The Challenge
On arrival, the team’s first priority was to make the property safe, identify the cause of the failure, and put a rapid plan in place to restore reliable warmth and hot water as quickly as possible.
What the team found on arrival:
The existing boiler had completely failed and was leaking heavily, leaving a large puddle beneath the appliance.
The home relied on a 1960s one-pipe heating system, which naturally brings circulation challenges compared with modern two-pipe layouts.
Because of the customer’s age, the severe leak, and total loss of heating and hot water, Solitaire treated this as an urgent welfare case.
One-Pipe System vs Modern Boilers
One-pipe systems can be difficult for modern high-efficiency boilers to work with because:
Flow and return conditions behave differently from conventional two-pipe systems.
Consistent flow rates, temperature drops, and balanced heat distribution are harder to achieve.
Modern boilers are engineered around predictable, separated system hydraulics.
Simply replacing the old boiler like-for-like wasn’t going to offer the dependable, efficient outcome Solitaire wanted for the customer.
The Solitaire Solution
To modernise the installation – without needing to remove the entire original one-pipe system, the Solitaire team:
Installed a modern, efficient boiler.
Added a 24 kW plate heat exchanger to create hydraulic separation between the new boiler circuit and the legacy one-pipe heating circuit.
This approach allowed:
The new boiler to operate under stable, controlled conditions.
The existing one-pipe system to continue functioning as intended, without placing strain on the modern appliance.
Rapid Delivery and Logistics
Understanding the customer’s vulnerability, Solitaire rearranged the schedule to prioritise the job.
The team returned three days later with two engineers to carry out the system conversion efficiently and safely, minimising downtime and disruption. Every step was completed with the aim of restoring comfort quickly and ensuring long-term reliability.
The Conclusion
The boiler leak was resolved and the heating system upgraded to a modern, fuel-efficient setup.
Heating and hot water were fully restored – leaving the customer warm, safe, and comfortable in time for Christmas.
The final installation is cleaner, more serviceable, and far better suited to reliable ongoing operation.
The importance of having a reliable company
Cases like this highlight just how vital it is to have a trustworthy, experienced company to call when things go wrong.
For vulnerable customers especially, fast response times, honest advice, and skilled workmanship can make all the difference. Solitaire’s ability to diagnose complex issues, adapt to older systems, and prioritise customer wellbeing ensured this homeowner wasn’t left in the cold.
