At Shawcross Care Home, maintaining a safe and comfortable environment for residents is a top priority. To meet growing heating demands while reducing energy waste, the home recently opted for an Ares Tec boiler installation. The project, carried out by Total Gas, has delivered a reliable, space-saving, and highly efficient heating solution tailored to the unique needs of a care home setting.
Heating Challenges in a Care Home Environment
- Demand variability – The heating load can fluctuate greatly depending on occupancy and the different usage zones, which have distinct needs at different times of the day.
- Space constraints – Many plant rooms have limited space, and this was the case at Shawcross care home, necessitating equipment with a small footprint.
- Energy efficiency and running costs – Heating accounts for a significant share of operational costs and with rising energy prices, boilers that can modulate effectively are key to avoiding wasted energy during low demand periods.
- Reliability and lifecycle costs – As a care facility, maintaining a dependable system with minimal downtime is critical. Warranty and maintenance support are very important.
Why the Ares Tec 150 Was the perfect Choice
To address these challenges, Shawcross Care Home selected the Alpha Ares Tec 150kW boiler, installed by Allistair Thompson of Total Gas. Key reasons for this choice include:
- Superior turndown ratio – The Ares Tec 150 can modulate from 150 kW down to 12 kW, which reduces output significantly during low demand periods.
- Compact footprint & size suitability – Because of the limited plant room space, a smaller physical footprint was essential. The Ares Tec 150 met this requirement, fitting comfortably into the available space without excessive rework or structural changes.
- Long-term warranty – A 10-year extended warranty was included due to a plate heat exchanger being used, giving Shawcross Care Home peace of mind about performance, reliability, and potential maintenance costs over a long period.
Allistair Thompson of Total Gas managed the installation. His expertise ensured that the system was appropriately sized, properly set up, and integrated into Shawcross Care Home’s existing infrastructure with minimal disruption. Daniel Sturch, Commercial Product Engineer for Alpha, also provided guidance on commissioning and initial operation to ensure the home could maximise the benefits of the Ares Tec 150 from the start.
About the Ares Tec boiler
There are ten floor-standing boilers to choose from, with outputs ranging from 150kW to 900kW. Each one is made up of a number of self-contained heat generating modules forming what is, in essence, a series of boilers linked together within a single casing. This modular design enables Ares Tec boilers to optimise energy efficiency and comfort levels for building occupiers.
Key features:
- Ten models with outputs ranging from 150-900kW
- Can be cascaded for higher output requirements
- High modulation range, up to 1:40
- Ultra-low operating noise levels (<49 dBA)
- Compact dimensions
- Low NOx emissions (17 ppm, 30Mg/kWh)
- Available for Natural Gas or LPG
- IPX5D rated for external use
Delivering efficient heating solutions for care homes
The installation of the Ares Tec 150 at Shawcross Care Home demonstrates how carefully chosen equipment can address multiple constraints while delivering energy savings, system stability, and peace of mind.
If you need help with a heating system upgrade for a care home or other building type, please contact us and a member of our team will be happy to offer advice on the best solution.