What Is a Pressurised Water System and Do I Need One?
A pressurised (unvented) hot water system gives you mains-pressure hot water at every tap and shower, without needing a cold water tank in the loft.
How does it work?
A pressurised system heats water in a sealed cylinder connected directly to the mains. Because there is no cold water tank feeding it from above, the hot water comes out at full mains pressure. That means better shower pressure, faster bath filling, and consistent flow even when more than one tap is running.
Do I need one?
If you have poor shower pressure, a tank in the loft taking up space, or you are renovating and want a cleaner setup, a pressurised system is worth considering. They work well in larger properties - we recently installed one in a 4-bed house and the customer said the team “arrived on time each day, left the house tidy, and finished the job on time and within budget.”
For more details on cylinder options, see our guide to unvented hot water cylinders.
What are the downsides?
Installation costs more than a standard vented system because the components are pricier and the work needs to be done by a qualified engineer (G3 certified). Annual servicing is also recommended to check the safety valves.
Can any property have one?
You need decent mains water pressure to start with - at least 1.5 bar. We will check this during the quote visit. If your mains pressure is too low, a pressurised system would not give you the results you are after. If low mains pressure is a problem, read our guide on low water pressure causes and fixes.
Need help with this?
Call us on 01932 943 009 or email info@hphsolutions.co.uk. We cover Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire and London. Free quotes, no obligation.
