DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL HEATING
Reliable hot water solution for historic Cotswolds hotel
When hot water issues became a potential issue for guest comfort at the Kings Head Hotel in Cirencester, the Brakspear Group turned to Spa Gas and Baxi for a lasting solution. Their collaborative approach overcame access challenges and hard water problems, delivering an efficient, reliable system that keeps the boutique hotel running seamlessly
T
he Kings Head Hotel, a boutique 64-bedroom Cotswold Inn in the heart of Cirencester, is well known for the consistently high-quality service it offers its guests. As with all hotel buildings, ensuring
a reliable and efficient hot water supply is a priority for the hotel owners, Brakspear Group, for the comfort and safety of its guests. So, when issues were encountered with the hot water supply, they approached Baxi service agents Spa Gas to assess the cause and recommend a suitable replacement. A key requirement was to ensure long-term protection against further water-related issues.
Following an inspection, Spa Gas identified that two of the three existing water heaters were beyond economical repair. Cirencester is notorious for its hard water, a factor which can lead to scale build-up and internal corrosion in water heaters. Spa Gas identified this as being a contributing factor to the premature failure of the units.
The next step was to calculate the hot water demand with accurate sizing key to optimise efficiency and minimise associated energy costs and carbon emissions. After using the Andrews Water Heaters ‘Size-it’ tool to carry out detailed sizing calculations, Spa Gas recommended replacing the two failing gas water heaters with a single Andrews Water Heaters MAXXflo EVO 150-302. Andrews Water Heaters is part of Baxi.
Access and lifting challenges
A key challenge on the replacement project at Kings Head was the need to navigate tight lifting and access restrictions. The first hurdle was the location of the top-floor hotel plant room. Manoeuvring a fully assembled, new MAXXflo EVO to the second floor within the live hotel environment was deemed costly, time- consuming and near impossible. The position of the hotel in front of a busy shopping street added to the access issues. Applying for council road closure permission and a crane licence to remove the old plant and bring in the new was similarly not considered a feasible solution.
The solution
Working with Baxi, the Spa Gas team concluded that the most viable approach was to disassemble the water heater into smaller, manageable sections. The components could then be transported safely into the plant room ready for reassembly, installation and commissioning. Given the known water hardness in Cirencester, and the poor condition of
the removed water heaters, Spa Gas also recommended installing a commercial-grade, salt-based water softener. This protects not only the newly installed water heater but also the remaining ECOflo unit still in service.
A watertight outcome
The replacement project was carried out seamlessly with minimal disruption to hotel operations. The added protection from the water softener has also ensured the longevity of the new system, helping reduce future maintenance costs and downtime for the hotel. Brakspear Group’s Anthony Lewis said: “We
are extremely pleased with how the project has gone. We have a highly efficient new gas-fired water heater that will meet our hot water needs reliably now and in the future.
Future-proofed air handling Rhoss ADV-DNAIR AHUs from Klima-Therm
Fully customisable AHUs for every application:
● Infinite variations in componentry and dimensions
● Patented structure for compactness, access, performance and hygiene
● Integral control options ● TB1/T2 thermal performance as standard
● IAQ optimised: up to ePM1 90% filtration and active anti-viral options
● Eurovent certified performance ● Reduced lead times
www.klima-therm.co.uk
“By navigating the access challenges on this project, Spa Gas were able to finish in an impressively short timeframe. This has enabled us to maintain business as normal with a continuous hot water supply and quality operation. It has been a great example of a collaborative effort resulting in a fantastic outcome.” Anne Wraith, head of commercial product sales at Baxi, added: “At Baxi, we are committed to working closely with the hotel sector to meet their heating and hot water needs with reliable, highly efficient solutions. By providing expert support throughout and flexibility to meet customers’ needs, we can help hotel managers identify the best solution for their project while ensuring the best approach to achieve optimal reliability and performance.
i0590-02 KT D'ENAIR 1:4pg BSEE AD
AW.indd 1 Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk Klima-Therm qp BSEE
Nov25.indd 1
12/09/2025 13:28 14/10/25 10:30 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER NOVEMBER 2025 9
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46
