Replacing old Copper Hot Water Cylinder with Insulated Stainless Steel one?

Sleepy · 09-02-2023 12:43pm #1

Have been having issues with a lack of hot water lately and got out the RGI to do a boiler service and check the system. He fitted a new thermostat to the hot water cylinder and it seems to only heat the top 4/5 inches of the tank so recommendation is to replace the (probably circa 20 years old) copper cylinder with a new factory insulated stainless steel one as it's probably clogged up with limescale (we live in a hard water area so this makes sense).

I was a bit taken back by the quote for this though: €950 for a 100l tank supplied and fitted.

Looking online I see offers of 120l tanks supplied and fitted for €800. I'm wondering if I'm being taken for a bit of a ride as a recurring customer (these guys installed my boiler a few years back and have been servicing it since) or if costs have gone up for this kind of tank and the prices I'm seeing online are just out-dated?

John.G · 09-02-2023 1:36pm

Is the present one heated by a coil or a dual element electric immersion?.

Calahonda52 · 09-02-2023 1:46pm

You need to soften the water first, anything done without that is a fool's errand

Sleepy · 09-02-2023 3:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120219892#Comment_120219892

Both - gas boiler is primary heat source but there's an immersion fitted also.

Sleepy · 09-02-2023 3:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120219940#Comment_120219940

Not sure it's really an option, it's an 100 year old house and not a lot of space. The tank there is probably well over 30 years old.

John.G · 09-02-2023 3:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120220378#Comment_120220378

So, assuming the immersion thermostat replaced and if so does the "bath" element heat only 4/5" of water, same as the "sink" element?. Does the coil also only heat 4/5"?.

Why not renew the tank with another copper one?, 30 years is pretty good and you can buy one almost exactly the same for ~ €350, say another €40 for a dual immersion and €200 for installation if you can't do it yourself.

Sleepy · 09-02-2023 3:46pm

Yeah, doesn't seem to matter which heating is used, only a tiny amount of hot water is being produced (with either or both on for an hour it'll run out while you're washing your hands) so the problem has to be with the tank itself I think.

From what I've read stainless steel does better with hard water, and holds heat better than copper so it seemed like a good recommendation... Is installation of a tank a DIY'able job? I'd assumed it'd be RGI territory since you'd have to drain the heating system to do it....

TBH, my real question was about the quote... €950 sounded a bit on the high side so was looking for second opinions in case it's an area where costs have shot up.

John.G · 09-02-2023 3:57pm

If you can/do top up the, I presume, sealed heating system yourself without having to remove the boiler casing then you can do it yourself.

If the cylinder was unvented then you would need a qualified plumber to replace it but since it isn't? then no.

Don't know if SS is better than copper but at 30 years, who cares.

Sleeper12 · 09-02-2023 6:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120220504#Comment_120220504

Not sure what the rest of the country is like but you won't get a hot water cylinder replaced in Dublin for anywhere near €200 labour at the moment. Plumbers worked for a pittance during the recession. They are clawing back now what they should have earned back then.

Wearb · 09-02-2023 7:04pm

You might investigate if a sacrificial anode would be a good addition to any new ss cylinder you install.

Sleepy · 10-02-2023 9:17am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120221190#Comment_120221190

So €950 sounds about right for this job to you?

Sleeper12 · 11-02-2023 1:47am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120222902#Comment_120222902

Every tradesperson sets their own prices it can vary a lot depending on what part of the country you are in. I have no idea how much a stainless steel cylinder costs so I don't know if the quote is good or not.

The cylinder itself, copper or stainless steel, won't be effected by the hard water. It's the element that gets damaged by the hard water rather than the cylinder. I would think an insulated copper cylinder would be fine.

John.G · 11-02-2023 10:25am

A SS vented cylinder seems ~ €100 more expensive.

Replacing old Copper Hot Water Cylinder with Insulated Stainless Steel one?

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