HOME FROM HOME COMFORTS AT POTASH BARNS
When Soldier Soldier actors Rob Spendlove and Rosie Rowell decided to convert two of their derelict Grade II listed barns into three holiday homes, they were faced with the problem of providing reliable water supplies to all properties all from one very low pressure incoming main. Local installer Mick Keymer came up with the ideal solution from GAH Heating – a Dualstream system which enhances the incoming mains supply to provide balanced water supplies to all hot and cold outlets – even when run simultaneously.

With incoming mains pressure of just 2.5 bar and a flow
rate of 12 l/min, the challenge was to ensure good flow
rates for the barns without jeopardising supplies to the
main cottage. After a detailed site visit, GAH Heating
designed a Dualstream system incorporating three
accumulators installed in the plant room together with a
300 litre unvented cylinder serving the two larger barns,
and a 125 litre cylinder in the smallest barn. These
complemented two Thermecon oil-fired boilers also supplied
by GAH Heating. Rob – who stars in a new series The Last
Detective set to hit our screens early in 2003 – is
exceptionally pleased with the Dualstream system, and said
it had already been successfully tested with full occupancy
in all three barns.

The main barn dates back to the 15th century and has been sympathetically restored, featuring original beams and cosy woodburning stoves. The third barn is a later 18th century single storey addition, and the English Tourist Board has rated the conversion to three self contained holiday units as 4 star standard. Located in a small hamlet near the historic Suffolk village of Framlingham, each unit sleeps 4-6 people comfortably and can be booked via the website at www.potashbarns.co.uk. The layout of the complex allows for both individual privacy, but is also perfect for large group bookings or families who have taken all three units as a block booking.

At the heart of the Dualstream system supplied at Potash Barns are three accumulators that store mains water at incoming pressure. This stored water becomes the engine that drives the hot/cold outlets, providing the volume of water that a normal unvented system would not be able to deliver, especially here where the flow rate is 12 l/min. As water is drawn off, the accumulator vessels are charged by the incoming mains, enhancing the volume feeding both the cylinder and cold supplies, giving a truly outstanding performance to all three holiday units.

ENDS/