Why Social Housing Needs a Transformative Overhaul—and How Data-Driven Solutions Like MouldSense Can Help Complaints about substandard living…
Why Social Housing Needs a Transformative Overhaul
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Implement IoT Boiler Monitoring Before Winter | Summer Boiler Health Check
Boiler Summer Health Check
Winter poses significant challenges for social housing providers. As temperatures drop, the demand on boilers skyrockets, leading to frequent breakdowns. This not only incurs high costs but also leaves residents in the cold. To mitigate this, it’s crucial to act now.
Why You Must Act Now
Boiler breakdowns during winter are costly and disruptive. By integrating Vericon’s advanced IoT boiler monitoring solutions, you can ensure your systems are prepared for the colder months.
The Winter Breakdown Risk
During winter, boilers face increased strain due to heightened demand and temperature fluctuations. This can cause components to contract and expand, leading to leaks, ignition failures, and other faults. Without regular maintenance, these issues can result in costly repairs and increased emergency calls.
Here’s why this technology is essential:
Proactive Monitoring and Maintenance
Vericon’s solutions provide real-time remote monitoring, performance oversight, and maintenance data. This allows you to detect and address issues before they escalate into full-blown breakdowns. With Vericon, you can ensure your heating systems are winter-ready.
This includes:
- Real-Time Remote Monitoring
- Data Collection and Analysis
- Predictive Maintenance Alerts
- Forced Performance Levels
- Maintenance Scheduling
- Historical Data and Reporting
- Remote Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
The Importance of Preventive Measures
Regular maintenance is often overlooked, leading to severe problems during winter. As maintenance calls surge, finding available staff and resources becomes challenging, often forcing reliance on expensive subcontractors. Proactive maintenance, facilitated by Vericon’s monitoring solutions, is key to avoiding these pitfalls.
Ensuring Resident Comfort and Safety
Boiler breakdowns in winter can leave residents without heat, compromising their comfort and safety. By installing Vericon’s monitoring solutions now, you can proactively maintain your systems, significantly reducing the likelihood of winter breakdowns and ensuring reliable heating for your residents.
Take Action Now
Don’t wait for winter to hit. Contact Vericon today to discover how our cutting-edge boiler monitoring technology can revolutionise your maintenance strategy and protect your properties. Our team is ready to provide a solution tailored to your needs.
Act now to ensure your residents have reliable heating this winter.
Would you like to find out more?
Contact Vericon today to learn more about our boiler monitoring products and how they can benefit your portfolio.
Complete the form on this page and we will be in contact, alternatively please get in contact us by calling 01242 582 555.
Enhancing Energy Efficiency and Comfort in Social Housing through Partnership
A groundbreaking partnership between City Plumbing, Vericon Systems, and ADEY has revolutionised smart home technology in social housing. Their collaborative project provides a blueprint for socially responsible housing providers looking to embrace technological advancement.
Project Overview
SHAL Housing, based in Bridgwater, Somerset, manages approximately 4,000 homes. The organisation recently launched an innovative SMART home scheme in five properties. Through this initiative, they’ve integrated ADEY Sense® products with Vericon IoT sensors and agnostic boiler monitoring to enhance heating system management.
Watch the full video series here – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeyRxXmonb-pStxvYlVPsJMyS8DNlRJo3
Comprehensive Technology Suite
The project’s success relied heavily on Vericon’s integrated product ecosystem. At its core, the Building Control Module (BCM) serves as an intelligent gateway, collecting and transmitting vital system data. This robust device connects seamlessly with heating systems, offering real-time performance monitoring and fault detection.
Working alongside the BCM, the MultiDOT sensors provide precise temperature and humidity readings throughout each property. These compact, wireless devices create a comprehensive picture of the living environment, helping prevent issues like damp and mould before they develop.
The Vericon Portal ties the entire system together, offering housing providers a user-friendly dashboard for property management. Through this centralised platform, maintenance teams can:
- Monitor multiple properties simultaneously
- Access detailed performance analytics
- Generate customised reports
- Set up automated alerts
- Track maintenance schedules
Completing the suite, AutoFill technology ensures optimal system pressure maintenance. This innovative solution automatically tops up boiler pressure when needed, reducing unnecessary callouts and extending system life. The AutoFill system also alerts providers to potential leaks by monitoring top-up frequency, adding another layer of preventive maintenance.
Cutting-Edge Technology Integration
The partnership has achieved remarkable results, with improvements in 83% of assessed properties. At the heart of this success lies Vericon’s telematics hardware working alongside ADEY’s smart solutions. These include app-based water testing and remote monitoring through MagnaClean magnetic filters.
