Thermal Energy Store Cost

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It will typically cost £1,900 to install a thermal store in your home, on average. However, the cost may change depending on a few factors, which we'll take a look at in this detailed cost guide.

How Much Does a Thermal Store Cost?

As the colder winter months close in, it can feel as if the heating never turns off, and the bills continue to rise. But there is a different way to save money and conserve energy in those colder months.

A typical household will have a system that constantly heats the water you want to use for baths, showers, and washing the dishes. While useful, it's not necessarily the best option for cost-efficiency and energy consumption.

Thermal stores are insulated tanks that hold hot water, ready for when you want to use it.

So, how much do thermal stores cost?

The average thermal store installation costs £1,900, including labour and materials.

In this guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about thermal stores, including the different types of thermal stores, how they work and many other aspects of thermal stores.

Thermal Energy Store Prices

The average cost of installing a thermal energy store is £1,900. The job will usually take 1 day to complete.

Let's look at thermal store installation prices in more detail:

Thermal Store Supply Only Costs

Depending on the specification and quality of the thermal store you choose, your initial supply costs will differ:

Unvented Thermal Store Costs

• A budget unvented thermal store costs £950 to £1,100
• A premium unvented thermal store costs £1,650 to £1,800

Vented Thermal Store Costs

• A budget vented thermal store costs £1,050 to £1,200
• A premium vented thermal store costs £1,850 to £2,000

There may also be some other materials required for the job, like insulation and additional pipes, especially if you are hiding the cylinder away in a loft space or a cupboard.

The heating engineer will give you a full breakdown of the costs involved, including any additional materials they may need.

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Labour Costs and Timescales

The labour cost to install a thermal store is between £400 and £500.

The installation of a thermal store is a two-person job, mainly due to the size and manoeuvrability of the thermal store.

If the engineers find any issues with the mains water source, or the compartment in which you want the thermal store installed, you may find that the price increases.

Cost of living also plays a part in determining your labour charges, with traders in London and the surrounding areas costing more than those in less densely populated areas of the UK.

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Additional Costs

There are often additional costs associated with the installation of a thermal store.

These usually centre around your boiler, making it a good time to upgrade or replace an old boiler at the same time as installing your thermal store.

We're going to explore these additional costs in a little more detail:

Installing a New Boiler

A new boiler costs around £2,400 in the UK.

New boilers are great additions to your home to improve the safety and peace of mind that a new, high-quality boiler brings. More modern boilers are considerably more cost-efficient, and will save you money on your energy bills in the long run.

Replacing a boiler yourself is out of the question as it is a technical, complex process that only trained and licensed heating engineers should undertake.

In the UK, only Gas Safe registered engineers can work on gas boilers.

Boiler Service

The average cost for a boiler service in the UK is around £100.

If you're happy with the health of your boiler and don't think you need a replacement, it's still a good idea to have this checked by a professional to ensure there aren't any hidden issues.

The service will only take about an hour and will consist of a visual inspection, a boiler case removal, a flue check, a gas pressure check, and a boiler fire-up check.

These are your boiler's main functions, and the engineer will be checking for anything that isn't performing as it should, hinting that there may be a need for a repair or adjustment.

Cost Factors of Installing a Thermal Store

Size and Type of Thermal Store

If you live in a small house with one other person, you're going to use much less hot water than a household with four children.

In turn, you might as well purchase and install a much smaller thermal store, which will cost less in materials, thus saving you money.

However, if you have a big family in your household, it's a good idea to opt for the bigger store, and while it may be a bigger investment, you will save a lot of money in energy bills over time. The quality of the thermal store will also affect the price of the job.

As with anything, there are thermal stores at either end of the price spectrum, from cheaper budget options to top-of-the-range options that cost far more than the average.

The best thing to do is to buy the best you can afford, and the engineer should be able to advise you on which thermal store they think would be best for your requirements.

Heating System

The heating system you have when installing the thermal store could affect the price of the job.

