PHAM NEWS | MAY 2025 Product Spotlight


The big benefits of the hotun tundish


Since being launched 10 years ago, the hotun dry trap tundish from RA Tech UK has had a few alternative imitations come on the market, but what makes it superior to other available options?


T


he hotun revolution all started in 2015 when Russell Armstrong and his wife, Ally, launched this patented product to the market,


seeing a need for a single product solution. Following acceptance from many boiler manufacturers who allowed the fitment of hotun to their boilers, the hotun transformed boiler installation methods and is now recognised as the best-known dry trap in the UK. It has also led to the creation of a few alternative imitations. “We view this as


flattery,” says Russell. “After all, reputable companies would never copy a poor idea, but are these alternative products capable of delivering the same benefits as the hotun?” Due to its open-sided and


advanced design, the hotun is promoted as the only fully diagnostic-friendly dry trap tundish (for PRV discharge) on the market. This open-sided construction allows homeowners or diagnosing engineers to easily observe any residual water left in the tundish after the PRV has stopped dripping – an essential requirement for accurately diagnosing PRV water loss due to overpressure (or temperature).


Why visibility is vital As all engineers know, when a boiler expansion vessel fails and allows the system to exceed a pressure of 3 bar, the pressure relief valve activates, releasing excess pressure from the system in the form of ejecting water. Typically, this water drips visibly


outside or (more recently) into an internal tundish. While this dripping is evident, no one pays attention because the boiler continues to operate. However, this dripping indicates a fault, which if unnoticed, after several cycles, the boiler may reach a low enough pressure that it


locks out (at which point, the PRV stops dripping!) Now the boiler is non-operational,


and if it fails on a cold day a plumber is often called out as an emergency, sometimes, inconveniently after hours. Once on site, the first step for the plumber is usually to check if the boiler has lost pressure and whether the PRV is dripping. However, if there is no dripping, due to the lack of pressure, what can they do next to diagnose if the pressure loss has come from the PRV or elsewhere in the system?


If the hotun has


been installed, it is easy to see if there is


any residual water in the


bowl of the hotun even if the PRV is not actually dripping there and then, enabling accurate diagnosis of the issue. The hotun is the only dry trap tundish that allows this


visibility. With other dry traps, when there is


no dripping PRV, the plumber may be forced to conduct more extensive work to determine what has happened and would be unable to confirm that water has passed through the tundish.


PRV fault diagnosis RA Tech has also been proactive in developing the first in-tundish, fully automatic, audible diagnostic fault indication for PRV discharges. With its thermistor sensing tip, it can detect and alert homeowners to any PRV discharge in up to four different ways, depending on the temperature of the discharging water. So customers now have a choice between a passive fault indication (dry trap) device, or an active and audible indication of faults that prevents unwanted boiler lockouts due to low pressure at the most inconvenient times.


A typical boiler installation


Other applications The hotun dry trap tundish is not limited to just boilers and can be used in many other applications, such as unvented water heaters, air and water source heat pump systems, HIUs, water tank overflows, MVHR and condensate drip trays – in fact anywhere a PRV is installed or when you need to see visibility of any discharging water. And with the automatic alarm unit, this helps save unwanted breakdowns and helps prevent heated water from literally down the drain. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/525/27


As one financial year ends and another begins, many tradespeople find themselves overwhelmed – chasing receipts, tallying income, and sorting late invoices – so Fergus, the job management platform, is advising trades to get ahead now and avoid next year’s stress. “We see it time and again – tradespeople


rushing to get their books sorted in March and April, when they’re already flat-out with jobs,” says Fergus CEO Mark Bartels. “That end-of-year scramble puts


unnecessary pressure on business owners, and it doesn’t have to be like that. The key is organisation – all year round, and starting in May 2025.”


Installers willing to travel further


A new survey by temporary business van insurance provider Tempcover reveals a major shift in how tradespeople approach work travel. 63% are now willing to travel greater distances than when they started in their current job – on average, an additional 31.7 miles. The top motivations? Higher pay,


increased job opportunities, and the desire to grow their client base. Tradespeople also cited more high-end projects being further afield, fewer local jobs, and rising local competition as reasons for extending their travel radius.


Field service platform cuts the admin and drives growth


Plumbing, heating and electrical firm, Fords South West, says it has transformed its operations with BigChange, a 6-in-1 field service management platform that connects mobile engineers with the office in real time. Since adopting the system, Fords has increased job capacity by 10-20%, saved hundreds of hours each week, and gone 95% paper-free. Previously reliant on a 30-year-old


CRM, Fords faced slow workflows and time-consuming admin. “Retrieving job details could take 15 minutes,” comments contracts manager Jack Caine. “BigChange completely changed that.” The platform combines job


scheduling, CRM, live tracking, financial management, business intelligence and a mobile workforce app in one integrated


system. It automates routine tasks, eliminates paperwork, and streamlines communication between teams. “Before, engineers collected paperwork


from the office and manually updated records,” says Jack. “Now, everything’s digital and immediate. It’s a huge efficiency gain.” Jack estimates BigChange has cut at least


two hours of admin per engineer per day – saving around 25,000 hours annually. “The system has delivered measurable improvements across the board, enabling us to reinvest in expanding services and reach.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/525/30


Business Matters 19 Tips on how to avoid future tax stress With a few smart changes, tradespeople


can claw back some valuable time for themselves. Fergus offers five tips: 1. Go digital – Use job software to track


quotes, invoices, timesheets, and expenses in one place. 2. Invoice on time – Automate workflows


and link to accounting software to stay on top of cash flow. 3. Track expenses – Log purchases and


upload receipts in real-time to simplify deductions. 4. Review pricing – Use real-time insights


to adjust rates and boost margins. 5. Make time for admin – Just 30 minutes


weekly can avoid a stressful year-end rush. Fergus says its users report saving hours


each week on paperwork, not to mention avoiding awkward conversations with accountants or clients due to missing info. And with HMRC and MTD (Making Tax Digital) requirements tightening, staying compliant and efficient is more important than ever. “So many tradespeople we speak to say


the admin side of their business causes real stress,” says Mark. “Having everything organised and automated can make a massive difference to their headspace and work-life balance.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/525/28


When asked if they would be willing to expand their travel radius within the next five years, nearly 70% of respondents stated that they would, with the top three reasons following a similar pattern of higher pay (64%), more opportunities (54%) and more high-end/large-scale projects further away (42%). To help those expanding their reach,


Tempcover offers practical tips: plan efficient routes, combine nearby jobs, secure tools, factor in travel costs, and consider temporary van insurance for flexibility. Whether you need a van for a one-off job, to cover for a colleague at short notice, or to travel extended distances, this insurance allows you to adapt without committing to a long-term policy. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/525/29


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