Neil James of JMS Plumbing & Heating, a G1 Installer based in Leicestershire, has been awarded Highly Commended by the Heating Installer Awards in the Midlands Regional category. His entry showcased his installation of a heating system upgrade for a listed property which involved fitting a Grant Vortex Utility oil-fired boiler.
The Heating Installer Awards are an annual event which serves to recognise the innovative installation work of heating engineers throughout the country. Entries are split into nine regions and plumbers and installers are invited to nominate a project that stands out from the crowd, showing problem solving and clever product selection. For this year’s awards, Neil James, a heating and plumbing engineer based in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, submitted one of his recent installations as an entry into the Midlands Regional category which earned him a coveted Highly Commended.
The installation took place at a listed property in December 2020. The homeowner was undertaking a complete renovation project, modernising the property throughout which included the removal of the existing plumbing and the installation of a new modern system with multiple circuits including central heating (underfloor heating, radiators and towel rails) and a hot water system (involving two cylinders with hot water circulation pumps). Neil was contracted to complete this plumbing and heating system upgrade which was a memorable job but was not without its complexities.
“The system was complex but the biggest challenge was the available space for the pipework and making sure the hot water was delivered to any outlet as quickly as possible,” explains Neil. “Given the size of the property and number of circuits, this required innovative solutions. The constraints on the development meant that the system had to be designed to be as compact as possible, so it conformed to the architect’s plans. This meant installing cylinders in spaces half the size of a typical installation. Rising to the challenge, I not only conformed to all the specifications of the system by investing in the planning, calling on technical advice from manufacturers where required and installing an innovatively packaged system, but I pushed my own boundaries on workmanship and quality of installation.”
At the centre of the heating system that was installed is a Grant Vortex Utility System 36-46kW oil-fired boiler. This boiler model was selected because it had the required output to meet the demands of the system, not being oversized but having the sufficient kilowatt output for the property. “It is also easy to adjust the internal pump speed on this boiler,” comments Neil, “which helps ensure that the return temperature is at maximum efficiency for the boiler’s operation.”
Grant’s Vortex Pro Utility System boilers combine excellent efficiencies with a sleek, white cased design suitable for easy integration into kitchens or utility rooms. Endorsed by the Energy Saving Trust and available with a 5 year guarantee when installed by a G1 Installer, such as JMS Plumbing & Heating, the Vortex Utility System boiler range not only delivers reliable performances for homeowners, but they are installer friendly and designed for straightforward maintenance.
Alongside the boiler, Neil installed a comprehensive and sophisticated system, the design of which was innovative to meet various challenges the property presented. The end result has been a very pleased homeowner who is thrilled not only with their new system but also with the standard of workmanship. “Using the best quality products,” concludes Neil, “and designing the system so that it is easy to maintain in the future was challenging but highly rewarding. This project pushed my craftsmanship and planning skills to ensure the highest standards were met and it is one that I am the proudest of.”
Grant UK would like to congratulate Neil on his achievement of being Highly Commended at the Heating Installer Awards 2021.
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