Real-Time Monitoring and Prevention
Housing providers can now spot issues before tenants even notice them. The system actively tracks system performance and sends instant alerts when problems arise. Through precise data collection, maintenance teams can address concerns proactively rather than reactively.
Enhanced Resident Experience
Modern life keeps tenants busy, making it challenging to notice gradual changes in heating efficiency. Thanks to Vericon Systems’ technology, they no longer need to worry. The system provides:
- Detailed evaluations of system health
- Real-time performance data
- Room-by-room temperature monitoring
- Early detection of dampness or mould risks
Advanced System Protection
ADEY Sense® connected filters bring additional benefits:
- Early detection of magnetite and sludge buildup
- Prevention of radiator blockages
- Protection against boiler damage
- Maintenance of optimal system efficiency
Cost-Effective Management
Smart monitoring leads to significant cost savings through:
- Reduced emergency callouts
- Extended boiler lifespan
- Lower gas consumption
- Preventive maintenance scheduling
Industry Impact and Future Outlook
The success at SHAL Housing demonstrates the potential for smart technology in social housing.
As Angela Gascoigne, CEO at SHAL Housing, emphasises: “Technology plays a crucial role in fulfilling our commitment to Somerset homes.”
Leading by Example
Other social housing providers should take note of this successful implementation. The project proves that investing in smart technology delivers both immediate and long-term benefits. It ensures tenant satisfaction while optimising operational costs.
Future Recommendations
Housing providers considering similar initiatives should:
- Evaluate their current maintenance processes
- Consider pilot programmes in selected properties
- Partner with experienced technology providers
- Focus on solutions that offer clear ROI
Take Action Today
Don’t wait for property issues to escalate. Transform your housing management with our innovative smart technology solutions. Contact our team on 01242 582 555 or visit www.vericonsystems.com/contact-us to book your free consultation. Together, we can create healthier, more efficient homes for your residents.
Beat the Winter Rush: Upgrade Your Boiler Monitoring Now
The Winter Challenge for Social Housing Providers
As a social housing provider, you’ve got a lot on your plate. Managing hundreds—or even thousands—of homes is never simple, but the winter months bring a special kind of headache: boiler breakdowns. When the temperature drops, calls start pouring in from residents left without heat or hot water, and suddenly you’re scrambling to keep everyone safe and warm.
Why Do Boilers Break Down in Winter?
It’s a familiar story. Boilers that worked just fine all summer decide to quit the moment you need them most. But why? It comes down to demand and stress. All season long, boilers work overtime to keep homes warm. Components wear out faster. Cold temperatures make metal parts expand and contract, leading to leaks or ignition issues. And, let’s be honest, maintenance sometimes slips to the bottom of the to-do list when things seem to be running smoothly.
The High Cost of Reactive Maintenance
As repairs pile up, maintenance teams get stretched thin and residents get frustrated. The costs—both financial and reputational—add up fast. You may end up relying on subcontractors at premium rates just to keep up. No one wins.
Get Ahead with Proactive Boiler Monitoring
What if you could get ahead of the winter chaos this year? At Vericon, we believe the answer is smarter, not harder. Our boiler monitoring solutions give you eyes on your entire portfolio—before problems turn into emergencies. With remote checks, real-time performance data, and early fault detection, you can spot issues before anyone feels the cold.
Keep Residents Safe, Warm, and Happy
Instead of waiting for a frantic phone call, you’ll know what’s happening inside each boiler—often before your residents do. Early warnings mean you can schedule maintenance at your convenience, not in the middle of an emergency. The benefits? Fewer urgent calls, less time spent chasing repairs, and happier, safer residents.
Don’t Wait for the First Cold Snap
Most importantly, you’ll be delivering on your promise: warm, comfortable homes for the people who count on you. Don’t wait for the first cold snap to remind you how stressful winter can get. Take control now—get in touch with Vericon to see how our boiler monitoring solutions can help you beat the winter rush, reduce costs, and keep your residents happy all season long.
Would you like to find out more?
Complete the form on this page and we will be in contact, alternatively please get in contact us by calling 01242 582 555.
Maximising SHDF Retrofit Success with Data
In the ever-evolving landscape of housing, data is now essential in providing the best living conditions for residents. To meet the requirements of SHDF Wave 3 funding, accurately measuring, monitoring, and reporting the effectiveness of retrofit work has become crucial.
Vericon, as your connected data partner, empowers housing providers with access to vital metrics that include environmental data, heat loss and heating efficiency stats, and gas and electric usage data. By harnessing this valuable information, housing providers can make data-driven decisions to enhance the retrofit process and improve overall living conditions for tenants.
