FEATURE
WATER HEATING,
TANKS & CYLINDERS
“Much as you would when buying a car,
it’s well worth comparing the quality of
different cylinders and looking at the added
benefits that each manufacturer can offer”
The benefits of living
in an age of choice
From your coffee to your car, there is a wider selection of
options available than ever before. The same goes for cylinders,
but there are plenty of differences between the models on the
market, both in terms of quality and what you get from your
manufacturer. Ashley Langran, Megaflo Rewards team leader at
Heatrae Sadia, explains how to get more for your money.
When making any purchase,
most of us spend time
considering the various
possibilities.
On average, we visit at least three
websites before making a decision, and
this doesn’t just apply to online shopping,
almost 20% of us visit multiple physical
stores before making a purchase, too.
So, when it comes to the products you
work with on a daily basis, it makes sense
to apply this same logic.
Much as you would when buying a car,
it’s well worth comparing the quality of
different cylinders and looking at the
added benefits that each manufacturer
can offer. With this in mind, below are
a few key points to look out for when
deciding on the right cylinder model for
you and your customers.
QUALITY
This one sounds like a no-brainer, but
in reality, not everyone is aware of the
difference that higher quality materials
can make to a cylinder, and what that can
mean for operation and lifespan.
Given that unvented cylinders store
water under pressure, it is essential that
they are strong, durable and corrosionresistant.
In the UK, internal cylinders are, in
the main, made from stainless steel,
copper or enamelled mild steel. Some are
made from low-grade stainless steel also
require extra protection, and should be
monitored for signs of wear each year.
By far the preferred material is Duplex
stainless steel, as it has outstanding
corrosion-resistant properties. It is also
lightweight, giving it a strength-to-weight
ratio advantage.
For longer cylinder life, look out for
units that combine laser and TIG welding
and butt-welded joints to avoid crevices.
On a direct cylinder, a titanium
immersion heater is an indication of
quality, and on an indirect cylinder the
material to look for would be Superloy 825.
Both are high-grade, but the immersion
heater on a direct cylinder needs to be
made from a stronger material, as it will
be used more frequently than on an
indirect model, where the immersion acts
only as a back-up.
SUPPORT
Once you’ve ensured that the cylinder
you’re interested in has all the necessary
hallmarks of quality, the next important
criteria is the kind of support that your
manufacturer can provide.
As we all know, word of mouth referrals
can make a huge difference to a business,
so it is vital that you can rely on your
cylinder brand to support you and your
customers at every opportunity.
We offer the Megaflo Rewards loyalty
scheme. This gives members a number
of extra support benefits, both for
themselves and their customers. This
includes features such as priority next
day engineer call out for installers’
customers, easy warranty registration, and
on-call technical help from our team of
experienced engineers.
Rewards even provides free annual
service reminders, which are sent to
customers on the member’s behalf for
two years.
This kind of comprehensive support
can make all the difference, providing
peace of mind that customers will enjoy
priority service, and making every day
admin, such as warranty registration, as
easy as possible.
Many homes still require high levels of hot water
provision
LOYALTY SCHEMES
Another aspect to be aware of is the recent
emergence of installer loyalty schemes.
Once upon a time these initiatives were
generally only found in supermarkets and
department stores, but in recent years,
trade manufacturers have begun to offer
similar schemes as a way to reward their
regular installers.
These loyalty systems generally work
on a points basis, whereby members can
claim a certain number of points per
product purchased. These points can then
be exchanged for prizes such as holiday
vouchers, gadgets, or workwear.
Loyalty schemes which offer practical
support benefits alongside prizes and
perks provide the perfect platform for
cylinder installers, combining on-the-job
convenience alongside a host of rewards
for their ongoing loyalty.
While at first glance, it might seem
that there is little difference between
the variety of cylinders available on the
market today, there is definite value to be
gained from shopping around.
By finding a manufacturer which offers
more than the basics, installers can feel
confident of a happy customer every time,
while claiming rewards for their constant
hard work and brand loyalty.
ENQUIRY NUMBER 117
54 Heating & Plumbing Monthly | JUNE 2018 | www.hpmmag.com
/www.hpmmag.com
