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Best Solfex Heat Pump Cylinders
Published: 21 May 2025 ・ Read time: 6 Mins
When installing a heat pump system for domestic hot water (DHW), standard hot water cylinders designed for a traditional boiler aren't effective. Instead, a heat pump-specific hot water cylinder is required to promote an efficient and reliable heating solution.
Solfex heat pump cylinders are an excellent choice as an efficient, reliable, and environmentally friendly heating solution. With their high efficiency, durability, and ease of installation, these cylinder choices allow customers to enjoy the benefits of a more sustainable and cost-effective heating system.
Here at City Plumbing, the home of heating, we look at the benefits of using Solfex heat pump cylinders on your renewable projects, highlighting some of our most popular models.
Why Choose Solfex Heat Pump Cylinders?
A Solfex heat pump cylinder is a specialist hot water storage solution that bridges the gap between a heat pump (which generates heat at lower temperatures) and a home's demand for hot water. Its intelligent design maximises the efficiency of the heat pump while ensuring a reliable and ample supply of hot water.
Solfex heat pump cylinders are known for their high quality, durability, and energy efficiency. These cylinders are designed to work seamlessly with heat pumps, providing a reliable and environmentally friendly heating solution for the home.
Whether your customers are looking to reduce their carbon footprint or save money on energy bills, a heat pump cylinder from Solfex is the perfect choice solution.
From Garage Start-up to Industry Leader: A Brief History of Solfex
Founded in 2006 in Preston by heating engineers, Solfex’s roots lie firmly with engineering professionals who hold a deep understanding of the installer's needs.
Starting with just solar thermal, the company today offers a vast range of products, including solar thermal systems, heat pump cylinders, and accessories, while boasting a reputation synonymous with quality and innovation in the heating solutions industry.
Yet, what truly sets Solfex apart is its dedication to the installer. With a background in installation, the Solfex team has meticulously curated its product range, ensuring that everything is easy to install, user-friendly, and suited for the UK market. Controls have even been pre-set for UK preferences, a testament to their attention to detail.
Dedicated to making installers' jobs easier, Solfex continues to introduce helpful accessories and support to industry professionals.
The Benefits of Choosing a Solfex Heat Pump Cylinder
- Unique High Flow, High Gain, Full Bore Coil Design: This is the most critical aspect. Heat pumps operate at lower temperatures than traditional boilers, so the heat exchange coil inside the cylinder needs to be significantly larger to transfer enough heat into the stored water efficiently and quickly. Solfex explicitly highlights this feature as central to their cylinders' superior performance. This ensures:
High Efficiency: The heat pump operates at its optimal efficiency (higher COP/SCOP) because it can effectively transfer heat at lower temperatures.
Fast Recovery Times: The water in the cylinder reheats quickly after demand, meaning you're less likely to run out of hot water.
- Duplex Stainless Steel Construction: Solfex cylinders are manufactured from high-grade 1mm thick Duplex Stainless Steel. This material offers:
Superior Corrosion Resistance: Essential for longevity, especially in areas with varying water quality.
Durability: Contributes to a long lifespan, which is backed by their extensive warranties.
- Excellent Insulation: Solfex cylinders are typically "fully insulated with 50mm 100% CFC and HCFC free polyurethane." Minimal heat loss is crucial for heat pump systems, as the goal is to keep the water hot using as little energy as possible. Good insulation reduces standing heat losses, further improving overall system efficiency.
- Universal Compatibility: Solfex markets its heat pump cylinders as "universally compatible with any heat pump." This is a significant advantage, giving installers flexibility. It means their design parameters (coil size, heat transfer capabilities) are broad enough to work effectively with most air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps on the market.
- Comprehensive Components and Controls: They are usually "fitted and supplied with all the required components and controls" (inlet control group, expansion vessel, tundish, dual probe thermostat) This streamlines installation and ensures all necessary safety and operational elements are integrated.
- Long Warranty: Solfex offers a 25-year manufacturer's warranty on the cylinder and a 2-year parts warranty. A long warranty on the inner tank is a strong indicator of manufacturer confidence in durability and quality.
- Integrated Backup Immersion Heater: A "long-life 3kW Incoloy immersion heater" is supplied as standard. This is vital for:
Legionella Protection: Periodically boosting the water temperature to eliminate bacteria.
Demand Boost: Providing supplementary heat during periods of extremely high hot water demand or if there's an issue with the heat pump.
Shop Solfex Heat Pump Cylinders At City Plumbing
Our range of Solfex heat pump cylinders here at City Plumbing is spectacular, with choices ranging from 120 litres to 300 litres, we offer unvented cylinders, slimline unvented cylinders, and twin coil solar cylinders from this impressive range.
Our universal heat pump Solfex cylinders are all fitted and supplied with all the required components and controls to provide seamless compatibility with your chosen heat pump.
Designed exclusively for renewable energy systems, Solfex cylinders feature a unique high-flow, high-gain, full-bore coil design promoting superior performance.
The inclusion of a highly efficient primary coil works to ensure rapid exchange of heat from the heat pump with a long-life 3kW Incoloy immersion heater supplied as standard. Boasting an enhanced surface area, the design of a Solfex cylinder works by creating a rapid transfer of the low temperature inputs of ground and air source heat pumps.
Determine The Best Solfex Cylinder For Your Customer
The best Solfex cylinder will ultimately depend on your customer's needs, including household capacity, available space, and specific heat pump capability.
For further information on heat pump cylinders or guidance on the best training, courses, and certifications for this industry, why not speak to the Renewables Team at City Plumbing? Experts in the latest energy-efficient technologies, we're perfectly placed to help homes and businesses make the smooth transition to renewable technology.
If you’re looking for helpful advice and suggestions on choosing the best products for your customers, take a further look at our City Plumbing website for more information.
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