/hot water tank in the airing
cupboard, and this is also shot.

My preferred solution is to use electric fires for heating, and to heat the
water electrically. I would like to run the water direct from the mains, so
as to do away with the cold water tank. It's only got to serve the kitchen
sink and the bathroom. I'm looking for a hot water heating and storage tank
that can run off mains pressure and isn't too expensive. It needs to be big
enough to run a bath. There are only two places to put the tank, one is 20"
x24" and the other is 16.5" x 39" (both internal measurements).

The alternative might be to heat the water as it is needed, but that will
require masses of new wiring and in any case the electricity supply to the
flat may not be adequate to heat a reasonable flow of water.

I guess that I need to check the electricity supply into the flat is
adequate - is it enough just to check the main fuse on the distribution
board?

Electric hot water system
 

GB wrote:

My preferred solution is to use electric fires for heating, and to heat the
water electrically. I would like to run the water direct from the mains, so
as to do away with the cold water tank. It's only got to serve the kitchen
sink and the bathroom. I'm looking for a hot water heating and storage tank
that can run off mains pressure and isn't too expensive. It needs to be big
enough to run a bath. There are only two places to put the tank, one is 20"
x24" and the other is 16.5" x 39" (both internal measurements).

Sounds like yon need an unvented hot water cylinder with immersion heater(s)

I guess that I need to check the electricity supply into the flat is
adequate - is it enough just to check the main fuse on the distribution
board?

That would be a start. Make a list of an other "big" electrical items
already in there as you go.

--
Cheers,

John.

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Electric hot water system
 

On 26 July, 14:42, "GB" wrote:
I need to make a flat habitable again. However, the place is due for
demolition in the next couple of years, so I don't want to spend a fortune.
It had GCH, but that is all sludged up, and the boiler is completely shot..
Besides that, it has a combined cold water tank/hot water tank in the airing
cupboard, and this is also shot.

My preferred solution is to use electric fires for heating, and to heat the
water electrically. I would like to run the water direct from the mains, so
as to do away with the cold water tank. It's only got to serve the kitchen
sink and the bathroom. *I'm looking for a hot water heating and storage tank
that can run off mains pressure and isn't too expensive. It needs to be big
enough to run a bath. There are only two places to put the tank, one is 20"
x24" and the other is 16.5" x 39" (both internal measurements).

The alternative might be to heat the water as it is needed, but that will
require masses of new wiring and in any case the electricity supply to the
flat may not be adequate to heat a reasonable flow of water.

I guess that I need to check the electricity supply into the flat is
adequate - is it enough just to check the main fuse on the distribution
board?

http://waterheatersdirect.com

Adam

Electric hot water system
 

On Jul 26, 2:42*pm, "GB" wrote:

I need to make a flat habitable again. However, the place is due for
demolition in the next couple of years, so I don't want to spend a fortune.
It had GCH, but that is all sludged up, and the boiler is completely shot..
Besides that, it has a combined cold water tank/hot water tank in the airing
cupboard, and this is also shot.

My preferred solution is to use electric fires for heating, and to heat the
water electrically. I would like to run the water direct from the mains, so
as to do away with the cold water tank. It's only got to serve the kitchen
sink and the bathroom. *I'm looking for a hot water heating and storage tank
that can run off mains pressure and isn't too expensive. It needs to be big
enough to run a bath.

You could use a copper hot water cylinder with a header tank, or a
combined fortic tank. In both cases the HW isnt at mains pressure,
eliminating legal and safety issues, and making it easy to get hold of
the necessary tank/s for peanuts used.


NT

Electric hot water system
 

NT wrote:

You could use a copper hot water cylinder with a header tank, or a
combined fortic tank. In both cases the HW isnt at mains pressure,
eliminating legal and safety issues, and making it easy to get hold of
the necessary tank/s for peanuts used.

Thanks very much for all the suggestions. I can't find an unvented direct
tank that will fit into any of the spaces. Besides that, they are all rather
expensive, as you say.

That leaves me with two alternatives:

1. Is a combination cylinder + header tank. That would work, but it's not
ideal as the pressure would be quite low. OTOH, as you say, there are no
safety issues. Where do I look for a secondhand one of these?

2. Is an instantaneous electric water heater. That's beginning to look like
the simplest and cheapest solution. Do you know if there are any special
regulations for fitting these, as there are for Megaflos and the like?

I don't really fancy fitting a Main hot water heater, as I want to be
gas-less if at all possible.

Electric hot water system
 

On Jul 26, 9:02*pm, "GB" wrote:
NT wrote:

You could use a copper hot water cylinder with a header tank, or a
combined fortic tank. In both cases the HW isnt at mains pressure,
eliminating legal and safety issues, and making it easy to get hold of
the necessary tank/s for peanuts used.

Thanks very much for all the suggestions. I can't find an unvented direct
tank that will fit into any of the spaces. Besides that, they are all rather
expensive, as you say.

That leaves me with two alternatives:

1. Is a combination cylinder + header tank. That would work, but it's not
ideal as the pressure would be quite low. OTOH, as you say, there are no
safety issues. Where do I look for a secondhand one of these?

any plumber / heating engineer / scrap dealer / ebay / a local company
could keep the next one for you etc


2. Is an instantaneous electric water heater. That's beginning to look like
the simplest and cheapest solution. Do you know if there are any special
regulations for fitting these, as there are for Megaflos and the like?

the issue is the current draw. To fill a bath at sensible speed would
take a whole lot of power.

Of course there is this way to do it :)
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?..._Water_Systems

I don't really fancy fitting a Main hot water heater, as I want to be
gas-less if at all possible.


NT

Electric hot water system
 

NT wrote:

1. Is a combination cylinder + header tank. That would work, but
it's not ideal as the pressure would be quite low. OTOH, as you say,
there are no safety issues. Where do I look for a secondhand one of
these?

any plumber / heating engineer / scrap dealer / ebay / a local company
could keep the next one for you etc

That was quick! Thanks.


2. Is an instantaneous electric water heater. That's beginning to
look like the simplest and cheapest solution. Do you know if there
are any special regulations for fitting these, as there are for
Megaflos and the like?

the issue is the current draw. To fill a bath at sensible speed would
take a whole lot of power.

Yes. I might have to remove the bath and fit a shower.

Thanks to everyone again.

Electric hot water system
 

On 26 July, 21:13, "GB" wrote:
the issue is the current draw. To fill a bath at sensible speed would
take a whole lot of power.
Yes. I might have to remove the bath and fit a shower.

Stick the shower over the existing bath and leave the bathtaps as cold
only, I thought this was supposed to be a cheap job.

Owain