Not every heating project is a straightforward boiler swap. Sometimes a property needs a more comprehensive overhaul to bring its entire heating and hot water system up to scratch.
We were recently called out to a property in Alderholt, a village in north-east Dorset, to carry out an unvented cylinder installation in Alderholt alongside a full underfloor heating revamp — a project that transformed the way the home managed both heat and hot water from top to bottom.
About This Project
The property in Alderholt had two significant problems that needed addressing. First, the existing unvented cylinder had reached the end of its serviceable life and needed replacing. Second, the underfloor heating throughout the property — covering both the ground floor and the first floor — had stopped working reliably and was in need of a complete overhaul.
Underfloor heating systems are fantastic when they work well, but when the controls, manifolds, and pump kits are outdated or failing, the whole system becomes inefficient, unreliable, and frustrating to manage. That was exactly the situation this customer was dealing with.
The scope of work on this project was substantial and included:
- Removal of the old unvented cylinder and installation of a new replacement unit
- Full overhaul of the ground floor and first floor underfloor heating systems
- Supply and installation of new manifolds throughout
- New pump kits fitted to both zones
- New actuators installed across the system
- Individual room thermostat controls fitted throughout the property
- New programmers installed for improved scheduling and control
- Zoning of the radiators in the loft conversion for separate, independent control
- Full testing and commissioning of the complete system
The loft conversion radiators were a particular focus. By zoning these separately from the main underfloor heating circuits, the customer now has far greater flexibility over how and when each part of the home is heated — only warming the loft space when it is actually in use, which delivers real energy savings over time.
The end result was a property with a fully functioning, properly zoned heating system and reliable mains-pressure hot water — a significant improvement on what had been there before. You can find out more about our cylinder work on our unvented cylinders page and our full range of underfloor heating services on our underfloor heating specialists page.
What Was Involved: Unvented Cylinder Installation in Alderholt
An unvented cylinder is a sealed hot water storage vessel that draws directly from the mains, delivering hot water at mains pressure throughout the home. Unlike older vented systems that rely on a cold water tank in the loft, an unvented cylinder requires no header tank and delivers a far stronger, more consistent flow of hot water to every outlet.
When an unvented cylinder reaches the end of its life, replacement is not something to delay. An ageing or failing cylinder can become inefficient, unreliable, and in some cases a safety concern. Replacement by a qualified engineer ensures the new unit is correctly installed, safely commissioned, and compliant with current building regulations — all of which we completed as part of this project in Alderholt.
Key benefits of the new unvented cylinder installation include:
Full compliance with current regulations and manufacturer warranty in place
Mains pressure hot water to every tap, shower, and bath in the property
No cold water tank required in the loft, freeing up valuable space
Faster hot water recovery times compared to older vented systems
What Was Involved: Underfloor Heating Overhaul in Alderholt
Underfloor heating is one of the most comfortable and energy-efficient ways to heat a home, distributing warmth evenly across the floor rather than relying on radiators to heat the air around them. But like any heating system, the controls and components need to be in good working order to deliver those benefits.
On this project, the manifolds, pump kits, and actuators across both floors were all replaced, and individual room thermostats were fitted throughout. This level of control means each room can now be set to its own temperature independently, rather than the entire floor running at the same setting — a significant step forward in both comfort and efficiency.
The addition of separate zoning for the loft conversion radiators ties the whole system together, giving the customer a modern, intelligent heating setup that responds to how they actually use their home.
Are You Looking for Unvented Cylinder or Underfloor Heating Services in Alderholt?
If you are based in Alderholt or the surrounding villages of north Dorset and your unvented cylinder needs replacing, or your underfloor heating system is not performing as it should, we would love to hear from you.
At Max Shutler Plumbing & Heating Ltd, we are Gas Safe registered engineers with hands-on experience across a wide range of heating and hot water projects — from straightforward cylinder replacements to complex, multi-zone underfloor heating overhauls like this one. If you are not sure what the problem is, we are equally happy to come out, assess the system, and give you an honest picture of what is needed.
Our guide on how to find a heating engineer near you is a great starting point if you are new to finding a trusted local engineer, with practical advice to help you make the right choice.
Whatever your heating or hot water challenge, we are always happy to talk it through with no obligation.
📞 Call us today on 07545 198220 to arrange a free, no-obligation quote for your unvented cylinder installation or underfloor heating project in Alderholt or the surrounding area.
