Rinnai has just completed the installation of two HDC1500i continuous flow hot water heating units at a busy laundrette serving businesses and the public in Stafford. Rinnai were chosen on the recommendation of another laundrette owner, who praised the efficiency and major cost savings.
Word of mouth is the best possible marketing, and a site survey was duly arranged and completed to confirm the best solution in controlling operational costs and efficiencies. The existing system was a heated stored water system – this meant that the site was paying to heat water it was not instantly using. This was particularly inefficient for commercial heating applications, where demand can fluctuate significantly.
It was clear from the site survey that Rinnai units configured to maximise both space and energy efficiency – and critically – the system’s reliability – would yield seriously large cost savings to the owner.
Comments Ray Gallimore, proprietor of the Weston Road Launderette, “The old storage system had become completely impractical, inefficient and needlessly expensive to run.
“For example, the washers tend to be used sporadically. During a busy weekend, there could be a demand for eight to ten people battling to use the machines at once; during the week, there might be one or two. That meant we had to store a decent volume of hot water ‘just in case’. Needless to say, keeping the stored volume at optimum temperature 24/7 was often wasted energy, a really bad, expensive idea all round.”
Clearly, the site needed to change the system to one that could cater for these fluctuations without running up huge energy bills, and the solution wasn’t hard to find.
“I was made aware of Infinity water heaters installed in similar applications to mine and their experiences with their products and their personnel, such as the local Rinnai sales consultant, were consistently positive and professional.”
“The beauty of working with Rinnai is the service they offer. We presented the project to Rinnai’s Technical Sales team who came up with the design and delivered the system complete within a very tight timescale – this was key as the existing water heater had developed a leak and I was extremely mindful that the business had to remain operational to satisfy local demand. We are very happy with Rinnai and will be spreading the word,”
- Ray Gallimore, Weston Road Launderette
Now two HDC1500i internal mounted water heaters with secondary circulation provide hot water for 12 commercial machines, plus a sink and a wash hand basin. This setup is ideal for both commercial heating and DHW heating applications, ensuring a reliable supply of hot water.
“The Rinnai system has resulted in an energy reduction and gas saving due to higher efficiencies and because we are no longer maintaining large amounts of stored hot water. It’s not rocket science to work that out! In terms of gas usage running costs compared to the old wasteful storage system, our bills have virtually been halved since the Rinnai system went live five months ago which is absolutely tremendous,” says Gallimore.
Rinnai’s heavy-duty condensing range uses two heat exchangers to capture residual heat from flue gases to pre-heat incoming water, with the HDC1500i turning in 105% net efficiencies. This makes it an excellent choice for both commercial heating and domestic hot water systems, where efficiency and cost savings are crucial.
The installation of Rinnai’s HDC1500i units at the laundrette not only improved operational efficiency but also significantly reduced energy costs. This is a testament to the effectiveness of Rinnai’s continuous flow hot water systems in commercial heating and DHW heating applications. The ability to provide a constant supply of hot water without the need for large storage tanks is particularly beneficial for businesses with fluctuating hot water demands.
In conclusion, the Rinnai system at the Weston Road Launderette demonstrates the advantages of modern, efficient hot water solutions. By switching to Rinnai’s continuous flow units, the laundrette has achieved substantial cost savings and improved reliability. This case study highlights the potential benefits for other businesses considering similar upgrades, particularly in the commercial heating and domestic hot water sectors.
