Waste Water Heat Recovery for Showers
Retrofitting High-Efficiency WWHRS During an Ensuite Refurbishment
Project: Private family home
Sector: Retrofit / Refurbishment
Product: Recoup Pipe HEX Active
Installation: Wardrobe adjacent to principal ensuite
Installation method: System B
Hot water system: Hot water cylinder with a gas boiler
Project overview
A full ensuite refurbishment in a family home provided an opportunity to retrofit a high-efficiency Waste Water Heat Recovery System (WWHRS) into an existing property.
The project involved removing the original bath and replacing it with a larger low-profile shower, creating a more spacious and contemporary bathroom.
Alongside the bathroom upgrade, a Recoup Pipe HEX Active was installed within an existing wardrobe in the adjoining principal bedroom suite. Demonstrating how available space can be used to accommodate energy-saving technologies during a refurbishment.
Making use of existing space
One of the key considerations when retrofitting WWHRS is finding a suitable location for the heat recovery unit, particularly when space within the bathroom is limited. Specific requirements like low-profile shower trays and the desire to save as much energy as possible can limit the use of horizontal systems.
Installing WWHRS on the same floor as the shower offers a less invasive solution for existing properties. The standard Recoup Pipe HEX is installed vertically beneath the shower; the Pipe HEX Active adds a pump adaptation, allowing the heat recovery unit to be positioned on the same level, reducing the need for alterations to the floors and rooms below.
For this project, a conventional vertical installation was not practical as there was no suitable access to the space beside the soil vent pipe (SVP) on the ground floor. The homeowner was also happy the renovation work did not need to extend downstairs.
Instead, a spacious wardrobe immediately adjacent to the ensuite provided an ideal location for the Recoup Pipe HEX Active. The unit could be accommodated below the standard ceiling height, fitting within the existing wardrobe without requiring alterations to the space itself.
The original bath was removed before the necessary pipework alterations, shower, and WWHRS installation took place. The use of a low-profile shower tray required the pump to be installed into the wardrobe floor. The compact pump size made this relatively straightforward. The unit and pump will be boxed in by the owners at a later date to provide a neat finish inside the wardrobe.
Installing within the bathroom space would have been possible, but the homeowner also wanted to maximise the available shower space. Other potential locations for same floor installations of the Pipe HEX Active include airing cupboards, utility rooms, storage cupboards and suitably sized service enclosures, provided the installation requirements can be met.
Why the Recoup Pipe HEX Active?
The Recoup Pipe HEX Active provides the same high energy-saving benefits as the standard Pipe HEX vertical WWHRS when the heat recovery unit needs to be installed on the same floor as the shower.
Unlike the conventional gravity-fed installation, which requires the heat exchanger to be positioned below the shower. The Pipe HEX Active incorporates a low-power pump and buffer tank to enable same-floor installation.
This made it particularly suitable for the ensuite refurbishment, where access to the ground-floor space was restricted, but a suitable installation location was available immediately behind the shower.
Energy-saving benefits
The Pipe HEX Active will save up to 60% of the energy per shower use depending on the installation configuration. Heat energy from shower waste water is recovered that would otherwise be lost down the drain, using it to preheat the incoming cold water supply and reduce the demand for hot water.
In this example, the System B installation method was used with the preheated water supplied directly to the cold side of the TMV mixer shower. The TMV reduces the amount of hot water required to achieve the desired showering temperature as the preheated temperature rises. Lowering hot water consumption, the energy to heat it, and associated carbon emissions.
Greater savings are possible by also sending the preheated water to the water heater for the property. But with a retrofit installation, the location of the water heater can impact the ability to achieve this.
Recoup Pipe HEX Active WWHRS pipework installed in an adjacent wardrobe
Integrating WWHRS into the bathroom refurbishment
An important consideration for this project was how WWHRS could be incorporated into the existing plumbing arrangement without significantly increasing the scope of the refurbishment.
With the original bath being removed and the ensuite undergoing a complete renovation, there was an opportunity to access and adapt the pipework before the new shower was installed.
The property is served by a hot water cylinder and gas boiler located away from the ensuite. making the choice of WWHRS installation configuration particularly important.
The installer selected System B as this avoided the need, and reduced the impact of running additional pipework to the hot water cylinder. This would have been required for the higher efficiency of a System A installation. In cases such as this, the gain can be outweighed by the additional installation impact. As a result, alterations to the existing cold water pipework were minimal. Learn about the differences in our system installation methods.
The installation also needed to take account of the property’s existing layout. With no suitable access to the space beside the soil vent pipe on the ground floor, a conventional vertical WWHRS installation was not practical. The Pipe HEX Active allowed the heat recovery unit to be installed on the same floor as the shower.
By considering the WWHRS installation alongside the wider bathroom refurbishment, the installer was able to incorporate the system without the impact of substantial additional work.
“When you’re carrying out a full bathroom refurbishment, it’s a good opportunity to consider WWHRS while the existing fittings are being removed and the pipework is accessible,” explained the installer. “In this case, the Pipe HEX Active and System B configuration allowed us to make use of the existing wardrobe space and keep pipework alterations to a minimum. Overall, incorporating WWHRS added relatively little extra work to the refurbishment.”
The Outcome
The completed installation demonstrates a practical approach to incorporating WWHRS into an existing family home.
By making use of a spacious wardrobe immediately adjacent to the ensuite, the Recoup Pipe HEX Active was accommodated without alterations to the existing storage space.
Selecting the System B installation method kept pipework modifications to a minimum, avoiding the more extensive alterations that would have been necessary to connect the system to the hot water cylinder.
The project highlights how considering WWHRS during a planned bathroom refurbishment can make installation more practical, easier, and cost-effective, particularly where suitable adjoining spaces can accommodate the equipment.
For homeowners, housing providers and retrofit professionals, it provides a useful example of how high-efficiency WWHRS can be incorporated into existing properties without necessarily requiring major additional building work. Explore the full range of Recoup Pipe HEX products.
Considering WWHRS for a refurbishment project?
Whether you’re upgrading a single bathroom or planning a larger retrofit programme, Recoup offers a range of WWHRS solutions to suit different property layouts and installation requirements.
To learn more about how Recoup WWHRS can benefit your next project get in touch by email at info@recoup.co.uk or call us on 01379 844010.
Refurbished ensuite shower with low-profile tray and rainfall showerhead
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