At the head of the picturesque Loch Tay, renowned for its fishing, the Killin area is a magnet for tourists, hill walkers, and cyclists who flock there to take in the magnificent views. There are numerous hotels, guest houses, and B & B houses - all overflowing with customers in the warmer months and in the winter when the area becomes a Mecca for winter sports enthusiasts. Whatever the season, these businesses need a reliable supply of constant hot water, and Sonia Hewitt at A C Fraser and Sons is on a mission to ensure they have this continuous supply for their hotel hot water.
“Rinnai Infinity gas fired water heaters are just amazing with outstanding performance for their size and cost,” she says. "On top of that, their safety features are impressive plus they are so easy to install - just one pipe in and one pipe out. The Rinnai condensing water heaters are easy for me to handle on my own and that is important for a woman. Some comparable products need three people to lift them." She also praises Rinnai’s technical support.
"The service from Rinnai is excellent. We get next day delivery from them even here in the remote Highlands. It means we can offer a much faster service to hotels and B&Bs, which, as commercial businesses, need replacements directly. Delivery times from Rinnai are unsurpassable.”
Sonia Hewitt, A C Fraser and Sons
Reliability, of course, is paramount. “I have fitted countless Rinnai continuous flow gas fired water heaters and I can say that we have never had a problem with them in the three years we have been using them - literally no call backs or people complaining about them. Regarding energy efficiency, we have people telling us how much money they are saving on bills since they had them fitted.”
Sonia is particularly impressed with the performance of Rinnai’s external gas fired water heater having installed one at a shower block in 2010. “If you remember that was one of the worst winters we have had up here in 20 years with extremely hard frosts and the Rinnai coped with the worst of it with no problem at all.”
Sonia has recently installed two HDC1500i units into the 20-bed Bridge of Orchy Hotel which sits in a prominent roadside location close to the West Highland Way. “I put in two of the biggest units because I knew demand for hot water at peak times would be huge for the hotel hot water and they are coping fine with it.”
Sonia’s first encounter with Rinnai products, however, started with a degree of scepticism on her part. "I was called in to perform an installation at a caravan site which had ordered the units themselves. It was my first sight of a Rinnai water heating technology and I thought that is far too small to cope with the demand. I was proved wrong, of course, and was so impressed I immediately installed one in Grant’s Laundry, which is run by my sister. Since then, they have gone into all sorts of domestic and commercial buildings, whether fired by Natural Gas or LPG in remote off-grid areas.
“I have worked with Rinnai ever since and will continue to do so. I have put in so many Rinnai continuous flow water heaters in Killin and the surrounding area that we are getting to the point where there are more Rinnai units than inhabitants,” she jokingly concludes.
In addition to their impressive performance and reliability, Rinnai water heaters are now available as Hydrogen blend ready water heaters. This innovation is particularly important for hotels and other commercial establishments looking to future-proof their heating systems. Hydrogen ready water heaters are designed to operate efficiently with hydrogen gas, which is a cleaner and more sustainable energy source compared to traditional natural gas. This makes them an excellent choice for businesses aiming to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a greener environment.
The importance of a reliable hotel heating system cannot be overstated, especially in regions like the Highlands where temperatures can drop significantly. A dependable heating system ensures that guests remain comfortable throughout their stay, regardless of the weather outside. Rinnai’s range of products, including their Hydrogen ready water heaters, provides an ideal solution for hotels seeking to upgrade their hotel hot water system to more efficient and environmentally friendly options.
Sonia’s experience with Rinnai highlights the brand’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Whether it’s the quick delivery times, the ease of installation, or the robust performance of their units, Rinnai continues to be a trusted partner for businesses in the hospitality industry. As more hotels and guest houses in the Killin area adopt Rinnai’s innovative solutions, they can look forward to reliable hot water and heating systems that meet the demands of their guests while also supporting sustainability goals.
“Rinnai Infinity water heaters are just amazing with outstanding performance for their size and cost,” Sonia Hewitt of A C Fraser and Sons concludes, emphasising the unmatched value that Rinnai brings to the table.
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