The Importance of Data Measurement:
To successfully navigate the retrofit landscape, data measurement plays a pivotal role. Vericon’s Online Portal allows housing providers to effortlessly gather pre and post retrofit data related to environmental factors such as humidity and temperature, as well as energy usage statistics. This comprehensive data enables housing providers to gain valuable insights that drive informed decision-making throughout the retrofit process.
Data-Driven Decision-Making:
With access to detailed data, housing providers can employ a variety of strategies
to optimise the effectiveness of retrofit interventions. Firstly, it becomes possible to assess and prioritise properties for targeted retrofit work. By identifying those buildings that would benefit most from interventions, housing providers can allocate resources strategically, ensuring maximum impact. Secondly, data analysis enables an understanding of the true impact of retrofit and disrepair interventions. By continuously monitoring the condition of properties, housing providers can ensure that retrofit work results in sustainable improvements for tenants.
The Power of Community Learning and Advanced AI:
To enhance the retrofit journey further, Vericon integrates Community Learning and advanced AI into our solutions. Regardless of the size of their housing portfolios, social housing providers can benefit from this innovative approach to proactive maintenance and increased social responsibility. By harnessing the potential of AI, housing providers can optimise the retrofit process and achieve long-term sustainability goals.
Ask the resident:
The HomeHub App, a mobile application available for residents to download, comes as part of our offering in response to valuable feedback from current customers and their residents. By providing a variety of features designed to enhance residents’ understanding of the collected data, including direct communication, the app ensures that they don’t feel as though they are being “spied on.” This results in fewer objections from residents regarding such monitoring devices.
Maximising Return on Investment:
Vericon’s Customer Success Team is dedicated to supporting housing providers in maximising their return on investment for retrofit works. This commitment extends beyond the project timeline, ensuring ongoing benefits and continuous improvement. By leveraging Vericon’s expertise and innovative solutions, housing providers can increase energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve overall living conditions for tenants – in alignment with the objectives stated by the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.1 & 2.2.
Applying for Wave 3 funding demands significant time and effort, often diverting attention from everyday resident-focused tasks. Vericon Systems understands these challenges and is eager to assist housing providers throughout the application process.
Would you like to find out more?
Complete the form on this page and we will be in contact, alternatively please get in contact us by calling 01242 582 555.
LiveWest Helps Pioneer Proactive Maintenance Revolution
Residents of LiveWest experienced a leap into the future of home maintenance when an innovative trial with Vericon’s BCM module flipped the script on traditional reactive maintenance, leading to a fast resolution to an undetected boiler issue.
Pioneering technology and a vigilant Remote Diagnoses Team ensured that a boiler issue was identified before one resident had risen from their sleep. It was 7am on 1 March 2024, and an alert from Vericon notified of a potential issue as automated systems were busy at work.
With just a click on the Vericon portal to review data and fault codes, information flowed seamlessly to LiveWest’s Remote Diagnosis team by the time their workday commenced at 8am. The speed and efficiency of this process were astonishing. By 9am, not only had the issue been identified but also rectified—all before it had even dawned on the homeowner that there was an issue with their heating system.
The remote team displayed exceptional capability by promptly contacting the customer, explaining an issue they were yet unaware of, and guiding them through an easy fix—simply topping up their central heating system pressure.
Paul Hutchins, Innovations Contract Manager at LiveWest said:
“Working with the Vericon team and their eco-system has been a refreshing experience. The Vericon trial has given LiveWest an opportunity to fully understand an option as a future service strategy and how the innovative concepts could flow into existing structures and workflows.
“Ultimately, LiveWest is committed to delivering the highest possible customer service and response whilst remaining agile and evolving in the ever-changing environment, values that are clearly reflected in the Vericon team.”
This episode is one of many that illustrates proactive maintenance’s superiority over traditional approaches. Costs were minimised, customer inconvenience was negated, and LiveWest demonstrated astute management—all without stepping foot inside the homeowner’s property. The success of this trial showcases remote monitoring’s potential to transform property management by preventing breakdowns before they become critical issues.
In today’s fast-paced world, such pre-emptive measures should become the new standard in maintaining our homes. This initiative by LiveWest not only saved the day for one household but also marked as proof that proactive maintenance is no longer just a concept but an actionable reality with substantial benefits for both service providers and customers alike.
LiveWest’s trial with the Vericon BCM unit is not just successful; It’s a peek into a future where housing providers leverage technology not just to react faster but to prevent issues before they ever become a problem. A win-win for both service providers and residents alike.
Would you like to find out more?
Complete the form on this page and we will be in contact, alternatively please get in contact us by calling 01242 582 555.