Economy 7? Combination cylinder?

[SJRSJR]

Hello

Hoping for some pointers as it's been a while since I've had to deal with electric immersion heaters.

I need to replace an old heating cylinder and water tank in a ground floor one-bedroom rental flat. It's all in a cupboard and it's currently got a pump attached.

One plumber suggested an unvented system to do away with the pump and get more space. Another suggested a like-for-like replacement.

It's an electric-only flat (not a new build). I could do with improving its EPC rating (currently E) and the assessor who did it told me Economy 7 would be the best bet, and I could always add storage heaters down the line . It's obviously had it in the past because it's got an Economy 7 meter although everything is on the standard tariff.

I've looked online and an wondering whether an Economy 7 combination cylinder be the way forward? Any reason why the plumbers didn't suggest it? Thanks.

 

[stem]

It sounds from your post that you don't currently have an Economy 7 electricity supply available. So, unless you specifically asked them to include it, that will likely be why they haven't offered it, and instead just offered direct replacements.

Both vented and unvented cylinders are available with the provision for dual electric elements. The bottom element usually heats the whole cylinder on the 'off peak' rate, then should you happen to run out of hot water the top element can be switched on anytime as required as a boost. However, it doesn't usually provide a great deal of water that would be enough for a bath.

Usually there are two separate electricity supplies one for each immersion heater, an 'off peak' supply and a permanent one, so additional wiring would be required to provide the second supply, meaning that the plumber may also engage the services of an electrician, which he probably wouldn't do if it was just a straight swap for the existing cylinder.

Alternatively, it's entirely possible to just have one immersion heater fitted that heats the whole cylinder and that can be used with both on and off peak tariffs.