Plumping question- direct / indirect. what do I need to buy?

[Steamer]

Plumbing and heating is not my area of knowledge at all!

I've got a retired plumber that has offered to help me do the fitting if I buy the parts.

Basically it a simple hot water tank that is needed, the old copper tank got taken out before I moved in. I've got the sizes 40" tall by 18" wide, but when I started shopping around I was given prices for: direct / indirect and fourtic...

.. so after going back to the plumber he said - just a direct immersion heater and get a ball valve too..

£302 for a Direct tank of that size sound about right?

The bit thats worrying me, the plumber said - the direct ones are split, with the hot tank being ontop. Now the only ones I've actually seen were in Wikes (£186), but when I looked inside they were just one big tank with a coil going down to the bottom (I'm guessing these were indirect)

I'm a bit lost!

[Steamer]

actually after looking at this:

http://www.gasapplianceguide.co.uk/Direct%20and%20...

I'm wondering if he meant a combination cylinder - hence the need for the ball valve at the top

[Ferg]

A Direct cylinder will have a tapping on the top, one low down on the side and an immersion heater boss.
An Indirect will have these PLUS two male tappings on the side which are the ends of the coil.
A 'Fortic' cylinder has a cold tank on the top. Otherwise called 'combination'.


Indirect cylinders are heated by the heating system in addition to having an electric element. Bear in mind that if you intend at any time having a central heating system fitted it's probably worth getting an indirect cylinder now as it will work perfectly well as a Direct cylinder, but can be connected up later to a heating system.

Edited by Ferg on Tuesday 19th May 17:58

[Steamer]

Thanks Ferg - nicely put!

I'm starting to get my head round it now!


I'm starting to think it was the 'Fortic' / 'combination' system that he was suggesting that I buy - hence the need to also make sure I get a ball valve at the same time.

So I'm looking for a Direct Combination cylinder - 40" x 18"

- I'm not too worried about the central heating addition at a later date - we have no gas in the building and I'm selling ASAP - so no future plans for the system - just need to fill the whole in the cupboard where the water tank should be.

Edited by Steamer on Tuesday 19th May 18:09

[Deva Link]

Steamer said:

actually after looking at this:

http://www.gasapplianceguide.co.uk/Direct%20and%20...

I'm wondering if he meant a combination cylinder - hence the need for the ball valve at the top

Is the property a flat? If it's a house, have you got a cold water tank in the loft?

[Steamer]

Deva Link said:

Steamer said:

actually after looking at this:

http://www.gasapplianceguide.co.uk/Direct%20and%20...

I'm wondering if he meant a combination cylinder - hence the need for the ball valve at the top

Is the property a flat? If it's a house, have you got a cold water tank in the loft?

Yes a flat

[Deva Link]

Steamer said:

Deva Link said:

Steamer said:

actually after looking at this:

http://www.gasapplianceguide.co.uk/Direct%20and%20...

I'm wondering if he meant a combination cylinder - hence the need for the ball valve at the top

Is the property a flat? If it's a house, have you got a cold water tank in the loft?

Yes a flat

In that case the combination cylinder (and the ball valve comment) make sense.