Modern replacement for a standard tank and immersion heater

[bmwonder]

I have a client who is using a hot water tank and standard 14in immersion heater element on a 13A fused spur for their hot water needs. It's running 24/7 relying on the immersion stat. There is no gas to the property (and no potential of getting it). Its a very large 5 bed farmhouse. What's the best replacement for this? There has to be a more modern and efficient way of doing this? Anyone have any recommendations? It's a large property with several bathrooms a kitchen and a utility so I don't think individual instantaneous water heaters will do. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Air source heat pump, ground source heat pump, solar thermal, biomass, oil boiler, LPG boiler or electric boiler.

 

[LeeH]

I think Lee has covered it there!

My solar heats a huge unvented tank up to 65 deg by lunchtime on a reasonably bright day using the Apollo Gem with my array.

Big investment, but quicker payback times if you're heating all your water via electric.

 

[westward10]

Electric boiler is the easiest method.

 

[davesparks]

The direct equivalent for the old hot water cylinder would be the modern unvented hot water cylinder, which operates at mains pressure and has better insulation.

A Simple improvement to the current setup could be made by adding a timeswitch. Presumably there is an E7 supply or something like it?

 

[bmwonder]

Thanks for this. I'm aware of GS and AS heat pumps and solar etc, but that more investment and setup than the client wants. I was hoping that there was a some form of high efficiency water heater that someone had experience of?

 

[Leesparkykent]

Thanks for this. I'm aware of GS and AS heat pumps and solar etc, but that more investment and setup than the client wants. I was hoping that there was a some form of high efficiency water heater that someone had experience of?

Willis water heater/external immersion?

 

[davesparks]

Thanks for this. I'm aware of GS and AS heat pumps and solar etc, but that more investment and setup than the client wants. I was hoping that there was a some form of high efficiency water heater that someone had experience of?

Immersion heaters are pretty much as efficient as they can get, as much of the energy that is put in is converted to heat as possible.
It is the heat losses through the outside of the tank which need to be addressed, the better insulated the hot water cylinder, the less energy is wasted.

The cheapest way to improve the efficiency of an electrically heated hot water cylinder is to insulate it as much as possible.

 

[littlespark]

I connected up a Thermaflow boiler from Macdonald Engineers. Heats a tank of water overnight on E7, Circulates this water round radiators. Hot water is produced by running cold through a coil around the tank.
No idea about running costs yet, but will be more efficient than the 1980's wood burning stove with back-boiler that it replaced, and better than electric bricky brick storage heaters.

 

[khushwant]

I connected up a Thermaflow boiler from Macdonald Engineers. Heats a tank of water overnight on E7, Circulates this water round radiators. Hot water is produced by running cold through a coil around the tank.
No idea about running costs yet, but will be more efficient than the 1980's wood burning stove with back-boiler that it replaced, and better than electric bricky brick storage heaters.

any update on the costs of this as yet please?