PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2025 30 Products in Action


Ready for the Future Homes Standard with heat pumps


Air source delivers the comfort


A five-bedroom barn conversion in Newquay, Cornwall, has seen a major heating upgrade with the installation of an Ariston NIMBUS Pocket 150 air source heat pump (ASHP), replacing a poorly performing system. Carried out by Ariston partner BoilerTech, the project included full rewiring, zoning setup and the integration of the new ASHP and controls. BoilerTech heating engineer


Andy Griffiths (pictured in left of image) comments: “This


Heat pumps from Panasonic have been installed in 33 new homes at Gedling Green, a housing development in Nottinghamshire by Keepmoat Homes. The project, part of a Homes England research initiative, is designed to deliver zero carbon-ready homes ahead of the 2025 Future Homes Standard. Birmingham City University’s Centre for Future Homes has been commissioned to carry out research to provide data on the energy and carbon efficiency of the homes. The Aquarea J Series heat pumps were chosen for their energy


efficiency, low noise levels and smart controls, and the installation was carried out by M.A. Broughton Electrical and Nigel Smith Plumbing. In addition to the heat pumps, each home is fitted with solar PV, high


levels of insulation, EV chargers and smart hot water cylinders. The study will focus not only on system performance but also how residents adapt to and use the technology. The research aims to conclude whether the homes can reduce energy


by an estimated 51%, compared with the 2013 Building Regulation standards. Measuring the energy usage and comfort of the privately rented and owned houses using energy monitors, the researchers are hoping to gather concrete evidence to support an expected 91% reduction in carbon output of the homes. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/925/50


Installer’s work at his own home


Mark Hall, a Banbury-based gas heating engineer and director of SMH Gas Specialist Ltd, has completed his first air source heat pump (ASHP) installation, upgrading his off-grid home from oil heating. To optimise system efficiency, especially during defrost cycles, he chose a Viessmann Vitocal 150-A (13kW) ASHP, which incorporates ESBE’s advanced 4-way valve. The valve manages flow to


heating and hot water while directing defrost heat to a dedicated 16-litre buffer tank, avoiding heat loss from the house, crucial in the UK’s damp climate. Mark first encountered the ESBE valve during a previous plant room build and was impressed further after visiting ESBE’s manufacturing site in Sweden. “Because we mainly undertake


moderate scale domestic gas installations, my first experience of fitting an ESBE valve was in building a plant room for someone else to accommodate a heat pump,” comments Mark, “but last year ESBE’s


how easy the whole process was and the homeowner was really pleased with the final installation.” The NIMBUS Pocket M NET


R32 was chosen for its efficiency, low environmental impact, and quiet operation. It features R32 refrigerant, a power range of 1.7 to 17.7kW, and remote management via the Ariston NET app. The property will now benefit


is our first installation of an Ariston heat pump system. We were extremely impressed with


from better heating performance and excellent thermal comfort for the family. The efficiencies gained from the right installation and zoning mean the homeowner could expect to see energy and cost savings of up to 20% when compared to the old system. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/925/51


Scotland’s largest networked heat pump


Renfrewshire Council will replace gas heating in two high-rise blocks in Gallowhill, Paisley, with Scotland’s largest networked ground source heat pump system. Delivered by Kensa, the renewable system will collect underground heat and distribute it to homes via individual shoebox heat pumps, providing efficient heating and hot water. Once installed, tenants will no longer pay gas


standing charges, simplifying bills and potentially reducing costs. The scheme forms part of wider regeneration in Gallowhill, including 65 low-carbon new homes and improved routes to the new Paisley Grammar School. Mark Potter, regional manager for Scotland at


Kensa, comments: “We’re proud to be working with Renfrewshire Council on this landmark decarbonisation project. Networked heat pumps offer an effective, energy-efficient solution to help flats transition away from gas and other


inefficient heating systems. By connecting each flat to this system we’ll help residents stay warm and comfortable during winter, while keeping energy use and heating costs low.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/925/52


Boilers power upgrade at Hayling Island Sailing Club


Three 120kW Evomax 2 wall-mounted condensing boilers from Ideal Heating Commercial have been installed in cascade at Hayling Island Sailing Club in Hampshire, upgrading the heating and hot water system for the main clubhouse shower facilities. With over 3,000 members, the club, an RYA Centre of Excellence, sees


intense demand during regattas, requiring reliable heating for up to 500 users in short windows. The original boilers had reached the end of their service life, prompting the upgrade. J&B Hopkins, a long-standing Ideal Heating Commercial customer, installed the three boilers on a low-height frame and header kit, along with plate heat exchangers and insulation kits to separate the primary and secondary circuits. Mechanical project manager Tony Stockton says: “We install 60 to


100 Evomax 2s a year. They’re reliable, robust, and engineer-friendly.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/925/54


MD, Darren Myers, invited me on a trip to see the company’s manufacturing plant in Sweden, which I thought was awesome. So, one of the main reasons I went for the Viessmann Vitocal 150-A, 13 kW heat pump is that they have the ESBE 4-way valve which not only handles the inflow, then the heating and hot water side, but the fourth port goes to an integral 16 litre buffer tank – housed within the internal unit – which is used just for the defrost cycle. Therefore, the system is not pulling heat


from the house when it needs to dispel the frost build-up, which is more of a problem in our moist British climate, than say on the continent. It is a problem that affects both comfort levels and system efficiency and the ESBE valve is at the heart of the solution.” With the installation now


complete, Mark expects to achieve 400% system efficiency, well above the UK average, especially when paired with OVO’s low-rate heat pump tariff. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/925/53


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