The Cottage Refurbishment
Stage 1 - Replace water system
The Ask
The cottage project is ongoing and being completed in
stages so the client can manage costs between each
phase. The first priority was replacing the old water
system. The property is off‑grid, with all water
supplied from a well in the garden. The original setup
used a loft tank that was filled by a pump in the
well, feeding the house through a gravity‑fed
cold‑water system. Hot water was also gravity‑fed from
a first‑floor cylinder.
Because the cottage relies entirely on well water,
effective filtration is essential. The existing
filters were functional but outdated, so upgrading the
system became a key part of the first stage.
What We Did
We worked with our trusted electrician and plumber,
who carried out most of the installation work for this
stage of the project. A walk‑in larder was converted
into a dedicated plant room, where we installed a new
cold‑water tank, a pressurised hot‑water cylinder and
a house‑supply pump. All old pipework feeding the
first floor and loft was removed, and new pipe runs
were installed along with a replacement pump for the
well.
To support the wider goal of making the cottage more
efficient, we added a well‑level monitoring system and
smart power controls for the water equipment. This
allows the house pressure to be reduced automatically
when the well level drops. We also automated the well
pump to run during off‑peak electricity periods,
topping up the holding tank twice a day instead of
every time water was used. When the well is low, the
system switches to a recovery mode, topping up briefly
every hour to protect the well and prevent over‑draw.
This automation proved essential during the dry summer
following installation, when the well level fell
significantly. The upgraded system ensured the cottage
remained supplied while protecting the well from
running dry.
Estimated Saving £400 / yr
