On the east coast of Northern Ireland, the scenic 20-mile-long coastal strip of County Down is home to Carrowcroft Holsteins, a family-owned dairy farm of 250 cows run by Geoffrey and Suzanne Patton, along with their three sons.
Due to the heavy workload and harsh environment, as on many farms, Carrowcroft Holsteins experienced issues with their hot water system. Two electric heaters with cylinders were used to heat water for the entire farm, including washing out the milking parlour twice a day, washing the milk tank every other day and pumping hot water 200ft across the yard to mix milk for baby cows. However, with three primary uses and only two heaters, the system was proving ineffective and causing additional workload for the already busy farm.
The Patton family shared how essential it is for the milking parlour and milk tank to be kept clean due to the strict hygiene standards when it comes to handling dairy. As well as ensuring food safety and protecting cattle from the risk of spreading diseases, the cleanliness of each system is key for dairy farms to produce high-quality milk in safe environments. However, with the electric heaters, they often found themselves running out of hot water and would have to wait an hour for the boost setting to heat the water or plan and anticipate the need for hot water.
s well as the poor performance, Geoffrey also shared how the electric heaters were expensive to run.
A seamless transition
tankless water heaters over a year and a half ago due to the heaters being able to run up to 85 degrees in a parallel and cascading format, and the transition was seamless. The new Navien system runs automatically, providing instant hot water 24/7, with gas being topped up only once a month. This simple switch from electric to gas has significantly reduced operating costs, with Geoffrey estimating savings of 30–40%. The system ensures that hot water is always available, which is crucial for feeding calves, cleaning and looking after sick animals and has improved the overall efficiency of the everyday tasks at the farm.
Removing interruptions to the farm’s daily schedule when the electric heaters would run out of hot water, the new system ensures the farm runs smoothly. Geoffrey also shared that the five-year parts and labour warranty that Navien offers was a key reason for the switch, as it is much longer than others available on the market.
The Navien system is nearly maintenance-free due to the automatic monitoring and scheduled topping-up of gas usage, meaning that staff can rely on the system without needing to keep an eye on it, giving them the time back to carry out more essential tasks on the farm. Each water heater tracks its own gas consumption, allowing customers to remotely check when the gas needs topping up by using a connected app from their chosen gas company that comes to top up gas once it has hit a certain level.
Improved operations
The retrofit demonstrates how modern, efficient hot water systems can transform everyday operations for farms. By replacing electric heaters with gas-powered water heaters, the Carrowcroft Holsteins farm has reduced costs and improved reliability with the Navien NPE water heaters. By making the transition, the Patton family now has peace of mind that they can access hot water instantly, at any time.
Featuring ComfortFlow technology and dual stainless-steel heat exchangers, the system provides reliable, energy-efficient performance while reducing heat loss and maintenance. Multiple units can be joined together if there is a high demand, making it ideal for busy farms. The NPE range includes features such as freeze protection down to extremely low temperatures and easy-to-access components, so repairs or maintenance can be carried out quickly.
