PHAM NEWS | DECEMBER/JANUARY 2026 Water Heating & Cylinders 35


Installer reaps the benefits of an upgrade


Industry professional Phil Clarke, director of the Whitehaven-based renewables company PCL Net Zero, has future-proofed his own family home by replacing a gas-fired boiler with a fully integrated low-carbon solution. His system includes a Vaillant aroTHERM plus heat pump and the uniSTOR plus hot water cylinder.


D


riven by his passion for reducing carbon emissions, Phil Clarke replaced his gas-fired boiler


with a renewable energy solution to meet the heating and hot water needs of his family home in the Lake District. This included the installation


of a Vaillant aroTHERM plus heat pump, a uniSTOR plus 175-litre slimline pre-plumbed cylinder, and a new purpose-built buffer, which in Phil’s design serves as a volumiser, all achieved without taking up any additional space. And the low-carbon solution now works seamlessly alongside other sustainable improvements Phil has introduced to his property, including solar PV and battery storage.


Sustainability first Phil says his company, PCL Net Zero, has been installing heat pumps since 2009, so he knows first-hand how effective they are as a sustainable, low carbon heating technology. To further his ambition for greener living, Phil installed solar PV on the roof of his home along with battery storage, a combination that works seamlessly with his new heat pump and cylinder. “The retrofit involved


removing our old natural gas boiler, installing the aroTHERM plus heat pump on the rear patio beneath my daughter’s bedroom window, and fitting the new uniSTOR plus 175-litre pre-plumbed cylinder in the space previously occupied by the old hot water cylinder,” says Phil. “The installation benefits of the new uniSTOR cylinder were clear from the outset for our in-house design team and installation engineers. “We replaced the older


cylinder with the new Vaillant uniSTOR and were able to achieve a neater, more efficient installation compared to its predecessor. Among my favourite features is the pre- installed filling loop, and the integrated internal expansion vessel built into the uniSTOR plus which is the model I chose. Meanwhile, the uniSTOR pure range offers flexibility with a remote, external expansion vessel for more traditional installations.


PROJECT DETAILS


VAILLANT EQUIPMENT aroTHERM plus heat pump and uniSTOR plus 175-litre slimline pre-plumbed hot water cylinder


SUPPORTING TECHNOLOGIES Solar PV system Battery storage system UFH system


JOB LOCATION Installed in the home of Phil Clarke in Whitehaven, Lake District


INSTALLATION COMPANY PCL Net Zero, a renewable energy and heating design company founded by Phil Clarke


“The flexibility to site the new


buffer either above or below the cylinder saved us considerable installation time. In my case, placing the buffer underneath the cylinder allowed us to add system volume without using extra wall or floor space, a huge advantage.” Having plenty of experience


of working with other cylinder brands, Phil had a positive impression right from the start of his process. “The product was well


packaged and is aesthetically pleasing to look at. Our team of engineers all commented on the clear and easy-to-follow instructions that accompanied the uniSTOR cylinder and appreciated the inclusion of all the major accessories required for a speedy and successful installation. “The engineers also said that


We’ve seen a significant reduction in running costs since the retrofit


q The ability to fit the buffer tank at the top or beneath the cylinder helps to overcome some potential space restrictions


the thoughtfully positioned in-line connections and pre- plumbed features ensured varied fixing options were available, which would certainly help them when it came to the scenarios that can be faced in different property types and location spaces.”


Performance certainty With the heat pump and hot water cylinder combination up and running with almost a year’s worth of data, Phil has been able to make some initial comparisons with the previous system. He


t Vaillant’s uniSTOR range has been central to a successful low-carbon retrofit project at a residential property


and excellent performance, and multiple connection options to suit any scenario. The integration of the internal expansion vessel is a particularly smart feature.” And Phil is optimistic that the


development of the uniSTOR cylinder will support the growth of sustainable choices going forward. He concludes: “We’re going to


see more and more heat pump systems specified as households look for ways to cut emissions and reduce energy costs. Incentives like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, alongside government legislation and the upcoming Future Homes Standard, will only accelerate this trend and drive adoption. Beyond the clear installation benefits, Vaillant’s new uniSTOR cylinder is compatible with any heat pump system, making it an ideal partner for products such as the aroTHERM plus. I would certainly recommend the cylinder and am pleased to have one installed in our own family home.”


has been very impressed with the outcome, noting excellent efficiency, quick recovery times, and excellent performance. “The cylinder allows highly


efficient hot water delivery, with excellent recovery times, boasting high COP and excellent performance. As a family we have all the hot water we need, when we need it. Our property also has underfloor heating across 80% of the home, and the new system supports this perfectly, delivering much improved thermal comfort throughout the heating season.” “By combining the low carbon


energy from our solar PV system, a flexible tariff working with the battery storage, and with the efficiency of the heat pump, we’ve seen a significant reduction in running costs since the retrofit. In fact, our electricity bills are now in surplus, with most of our consumption offset by solar generation, making our home effectively carbon neutral.”


Complementary tech The importance of utilising complementary technologies to produce an effective overall system is a key factor for a successful installation of this type, designed to futureproof a property’s heating and hot water needs. Phil has incorporated an effective hot water cylinder solution as an integral part of a wider low carbon heating and hot water system that brings together heat pumps, underfloor heating and solar PV. “As expected with Vaillant,


the new uniSTOR cylinder is a quality-led, highly efficient product,” adds Phil. “It’s been cleverly designed to offer installation flexibility, speed


Future proof The new uniSTOR cylinder is available for both heat pump and boiler installations, making it perfect for customers wanting to make the move to low carbon technology now, or who may want to in the future. For flexibility, models range from 90 to 300 litres to cater for a host of end user requirements. The ability to fit the buffer


tank at the top or beneath the cylinder opens the installation options further, especially where space is tight. Vaillant’s uniSTOR cylinder range can be installed with both energy efficient boilers and heat pumps, allowing homeowners to future proof their properties with a high recovery cylinder ahead of transitioning to a low carbon heating solution.


uniSTOR cylinder range at a glance:


• 90, 150, 175, 210, 250 and 300 litre options available


• Pre-plumbed models to help reduce installation


efforts and unplumbed models available


• Slimline diameter of 490mm enabling models that


fit through a loft hatch


• Range with integrated expansion ‘air gap’


• Boss labelling for easy connection identification


• Large coil for improved heat transfer


• Insulated T&PR valve - clip-on shroud for reduced heat loss


• First fix template - easy installation from the very


first install ◼ phamnews.co.uk/126/39


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