Vive la HEATBANK
When David and Pam Marchant from Newhaven, Sussex, decided to expand their impressive property portfolio to include a large two-bedroom stone cottage in the rural countryside in France, they realised very quickly that one of the first things they would need to invest in was a good quality heating system.
‘Le Moulin de la Fonderie’, which translates in English to ‘The Old Foundry Mill’, comfortably accommodates eight people and nestles in its own 12 acre woodland and four acre lake in Mayenne, where the Loire Valley meets Normandy.
On taking over the property, the main heat source was electric panel convectors, plus a well which was used occasionally. The Marchants quickly realised that a wood burner was not a viable option for the sole heat source as it only heated the one room and the fabric of the building meant it didn’t allow the heat to dissipate around the property. The rural position of the property meant that there were limitations to using LPG, oil and Calor gas.
The result is that the Marchants have invested in a pioneering multifuel Xcel HEATBANK thermal heating system. The HEATBANK provides central heating and hot water and is fuelled by a mixture of wood burner, solar panels and electricity.
As David Marchant commented: “The thermal route looked to be the ideal answer to meet all our ongoing needs, especially given the nature of the property location.”
“Before we made our decision, we visited as many eco and domestic shows as possible and checked boiler and stove manufacturers. Along the way we heard of the HEATBANK and loved the theory, but needed to fully understand the system before we committed to the purchase.”
The Marchants met Richard Hanson-Graville, who explained how the system worked, as well as producing a drawing that simplified the process and which, importantly, could be used by the French installers.
David explained: “It was soon apparent that the thermal store was the best option. In a nutshell, it provides both heating and high pressure, high flow hot water, from a variety of renewable heat sources simultaneously. It also stores and manages the heat until we need it.”
The multifuel Xcel HEATBANK is completely futureproof and comes with all thermostats and safety controls, all backed by a 25-year guarantee.
“We had very little time given that we were moving in at the beginning of the autumn and once we agreed to purchase our 275 litre HEATBANK, it was made to
order like a special suit!” Dave continued.
“So, off we went in our van with the HEATBANK and everything else we would need, including radiators, pipes and a powerful Super Demon wood stove. The installation was pretty tricky as the French metric sizes are different from normal metric, and the installer’s command of English was rather limited and he had never seen a HEATBANK.”
“We are making the most of all the free wood we have to hand now and enjoying a constant supply of hot water and central heating via our own natural surroundings. We quickly noticed the significant reduction in our energy bills and are well on the way to self-sufficiency. It’s proved a notable investment,” Dave concluded.
For further details on products and services please call 0345 241 1441 or email sales@heatweb.co.uk
