When the boiler at The Prince of Wales Court bowls club in Porthcawl, Mid Glamorgan, Wales, broke down, local engineer Winsor Hopkins turned to Alpha Heating Innovation for help. Subsequently, the company’s E-Tec 33kW combi boiler was installed.

The bowls club is situated in seven acres of beautiful grounds of the Albert Edward Prince of Wales Court nursing home, just a short distance from the centre of Porthcawl. The nursing home, which provides residential care, nursing and dementia support to residents, is managed by the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution (RMBI). The home cares for up to 72 Freemasons over the age of 65 at any one time.

Purpose-built in 1973, the grounds of the nursing home comprise sheltered courtyard gardens, fishponds and herb gardens, as well as the private bowling green and clubhouse. Bowls matches are played there throughout the season, with residents of the nursing home able to watch the matches, or join in if they wish.

The system boiler previously in use at the bowls club clubhouse had been in operation for almost 20 years, but when it broke down during cold weather, a replacement needed to be installed quickly.

Winsor Hopkins, of installation company W Hopkins & Sons, based in Porthcawl, approached Alpha Heating Innovation for help, supplying a brand new E-Tec 33kw combi boiler.

As Captain of the bowls club, Winsor knew how important it was to get the system up and running as quickly as possible.

“We have functions there every Thursday night, regular sewing classes and a quiz night once a month, as well as the bowls matches, so we had to get everything working again quickly,” he explains.

Winsor was particularly keen on installing the E-Tec boiler because of its stainless-steel heat exchanger, which he prefers over aluminium alternatives.

The E-Tec is Alpha’s smallest combi boiler yet. Its 712mm by 440mm x 255mm measurements make it easy to install in tight spaces and front access to pipework makes it easy to service.

E-Tec’s high-quality componentry includes a high efficiency Grundfos pump and hydroblock assembly and Honeywell gas valve in addition to its stainless-steel heat exchanger. This not only ensures long-term efficiency and reliability, but enables it to deliver first class performance to the end user, such as flow rates up to 14.1l/min.

The boiler is supplied with a standard five-year warranty as part of Alpha’s strong after-sales offering, something Winsor is particularly complimentary of and why he prefers to fit Alpha’s boilers over any other heating brand.

“I’ve fitted hundreds of Alpha boilers over the last few years and I only fit them now,” he says. “I prefer working with them because the after-service is good and the boiler is very reliable, especially with its stainless steel heat exchanger.”

The Alpha E-Tec 33kW also offers features including a combined condensate and pressure relief valve connection, frost protection and daily pump kick, and IPX4D protection.

Click here for more information on the E-Tec range.