PHAM NEWS | OCTOBER 2025 Products in Action 27


Hot water problems solved, now and in future


The 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. 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 size of it


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.


A key challenge on the 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.


Heat pump part of the Passivhaus café in Bristol


Ground source heat pump to lower heating bills


Residents at Lullington Close in Wythenshawe, Manchester, are set to benefit from lower bills and warmer homes this winter following the installation of a new networked heat pump system from Kensa. The project, delivered for Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, has seen electric night storage heaters in 19 one-bedroom social flats replaced with Kensa’s Shoebox ground source heat pumps. The compact units, installed inside each home, will provide residents with reliable, low-cost renewable heating and hot water. It’s the first time Kensa has worked with the Manchester- based housing provider. The heating retrofit project forms part of the social landlord’s efforts to futureproof its homes and support its residents, installing low-carbon heating and making energy-efficiency improvements across its estate. Seven boreholes were drilled


around the flats to harness the renewable underground heat energy used by the heat pumps. A shared network of pipes connects these to the heat pumps, which are neatly tucked away inside a cupboard in each flat.


The heat pumps are expected to last between 20 and 25 years, while the underground pipe network will collect heat energy for over 100 years. With all the infrastructure hidden underground and the heat pumps located inside the home, the scheme has been delivered with no more visual impact or disruption than installing gas. Replacing electric storage heaters with modern ground source heat pumps is expected to improve comfort and reduce heating bills. The new system will be around 300% energy efficient, delivering over three units of heat for every unit of electricity used, making it three times as efficient as the previous system. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1025/51


The UK’s first Passivhaus certified café, located in Bristol and served by a Stiebel Eltron air source heat pump, is setting a benchmark as one of the most sustainable commercial buildings in the country. Estimated to save 1.7 CO2 tonnes a year, the landmark project at Goldfinch Create and Play showcases how renewable technologies can facilitate low carbon commercial buildings. The initiative saw a WPL A 07 air source heat pump integrated with solar PV, battery storage, and a mechanical ventilation with a heat recovery (MVHR) system within the two-storey arts café. The building was awarded


The solution


Working with Baxi, the Spa Gas team concluded that the most viable approach was to disassemble the new MAXXflo EVO water heater into smaller, manageable sections. The


components could then be transported safely into the plant room ready for reassembly, installation and commissioning. Having undergone extensive training in this area with Baxi and Malvern Boilers, Spa Gas is the only company in the UK qualified to carry out this work and retain full manufacturer’s warranty on the MAXXflo EVO. 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 MAXXflo EVO but also the remaining ECOflo unit still in service.


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. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1025/49


the Passivhaus accreditation, a globally recognised standard for extremely high levels of energy efficiency in a building. The certification is only awarded to buildings that meet strict performance criteria for airtightness, thermal efficiency and low energy demand. The project saw the demolition of a single-storey shop in Bristol’s Westbury on Trym, before the construction of a new two-storey


building. The new property is equipped with connected renewable energy technologies which work together. Alongside this, a 7.77kW solar PV array comprising 21 JA Solar panels with a Solis inverter generates more than 10,000kWh of renewable electricity annually, supported by Pylontech battery storage to optimise energy use throughout the day. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1025/50


Ventilation upgrade solves damp and mould


Indoor air quality specialist Nuaire has installed its Drimaster ECO-HEAT-HC Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) unit and Cyfan extract fans in a Grade II listed almshouse in Brixton, dramatically reducing humidity levels.


The Gresham almshouses, built


in 1884 on The City of London almshouses estate, provide one- bedroom homes for people aged 55+ on low incomes who need supported accommodation. Some properties suffered damp and mould, with one recording near


100% humidity, posing health risks to an older occupant. To address this within listed


building constraints, existing kitchen and bathroom fans were replaced with more powerful Nuaire Cyfan extract fans, designed to meet 2022 Building Regulations Part F. A Drimaster ECO-HEAT-HC PIV unit was installed in the loft, drawing filtered fresh air in and gently dispersing it throughout the home. A 400W heating element tempers airflow in colder months, while additional bathroom window modifications provide background ventilation. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1025/52


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