Upgrading domestic hot water

[LJK]

Hello - always been impressed with this forum, and the time has come for a first post...

I have inherited a partially complete hot water system.

Currently a 3kW immersion heater heats the water in the (direct) hot water water cylinder. We find the supply inadequate for the family (cold showers after wife has had her bath!).

The house has a Worcester Danesmoor 26/32 boiler (rated at 26kW) currently only used for CH. If I were to fit an indirect hot water cylinder (the piping was partially completed by my late father), would I see an improvement in the production of DHW?

Possibly a no-brainer query given the capacity of the boiler, but before going to the effort and expense of making the modification I would like to check.

thanks,

LJK

 

[Madrab]

Yes, without a doubt. It would be reliant on a large enough cylinder that has a reasonable heat recovery though.

An indirect cylinder fed by a boiler will always recover faster (and cheaper) than a direct cylinder fed by an immersion heater.

Of course you could always have your showers first and then ask your wife to wait for the cylinder to heat back up for her bath. The bath uses about 5 time more hot water than a normal shower.

 

[LJK]

Thank you Rob, I shall proceed with the replacement. And thanks for the tip on getting a cylinder with good heat recovery.

The behavioural modification you suggest, though perfectly wise, is harder to implement