Why Switch to a Mains Pressure Storage Water Heater?

If you're refurbishing an older house, then you might need to sort out the plumbing at some point. For example, if your current hot water system is old and temperamental, then you may want to upgrade it to something more energy-efficient and modern.

You may be happy to stick with a storage heater system. However, your plumber has recommended that you upgrade the current configuration.

Older storage water heaters often work on a gravity-fed system where the tank sits high up in the house and feeds water down through its pipes. Your plumber thinks that a mains pressure system would be better. Why?

Get a More Consistent Hot Water Supply

A gravity feed storage tank doesn't always give you a constantly reliable source of hot water. The water sits in its storage tank until you need to use it. It then uses gravity to come down through your home to the tap you have turned on.

While gravity works here as long as your tank is high enough up, you may have low water pressure with this kind of system. For example, if you turn on two hot taps at once, then you might not have high enough pressure for them both to run simultaneously at a strong enough pressure.

If you switch to a mains supply, then water is still stored in a tank. However, the water that comes out of your hot taps has the main's pressure power behind it. Like your cold water, this water should have a more even pressure and flow even if you have multiple taps on at the same time.

Get a More Flexible Tank Location

If you have a gravity feed tank, then it needs to be high up. So, for example, you might have a tank in your roof space or in a cupboard on an upper floor. This can limit what you can do with the space.

For example, if you want to do a loft conversion in the house and your tank is in the roof, then you'll need to build around it. It will take up valuable space.

If you switch to a mains pressure tank, then you have much more flexibility. It doesn't matter where the tank goes because it doesn't rely on gravity to work. So, you can have it downstairs or even outside your home.

Your plumber can give you more advice on making this hot water system switch. They can also help you choose the best installation location.

For more information on your hot water system options, contact a plumber.