Unvented cylinders, serviced and safe.
Unvented cylinders (Megaflo and similar) give you mains-pressure hot water — but they hold that water under pressure, which is why the safety valves and expansion gear need a proper annual check by someone qualified to work on them.
- Annual safety checks by qualified engineers
- Relief valves, expansion vessel & stats checked
- Dripping tundish & pressure faults fixed
- Cylinder replacements quoted fixed-price
Why unvented cylinders need an annual service.
An unvented cylinder stores hot water at mains pressure, protected by a set of safety devices — temperature and pressure relief valves, an expansion vessel and a pressure reducing valve. When they're checked yearly they quietly do their job for decades. Left unchecked, a failed valve shows up as dripping overflow pipes, poor pressure, lukewarm water — or worse.
Our engineers are qualified for unvented work. A service covers the relief valves, expansion vessel pre-charge, immersion elements and thermostats, and the general state of the cylinder — with anything that needs attention explained in plain English before we touch it.
We also repair the common faults (dripping tundish, loss of pressure, no hot water from immersions) and replace cylinders that are past saving. Work is charged at our published hourly rates — £80+VAT for the first hour, then £40+VAT per half hour, on our pricing page; replacements are quoted fixed-price after a look at what's there.
Not sure whether your cylinder is vented or unvented? If it's fed from a cold tank in the loft it's vented; if there's no loft tank and the hot taps run at mains pressure, it's unvented — and this page is for you.
Cylinder on its last legs?
We fit new unvented cylinders and can advise honestly whether a straight swap or a combi conversion makes better sense for your home — call 01304 381999.
What our plumbers handle
Leaks and burst pipes, dripping and seized taps, toilets that run or will not flush, blocked or slow drains, tanks and cylinders, outside taps, isolation valves, and new pipework for kitchens and bathrooms. If it carries water in your home, we deal with it.
We work tidily and clear up after ourselves — a plumber who leaves your kitchen worse than they found it is not one you would call twice.
In a water emergency
Turn off the stopcock — usually under the kitchen sink — to stop the mains supply. If water is anywhere near electrics, switch off at the consumer unit. Then ring us on 01304 381999 and we will get an engineer to you as quickly as we can.
What it costs
No hidden feesYou know the rate before we set off. No call-out fee on top, no vague “from” pricing.
| First hour on site Always chargeable, even if the fix is quick. | £80+VAT £96 inc. VAT |
|---|---|
| Each additional half hour Charged in 30-minute increments after the first hour. | £40+VAT £48 inc. VAT |
- Parts are charged on top of labour — if we can get the part the same day, we'll usually fit it on the visit.
- We do not operate a guaranteed emergency call-out or out-of-hours cover service — we will always tell you honestly when we can get to you. Where we are able to attend outside normal working hours by prior arrangement, that time is charged at double the standard labour rate.
- BOYLA HomeCare members pay no call-out fee.
Questions we're often asked
Do you handle plumbing emergencies in East Kent?
Yes — burst pipes, serious leaks and no-water situations get priority. Ring 01304 381999 and we will get someone moving. If water is pouring, turn off the stopcock first (usually under the kitchen sink) and then call.
How is plumbing work charged?
At our hourly rate, with the first hour billable and half-hour increments after that, plus parts. We explain the rate when you book. For larger planned work such as a bathroom, we will give you a proper quote up front instead.
Do you do small jobs?
Happily. Dripping taps, running toilets, slow drains, a leaking isolation valve — small jobs done properly are what turn people into long-term customers, and we are glad to do them.
Where is my stopcock and why does it matter?
It is usually under the kitchen sink, and it shuts off the mains water to your whole house. It is worth finding it now, while nothing is wrong, and checking it actually turns — in a burst-pipe emergency those ten seconds save an enormous amount of damage.
Are your plumbers the same team as your heating engineers?
Yes — one local team for heating and plumbing, all based at our Deal office. It means whoever comes already knows the standard we work to, and you only have one number to remember.
Can you help with plumbing on a HomeCare plan?
The Home Complete plan (£28 a month) covers plumbing pipework, taps, toilet repairs and internal drains, with no call-out fees. The other plans focus on your boiler and heating system.
Recent work
A few jobs from around East Kent — our own photos, not stock images.
Where we cover
Based in Deal, covering the whole of East Kent — including: