New Electric Water Heater Needed > Advice Please

[J_A_M_E_S]

I need to replace a leaking Ariston 210 litre unvented floor standing water heater that's leaking and has been condemned (after 8 years). It only services the hot water to the shower/bath/taps as the rooms are heated by electric heaters. I have been advised that as this is in a small apartment with a maximum of 2 people in, it is too large and I can replace with a 150l or 180l version.

My question is; what are the best options for replacement as I am put off by the 5 year guarantee on the Ariston 210 litre (or 180 litre) which is a direct replacement (stainless steel) when I have seen other heaters with longer guarantees?

The existing heater had 2 x 3kw elements but I only used one (top one) as my need for hot water wasn’t that great.

Other points I needs advice on are 24hr or 1 week timers (are there any that have this function)? Night heating (economy 7?) and what brands are more reliable and offer longer guarantees (I think i’m looking in the region of about £600 plus fitting).

Any advice appreciated – let me know if you need further information!

 

[REDSAW]

welcome.

 

[oldplumber]

I need to replace a leaking Ariston 210 litre unvented floor standing water heater that's leaking and has been condemned (after 8 years). It only services the hot water to the shower/bath/taps as the rooms are heated by electric heaters. I have been advised that as this is in a small apartment with a maximum of 2 people in, it is too large and I can replace with a 150l or 180l version.

My question is; what are the best options for replacement as I am put off by the 5 year guarantee on the Ariston 210 litre (or 180 litre) which is a direct replacement (stainless steel) when I have seen other heaters with longer guarantees?

if i remember right, the ariston has anodes which needed checking annually when you service the cylinder, if you dont replace them then the cyl will quickly rot out. the cyl size will be based on no of rooms baths etc and for a 2 bed apartment 210 is the size i would install. replacing like for like is cheaper no new pipework etc or fit what your installer reccomends. remember to check they have an unvented ticket before you allow them to work on your system

The existing heater had 2 x 3kw elements but I only used one (top one) as my need for hot water wasn’t that great.

the top element is only for boosting the water temp during the day, you should have the lower element connected to an economy 7 type supply to heat up the cylinder overnight on a cheaper electricity rate, which will supply enough HW over the day then

Other points I needs advice on are 24hr or 1 week timers (are there any that have this function)? Night heating (economy 7?) and what brands are more reliable and offer longer guarantees (I think i’m looking in the region of about £600 plus fitting).

if you use economy 7 you dont need a timer and the other immersion is only turned on to boost the hw heating as and when needed.

 

[turnpin]

welcome james I concur with old plumbers replyregards turnpin

 

[J_A_M_E_S]

REDSAW34 - thanks for the welcome!

oldplumber - thanks for the advice, which is probably the answer I was leaning to.

Just a very basic question (which I should know the answer to); what/how do I find out if or get onto an economy 7 tarrif? Is is based on the cylinder, or the power supplier or what? I like the idea of only heating up the major part of the water in the evenings at cheaper rates but how does the cylinder differentiate the times (I can't see any timers on the Ariston 210 I have)?

Sorry - such a basic question but if you don't know, you don't know!

turnpin - thanks for concurring! The more answers I get that say the same things, the more confident i'll be of getting the right solution!

 

[stevetheplumber]

I need to replace a leaking Ariston 210 litre unvented floor standing water heater that's leaking and has been condemned (after 8 years). It only services the hot water to the shower/bath/taps as the rooms are heated by electric heaters. I have been advised that as this is in a small apartment with a maximum of 2 people in, it is too large and I can replace with a 150l or 180l version.

My question is; what are the best options for replacement as I am put off by the 5 year guarantee on the Ariston 210 litre (or 180 litre) which is a direct replacement (stainless steel) when I have seen other heaters with longer guarantees?

if i remember right, the ariston has anodes which needed checking annually when you service the cylinder, if you dont replace them then the cyl will quickly rot out. the cyl size will be based on no of rooms baths etc and for a 2 bed apartment 210 is the size i would install. replacing like for like is cheaper no new pipework etc or fit what your installer reccomends. remember to check they have an unvented ticket before you allow them to work on your system

The existing heater had 2 x 3kw elements but I only used one (top one) as my need for hot water wasn’t that great.

the top element is only for boosting the water temp during the day, you should have the lower element connected to an economy 7 type supply to heat up the cylinder overnight on a cheaper electricity rate, which will supply enough HW over the day then

Other points I needs advice on are 24hr or 1 week timers (are there any that have this function)? Night heating (economy 7?) and what brands are more reliable and offer longer guarantees (I think i’m looking in the region of about £600 plus fitting).

if you use economy 7 you dont need a timer and the other immersion is only turned on to boost the hw heating as and when needed.

ariston do two ranges only one uses anodes im sure the better range has a longer gaurantee as well

 

[J_A_M_E_S]

...the model I currently have is (from memory) Ariston Contract STD 210 litre Unvented - and glass lined with 2 x 3kw heating elements.

The one i'm closest to replacing that with is the same as the above but it has been superceded with stainless steel as far as i'm aware.

This would seem to be my safest/easiest bet as it's the most similar one to the one I have - but the guarantee's still only 5 years from the (little) research i've done.

It is right to say that it would also take the shortest time to install as all the pipes are in the correct places.

How long and install do you think this would take? Half a day to install, fill and test (if the old one's already removed)?