PHAM NEWS | MAY 2025 Showers & Enclosures 29


How to make the most of waste water potential


As the industry prepares for the Future Homes Standard, Tony Gordon from Showersave explains why shower waste water heat recovery should be on every plumbing and heating installer’s radar – especially when working with heat pump systems.


solutions in new build homes is growing fast. The shift to low-carbon heating is clear – and for most properties, that means air source heat pumps (ASHPs) will become the default choice. But while heat pumps are great


W


at space heating in well-insulated homes, domestic hot water (DHW) remains a pressure point. In many busy households, peak hot water demand can quickly expose the limits of a standard system. The go-to fix? Often, it’s upsizing the hot water cylinder or adding immersion top-up – both of which drive up costs, increase carbon, and compromise efficiency. That’s where waste water heat


recovery for showers (WWHRS) offers a smart, low-cost opportunity to make systems work harder – without extra complexity.


Energy saving WWHRS is a passive system that captures the heat from shower waste water – the warm stuff going straight down the drain – and uses it to preheat incoming cold mains. The preheated water can feed the hot water cylinder or the shower mixer (depending on setup), so less energy is needed to reach the desired temperature. There are no moving parts, nothing


for the end user to operate, and it is installed using standard plumbing techniques. For homes using heat pumps, it’s a smart way to improve performance, speed up recovery, and reduce running costs – without eating up more space or requiring bigger cylinders.


Put to the test To put the theory to the test, Showersave recently commissioned independent research with energy consultant Chris Martin (ex-Energy Monitoring Company) and the Centre for Sustainable Technologies at Ulster University. The lab-tested results show exactly how WWHRS supports DHW performance in homes with heat pumps. Key outcomes included:


• Longer hot water availability: In homes without WWHRS, the fourth consecutive shower typically ran cold. With WWHRS in place, hot water availability was extended, reducing


ith the 2025 Future Homes Standard deadline looming, the demand for smarter, more efficient


t Installing the Showersave QB1-21XE kit


complaints and improving user satisfaction. • Lower energy use: When immersion


heaters weren’t used, WWHRS cut electricity consumption for DHW by 31-36%. When immersion back-up was needed, the savings jumped to 41-47 per cent. For a family of four, that can add up to approximately £150-£200 off annual energy bills. • Faster cylinder recovery: Systems


with WWHRS recovered around twice as quickly compared to those without. That means households aren’t left waiting for the next shower – and less need to call on costly electric top-ups. • Smaller hot water storage: By


reducing the energy load, smaller cylinders can be used – saving space and reducing upfront equipment costs.


Simple solution For heating engineers and plumbers, WWHRS systems are refreshingly simple. The vertical, gravity-fed units don’t need any electrical connection, no user controls, and no maintenance. They slot easily into new build systems and are increasingly being considered for retrofit too – particularly in homes where heat pumps are already installed but hot water performance is under pressure. Better still, WWHRS is SAP-


Tony Gordon MD at Showersave


recognised, with strong performance data, and is included in the notional specification for Future Homes Standard Option 1. That makes it easier for designers and specifiers to hit targets without relying on more complex or costly solutions. It’s also Passive House- certified and has very low embodied carbon, giving it strong sustainability credentials.


Added value From a merchant or specification point of view, WWHRS helps add value to heat pump packages – offering a cost- effective way to deliver compliance and comfort. It gives housebuilders and developers a low-risk route to boost system performance, reduce carbon, and improve handover outcomes. It’s also a compelling upsell for


merchants – offering installers a quick-win solution that’s increasingly in demand as this year’s deadline approaches.


Track record Showersave introduced WWHRS to the UK back in 2008, and more than 200,000 systems have been installed across the UK and Europe since. All units are fully recyclable, supported by a dedicated technical team, and proven to deliver long-term energy and carbon savings. As heat pumps become standard


in new homes, reliable hot water performance is going to be a make-or- break issue for household satisfaction. WWHRS offers installers, specifiers, and merchants a simple tool to solve the problem – no training, no electronics, no hassle. If you’re specifying or supplying


low-carbon systems, now’s the time to consider what WWHRS for showers can bring to the table – greater overall efficiency, with further reductions in carbon and running costs. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/525/45


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