Buckland Abbey, Devon

Context

Buckland Abbey is one of around 25 National Trust houses that we visit on an annual basis. This is to calibrate and service their Hanwell wireless environmental monitoring system, to provide staff training and support on how the system works and to provide an summary of how well the system is working.

Issue

The heating system is powered by a gas boiler in the basement but quite how it worked was not known. It was known that temperature and relative humidity was not controlled as well as it probably could be. There were persistent complaints from some volunteers as to how cold the house can be in winter.

Investigation

Both a Hanwell wireless humidistat and a Drayton wireless thermostat were present. Investigations proceeded to work out how these separate systems interacted. The Hanwell system was tested, adjusted and then commissioned with the assistance of a new repeater to extend range. Further investigations show that the Drayton controller would override the Hanwell when in range of the receiver at the boiler.

Outcome

A new understanding of the workings of the heating allows site staff to make informed decisions on how to heat the building. In particular to better balance the need for conservation heating in the winter months with the need to ensure staff and volunteers are kept warm enough. Changes in portable local heating will further help with this.