--- title: "Unvented Cylinder Installation & Repair | Vision Plumbing" url: https://visionplumbing.co.uk/services/unvented-cylinder-installation-and-repair/ --- # Unvented Hot Water Cylinders, Fitted and Fixed Mains-pressure hot water cylinders installed, repaired, checked and replaced by a plumber for whom unvented work is the speciality, not a sideline. [4.8 out of 5 · 49 reviews on Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk)[24 reviews on Checkatrade (opens Checkatrade)](https://www.checkatrade.com/trades/VisionPlumbingLimited) ## Don’t just take our word for it Read every review on the [reviews](https://visionplumbing.co.uk/reviews/) page. JJustin 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot > Superb service, came same day and did an amazing job sorting out my blocked sink. Definitely would use again. [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) DDavid Page 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot > Norbert was very helpful and friendly. He fixed a leak I had in my bathroom very quickly. Definitely will use again! [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) Verified reviewer, job in TN13 **10**/10 on Checkatrade Replace broken toilet cistern > Very speedy response to job request on this website, Norbert called within seconds and agreed to call in for quote later today. Came when said he… [via Checkatrade (opens Checkatrade)](https://www.checkatrade.com/trades/VisionPlumbingLimited) RRob 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot > True definition of 24/7 great service. Very helpful used his services on 2 occasions went above and beyond each time. Great guy keep up the good work. [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) AAnna 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot > Excellent communication, explained issue well, supplied a clear itemized quote, good workmanship and overall high efficiency. Would hire again. [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) Verified reviewer, job in TN13 **10**/10 on Checkatrade Unblocked of blocked sewerage drains > Emergency call out on a Sunday evening. Very prompt and came straight away. Sorted the problem straight away and at a fair price for a Sunday night… [via Checkatrade (opens Checkatrade)](https://www.checkatrade.com/trades/VisionPlumbingLimited) DDi 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot > We always use Norbert’s plumbing service at our restaurant. He is always on time and fully understand what needs to be done. Highly recommend ! [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) TThomas Dixon 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot > Excellent work - very efficient. Friendly service. I would highly recommend to others. [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) Verified reviewer, job in E16 **10**/10 on Checkatrade Leaking pipe behind a laundry machine > Norbert did the job well and efficiently. He was available at short notice to help. [via Checkatrade (opens Checkatrade)](https://www.checkatrade.com/trades/VisionPlumbingLimited) AAnia Hampton 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot > Excellent service. Work undertaken in a timely thorough and clean manner. Operator was friendly informative and totally professional. Highly… [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) JJoe 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot Knowledgable and trustworthy > This firm is professional and do the job well. They turned up on time and they are very knowledgeable. Very trustworthy. I highly recommend them. [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) Verified reviewer, job in TN4 **10**/10 on Checkatrade Clean out blocked drain, used camera to ensure pipework was in good condition. > The quality of the work completed was extremely high, the engineer did not finish the job until he was satisfied the drain was completely clean as… [via Checkatrade (opens Checkatrade)](https://www.checkatrade.com/trades/VisionPlumbingLimited) HHarriet Boulding 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot > Great service! Norbert is very professional and I am very pleased with the result. Will be recommending him. [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) CCsaba Nyako 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot > Very professional service from start to finish. Norbert was friendly and knowledgeable and kept me informed at all stages. [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) Verified reviewer, job in TN15 **10**/10 on Checkatrade Fixing a new radiator to the wall and updating pipe work to remove valves on our open heating system > Norbert was absolutely brilliant. He offered great advice, worked efficiently and left everything tidy and well completed. He was also friendly and… [via Checkatrade (opens Checkatrade)](https://www.checkatrade.com/trades/VisionPlumbingLimited) LLauren Ford 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot Great service for emergency work > I called Vision Plumbing as I could hear water gushing underneath my kitchen. He was able to attend quickly, and found and resolved the issue at a… [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) TTunde Ogunniyi 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot Prompt emergency response > Norbert was one of several emergency plumbing services I rang overnight after being disappointed by another plumber when seeking assistance for a… [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) Verified reviewer, job in SE15 **10**/10 on Checkatrade Replacing kitchen tap AND replacing pipes under kitchen sink > After exchanging a few text messages Norbert turned up the following day on time with the replacement parts and completed the work in a very… [via Checkatrade (opens Checkatrade)](https://www.checkatrade.com/trades/VisionPlumbingLimited) Vision Plumbing is a **SafeContractor approved** business - [Home](https://visionplumbing.co.uk/) - [Services](https://visionplumbing.co.uk/services/) - Unvented Cylinder Installation & Repair ## Pressurised Cylinders Are Norbert's Speciality Unvented cylinders are Norbert's speciality, not a sideline. Here is what goes wrong with a pressurised cylinder, what each safety device does and why the annual check matters. ## Signs It Is Time To Call - Water dripping or running through the tundish - Hot water pressure that surges or drops - Banging or loud noises as the cylinder heats - Water pooling around the base of the cylinder - Hot water from the discharge pipe outside - No record of a safety check in the past year ## A job many plumbers will not touch Unvented cylinders are sealed and fed straight from the mains, which is why they give strong