For example, if you have an old boiler, its components may not match the new thermal store, meaning that some aspects of the boiler or thermal store must be adjusted for it to work properly.

If your boiler is too old to be compatible with the thermal store, you may need to replace the boiler fully.

When the heating engineer quotes the job for you, they will take a look at your boiler and advise on whether the job could be done with it or not, and if not, what you will need to upgrade before they can.

Location and Ease of Access

Thermal stores need somewhere to live. While it's a good idea to keep the thermal store out of the way, this can affect the amount of time it takes to install the thermal store.

Small cupboards and storage spaces are quite tight, so it may take a bit of manoeuvring to get the thermal store.

What's Involved in a Thermal Store Installation?

The process of installing a thermal store is extremely technical, and should only be completed by a qualified heating engineer.

To give you an idea about the different aspects involved in installing a thermal store, we've provided a brief step-by-step guide:

• The engineer will isolate the water at the mains, and they will also switch off the electricity.
• Once the water and electricity are off, the engineer will begin work to remove the old cylinder from your home if there was one there already.
• Before dismantling the thermal store, it will be fully drained.
• The pipework will be dismantled, and the thermal store will be broken down and removed from your home, leaving space for the new one to be installed.
• If this is a new thermal store, pipes will be run from your mains supply to the location in which your thermal store will be installed.
• The new thermal store will be placed, and the pipework will be connected.
• The heating component of the cylinder will be connected, the water and electricity will be reset, and your thermal store will be in action.

Can I Install a Thermal Store?

Installing a thermal store isn't suitable for DIY.

Working with both plumbing and electrics simultaneously is very hazardous, not to mention the added element of gas boilers.

There are far too many parts of this job that could go astray if not completed by a professional, and if the boiler is damaged, this can lead to gas leaks and other life-threatening issues.

This job should only be completed by a licensed professional and a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Thermal Store Installation

You do not need planning permission for this job as it comes under the permitted development section.

However, when you come to sell your home, you should keep full records that the thermal store was fitted by a professional and copies of the BENCHMARK certificates that certify the store is energy efficient.

Choosing a Thermal Store

There are two main types of thermal store:

Vented Thermal Store Cost

A vented thermal store is the more complex of the two options. This store uses a separate feed and expansion tank.

You will have a large hot water storage tank, which will most probably live out of the way in your loft space, which can take up a lot of space.

Unvented Thermal Store Cost

An unvented thermal store cylinder is the more basic of the two options.

The water source comes from your main water, and it's a great option if you don't have a lot of space for a huge water tank.

It does mean that if your mains water supply is off, your back-up water tank won't last very long.

The vented thermal store is slightly more expensive than the unvented option due to the big tank. However, both options have a varied price range, from budget options to top-of-the-range brands to choose from.

Benefits of Installing a Thermal Store

Thermal stores bring a lot of different benefits to your household:

• Improved Energy Efficiency - Thermal stores make use of the heat already made in your heating system, helping to reduce energy waste.
• Back-Up Hot Water - If your boiler breaks down, you'll still have a reserve of hot water to use.
• Compatible with Different Energy Sources - Thermal stores work alongside many different energy sources, such as gas, oil, and solar panels.

Checklist: How to Find and Hire Contractors to Install a Thermal Store in the UK

Here's what we suggest when searching for a thermal store installer:

• Use MyJobQuote to compare at least 3 different heating engineers to get an idea of prices in your area.
• Take a look at the trader's past jobs and read their customer reviews.
• If you have a gas boiler, make sure your trader is Gas Safe registered.
• Check that the trader is fully insured to work in your home, as this protects both you and the trader from any issues further down the line in the case of damage or injury.
• Be sure to ask about any guarantees or warranties on labour and parts.

FAQs

Sources

https://www.phoenix-fireplaces.co.uk/blog/what-are-thermal-stores
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/424254/heat_networks.pdf
https://heatingforce.co.uk/blog/installation-cost-vented-unvented-hot-water-cylinders/
https://mcdonaldwaterstorage.com/how-does-a-thermal-store-work/