In its simplest terms, thermal storage is simply a more efficient way to store, heat and deliver hot water all round the house. As with conventional systems there is a boiler to heat water, a cylinder to store it in and the associated plumbing. But that's where the similarity ends.

Whereas in a traditional system the boiler heats the water for the radiators and, via a heat exchange coil, heats the water in the cylinder for the domestic hot water - the Gledhill thermal store reverses these functions.

In a thermal storage system it is the water in the cylinder which is heated by the boiler, then stored and maintained at a constant temperature and pumped through the radiators as required. The water for taps and showers coming from the mains supply, is heated by the hot water in the cylinder via a highly efficient plate heat exchanger and then goes on to the taps and showers - still at mains pressure.

So it is the hot water in the cylinder that heats the water for the taps. This offers tremendous benefits:

- The store acts as a 'cushion', with the boiler only having to   meet average demand - so it is possible to install a smaller   boiler.

- The boiler will operate at close to peak efficiency. With the   exceptionally high insulation levels of the thermal store   ensuring that the water temperature rarely drops more   than 10-15 degrees, the demands on the boiler are such   that stop/start cycles are greatly reduced, producing   savings in running costs.

- The primary water in the thermal store is always available   instantly at optimum temperature. Radiators are therefore   heated almost instantaneously, resulting in a rapid rise in   room temperature.