flow to every tap and shower. A general plumber will often decline the job, and installation rules are strict for good reason. - The hot water specialism Norbert names first - Treated differently from a vented tank with a loft cistern - Installed, repaired and replaced across Kent, Medway, Surrey, Sussex and south-east London ## What goes wrong with them Almost every fault involves a control that keeps pressure and temperature in check. Less often the cylinder body fails or the immersion element burns out, which [immersion heater repair](https://visionplumbing.co.uk/services/immersion-heater-replacement-and-repair/) covers on its own page. - A flat expansion vessel spikes pressure and discharges through the tundish - A worn pressure reducing valve lets too much mains pressure through - Relief valves with worn seats drip continuously ## What the annual check is for Manufacturers ask for a yearly check, and most make it a condition of their warranty. It is a short visit that catches a flat vessel or a weeping valve before it becomes water on the floor. - Each safety valve tested - Expansion vessel recharged, incoming pressure and reducing valve confirmed - Tundish and discharge route inspected ## Installation and replacement Installation means more than standing a new unit in a cupboard. Replacing an old vented cylinder with an unvented one often frees up the loft too. If a cylinder has let go, stop the cold feed and call. - Mains checked for pressure and flow, safety controls fitted and set - Discharge pipe run to a safe point, then the system commissioned - Damp with no obvious source? [Leak detection](https://visionplumbing.co.uk/services/leak-detection/) traces it - One year warranty on parts and labour on all unvented work ## Why people ring Norbert - 20+Years in plumbing - 1 yearWarranty on parts and labour - 24/7Emergency call-out - 1Plumber, start to finish ## What the job covers - Unvented cylinder installationFitting a new unvented cylinder, including the safety controls, discharge pipework and commissioning. - Hot water cylinder replacementRemoving a failed vented or unvented cylinder and fitting a new unvented unit in its place. - Valve and vessel repairsReplacing pressure reducing valves, expansion relief valves, temperature relief valves and failed expansion vessels. - Annual safety checkTesting the safety devices, checking vessel charge and incoming pressure, and inspecting the discharge route. - Leaks and discharge faultsTracing why a cylinder is dripping from the tundish or discharge pipe, and fixing the cause. - Not sure what you need?[Quick Quote Online](#quote) ## Unvented Cylinder Installation & Repair in pictures ## How a job with Norbert runs No call centre and no hand-offs. The same man takes the call, quotes the work and does it. - 01You call or send the formTell Norbert what is happening. He rings back himself to ask the questions that matter before anyone drives out. - 02He comes out and quotesHe looks at the job, explains what has failed and what the fix involves, and gives you the quote before work starts. - 03The work is done and testedFixed, tested and cleaned up, with a one year warranty on parts and labour for the work he has done. ## Often needed alongside unvented cylinder installation & repair - [Immersion Heater Replacement & Repair](https://visionplumbing.co.uk/services/immersion-heater-replacement-and-repair/)Immersion heater thermostats, wiring faults and burnt-out or seized elements, repaired or replaced on the same visit. - [Leak Detection](https://visionplumbing.co.uk/services/leak-detection/)Hidden water leaks located with thermal imaging and acoustic equipment, so the repair starts in the right place. - [Emergency Plumber](https://visionplumbing.co.uk/services/emergency-plumber/)A 24-hour emergency call-out for burst pipes, flooding leaks and backed-up drains, answered by Norbert himself. ## Unvented Cylinder Installation & Repair: questions answered ### 01What is an unvented hot water cylinder? It is a sealed hot water cylinder fed directly from the cold mains, rather than from a tank in the loft. Because it runs at mains pressure, it gives strong showers and taps all over the house. Being sealed and pressurised, it also relies on a set of safety devices to control pressure and temperature, which is why it needs more care than an old vented tank. ### 02Why is water dripping from the tundish? The tundish is the open funnel on the discharge pipe, there so you can see when a safety valve is letting water out. A drip usually means the expansion vessel has lost its charge, the pressure reducing valve is letting too much pressure through, or a relief valve has a worn seat. Water running hot through it is more serious and should be looked at promptly. ### 03What does an annual unvented cylinder check involve? Norbert tests the expansion relief and temperature relief valves, checks and recharges the expansion vessel, confirms the incoming pressure and that the reducing valve is holding it, and inspects the tundish and discharge pipe. Most manufacturers require a yearly check to keep their warranty valid, and it catches the small faults that otherwise end in a leak or a discharge. ### 04Can I fit my own unvented cylinder? No. Installing an unvented cylinder is notifiable building work under the Building Regulations, and it has to be carried out by someone competent to install unvented systems. The safety controls exist to stop a sealed vessel of hot water overpressurising, and a mistake with them is dangerous. It is not a job for a DIY weekend. ### 05Should I repair my unvented cylinder or replace it? Most faults are in the valves and vessel, and those parts are replaceable, so repair is usually the answer. Replacement makes sense when the cylinder itself is leaking from its body or a weld, when it is heavily corroded, or when it is old enough that parts are hard to find. Norbert will tell you which applies, and why. ### 06Can a vented cylinder be swapped for an unvented one? Often, yes, if the incoming mains has enough pressure and flow to feed it. Norbert checks both before recommending the change, because an unvented cylinder on a weak supply gives disappointing results. The swap also means running a proper discharge pipe to a safe outside point and, in many cases, removing the old loft tanks. ## Tell Norbert what needs doing A line about the job is enough. Norbert reads every enquiry himself and rings you back to talk it through before he quotes. [4.8 out of 5 · 49 reviews on Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk)[24 reviews on Checkatrade (opens Checkatrade)](https://www.checkatrade.com/trades/VisionPlumbingLimited) [07379 636676](tel:+447379636676) 24 hours, for emergencies