Gas Safe registered · Unvented Cylinder Installations
Unvented Cylinder Installationsin North Shields& the North East
Get strong, mains-pressure hot water to every tap and shower at the same time, installed by G3-certified engineers with neat pipework and a 12-month workmanship warranty.
500+ Checkatrade reviews · 5.0 from 90+ Google reviews
25 years
Experience, ex-British Gas
1,400+
North East customers
500+
Checkatrade reviews
12 months
Workmanship warranty
£5m
Public liability insurance
Overview
What unvented cylinder installations involve
What it is
An unvented cylinder is a sealed hot water tank fed directly from the cold mains, rather than from a tank in the loft. Because it runs at mains pressure, you get powerful showers and fast-filling baths throughout the house. Megaflo is the best-known name, which is why people often call them Megaflo-style systems. Unvented cylinder installs are one of our core specialisms.
Who it's for
It suits homes with more than one bathroom, families who often run showers at the same time, and anyone frustrated by weak, gravity-fed hot water. It is also a popular upgrade when people remove an old loft tank during a loft conversion or bathroom renovation.
When you need it
Common reasons to switch are poor shower pressure upstairs, hot water running out when two people need it, an old copper cylinder that is leaking or corroding, or a renovation that adds an en-suite. If a combi cannot keep up with your household's demand, a system boiler with an unvented cylinder is often the answer.
Why use a professional
Unvented cylinders store hot water under pressure, so they include safety devices to control temperature and pressure. Building Regulations require them to be installed by someone holding a recognised unvented hot water qualification: G3 certification. We hold it, so your system is fitted and commissioned safely and correctly.
What happens if it's left
The cost of putting it off
Weak hot water is more than an annoyance: an ageing cylinder or a poorly fitted unvented system can cause real damage.
Leaks from old cylinders
Corroded copper cylinders can start to weep or split, damaging ceilings, floors and airing cupboards.
Poor pressure that never improves
Gravity-fed systems depend on the height of the loft tank; no shower pump fully fixes a system that is the wrong design for the house.
Unsafe installations
An unvented cylinder without correctly fitted and discharged safety valves is a genuine hazard. This is why G3 certification is a legal requirement.
Mismatched systems
Fitting a large cylinder to a property with low mains flow can disappoint: it has to be checked first.
Common mistakes we see
- Using an installer who is not G3 certified for unvented work.
- Not checking the incoming mains pressure and flow rate before choosing a cylinder.
- Choosing a cylinder size by guesswork rather than household hot water use.
- Skipping the annual check on the safety valves and expansion vessel.
Our process
How we do it, step by step
- 01
Survey & mains test
We check your incoming water pressure and flow, current boiler and cylinder location so the system will actually deliver.
- 02
Sizing & quote
We recommend the cylinder size and setup for your household and give you a clear written quote.
- 03
Installation
We remove the old cylinder and loft tanks where appropriate, fit the unvented cylinder, safety valves and discharge pipework neatly.
- 04
Commissioning
We test the temperature and pressure relief valves, expansion vessel and controls, and complete the required paperwork.
- 05
Handover & warranty
We show you the controls and what to look out for, and our 12-month workmanship warranty applies.
Why choose us
What you get with Boilertech NE
Mains-pressure showers
Strong flow at every outlet, upstairs and down, without a shower pump.
Several outlets at once
Run a shower and a bath together without the pressure collapsing.
Space back in the loft
No cold water storage tank needed, freeing up loft space.
Fitted to regulation
G3-certified engineers install and commission every unvented system.
Tidy pipework
Customers mention how neat our unvented installs are: it is part of the finish.
Workmanship warranty
Our own 12-month warranty on the installation, on top of the manufacturer's cover.
"Marc and his team installed our unvented system. The work was done efficiently and all pipework was very neat."
In detail
How unvented hot water systems work
Understanding the options helps you choose a system that suits your home and your mains supply.
Unvented vs vented cylinders
A vented cylinder is fed by a cold tank in the loft and relies on gravity, so pressure depends on how high the tank sits. An unvented cylinder takes water straight from the mains and stores it sealed, delivering mains pressure everywhere.
Direct and indirect cylinders
Indirect cylinders are heated by your boiler through a coil inside the tank, with an immersion heater as a backup. Direct cylinders are heated by electric immersion elements alone, which suits homes without a gas boiler.
Safety devices
Every unvented system has a temperature and pressure relief valve, an expansion vessel or air bubble to absorb expansion, and a tundish with discharge pipework. These must be correctly fitted and routed, the core of what G3 training covers.
Pairing with a system boiler
An unvented cylinder normally works with a system or regular boiler. If you currently have a combi that cannot keep up, we can advise on switching to a system boiler and cylinder setup.
Heat pump compatibility
Heat pumps need a cylinder designed for lower flow temperatures. As accredited air source heat pump installers, we can plan for this if a heat pump is on your future plans.
Maintenance
Unvented cylinders should be checked annually so the safety valves and expansion vessel keep working correctly. We can combine this with your boiler service.
Choosing a cylinder size
Cylinder size is decided by how many people live in the home, how many bathrooms there are and how often baths and showers run at the same time. Too small and hot water runs out; too large and you heat water you never use. We size the cylinder from how your household actually uses hot water and from the mains flow we measure on the survey.
Where the cylinder can go
Unvented cylinders often sit in the old airing cupboard, but because they no longer need a loft tank above them, they can also go in a utility room, garage or loft space if the structure allows. The discharge pipework has to run to a safe termination point, so we plan the location and pipe route together.
Upgrading during a renovation
Loft conversions, new en-suites and bathroom refits are ideal times to switch to unvented hot water, because pipework is already accessible. We also fit full bathrooms with our own tilers and electricians, so the cylinder and the new bathroom can be planned as one job.
FAQs
Unvented Cylinder Installations: your questions answered
What is G3 certification and why does it matter?
G3 is the qualification required by Building Regulations to install unvented hot water systems. It covers the safety devices that control temperature and pressure. Our engineers are G3 certified.
Will an unvented cylinder work in my home?
It depends mainly on your incoming mains pressure and flow rate. We test this on the survey before recommending anything.
How much does an unvented cylinder cost?
Cost depends on cylinder size, whether the boiler needs changing, and the pipework involved. We give a clear written quote after a free survey: we do not publish fixed prices.
How long does installation take?
It depends on whether loft tanks are removed and whether the boiler is being changed at the same time. We confirm timings on your quote.
Can I keep my current boiler?
Often yes, if it is a system or regular boiler in good condition. If you have a combi, you would usually need a system boiler to heat the cylinder.
Do unvented cylinders need servicing?
Yes, an annual check of the safety valves and expansion vessel is recommended. We can do this alongside your boiler service.
What warranty is included?
The manufacturer's warranty on the cylinder plus our own 12-month warranty on our workmanship.
Do you cover my area?
We fit unvented cylinders across NE, SR and DH postcodes and some DL postcodes, including North Shields, Whitley Bay, Newcastle and Sunderland.
Get mains-pressure hot water in every room
Free, no-obligation quote from a Gas Safe team with 25 years' experience and 1,400+ customers across the North East.
- 500+ Checkatrade reviews
- 12-month warranty on our workmanship
- £5m public liability insurance
Free, no-obligation quote