Clash Plumbing & Heating Ltd is an award-winning second-generation family business based in Tralee, Co. Kerry.
The company was established in 2012 by Trevor O’Shea, but has a 60-year heritage going back to when Trevor’s father Jeremiah ran Jeremiah O’Shea Plumbing & Heating. Specialising in heat pumps, underfloor heating and green technologies, the Tralee-based firm carries out work in the commercial, industrial and domestic sectors. Clash Plumbing & Heating continues to go from strength to strength by offering a reliable, friendly, value-for-money and first-class service to a growing client-base.
Trevor is supported by his wife Mary, son Jordan has also joined the team and is in his second year, and a six-strong professional team as well as a small pool of tried and trusted subcontractors, including Coolstream Services for refrigeration, Advanced Heating and Energy Systems Ltd for Solar Photovoltaic systems and JFL Power-Vac Systems, who look after his vacuum / ventilation / heat recovery needs. Clash Plumbing & Heating’s reputation is second to none. This is reflected in the prestigious accolades it has won, starting with the Contractor of the Year at the 2017 Plumbing & Heating Awards.
In 2019, it completed a hat-trick of Plumbing & Heating Awards for Small Domestic Project of the Year, Plumber of the Year and Green Technology Project of the Year. Clash Plumbing & Heating received the Small Domestic Project of the Year Award for a retrofit project at Verdi Glenn, The Spa, Tralee for main contractor Farnes Construction. The project involved the installation of underfloor heating, heat recovery units and air-to-water heat pumps, which resulted in a €8,000 saving for the client.
The Plumber of the Year Award was presented to the Kerry contractor in recognition of its high levels of workmanship and skill. The judges were also impressed with its work ethic and willingness to travel far and wide to take on projects. On a memorable night, Clash Plumbing & Heating was also honoured with the Green Technology Project of the Year for its work on a 160-year-old building in Killorglin. Installation works on the building, which is now the Kingston Bar & Townhouse, included a new heating system, a photovoltaic system and a heat recovery system as well as recess work and the re-piping of the entire building, which had a running cost of just €100 at the end of its first year on its heating and hot water demand.
Two years ago, the family-run business scooped the Project of the Year accolade at the same Awards for its work to the historic Woodbrook House in Co. Kerry, which included the installation of underfloor heating, heat recovery and ventilation systems. The workmanship was deemed as being of the highest quality – which is what every customer wants.
In addition, Clash Plumbing & Heating was a finalist in the Small Commercial Project of the Year category for upgrade works to the heating system, incorporating a new heat pump, at Camp Community Centre in Tralee.
The company’s main focus is one-off bespoke houses as Trevor explains: “We’re not interested in housing estates. We would rather deal with people on a one-to-one basis and maintain very personal relationships with our clients.
“A lot of people have misconceptions about heat pumps, underfloor heating and new technologies. My father was involved with underfloor heating projects 50 years ago, so it’s not something that is new to us; we have been doing heat pumps for over 20 years and solar for nearly 30 years. We consider ourselves to be experts in these technologies, catering for both new and existing houses.”
The switch to heat pumps and solar panels has been fast-tracked by the 2008 Building Regulations where they require all new homes to include at least one type of renewable energy source, and the Government’s Climate Action Plan which aims to reduce emissions and make Ireland carbon neutral by 2050. Home heating accounts for about 10% of all carbon emissions and the Government’s plan is to move the 80% of Irish homes that use oil or gas for their heating over to heat pumps.
The first step of the action plan is to phase out the installation of oil and gas boilers in newly-built homes. Most older homes need upgraded insulation fitted before they are suitable for heat pumps, which only work well in well-insulated homes. A massive retrofitting programme is part of the plan to end the use of fossil fuels for home heating, and this is expected to keep companies like Clash Plumbing & Heating busy for many years to come.
“Renewable technologies are the future and we’re a one-stop shop when it comes to heat pump installations and retrofits. There are generous grants available. We enjoy an excellent working relationship with Ashgrove Renewables, who design and supply heat pumps, and engage with us for their installation requirements.”
One of Clash Plumbing & Heating’s most exciting projects to date is currently taking place in Listrim near Tralee. It involves the installation of a geothermal heat pump, underfloor heating and cast-iron radiators at a 187-year-old three-storey house owned by Paul and Deborah Gregory. Paul is a UK-based conservation architect who is restoring the building to its former glory, while endeavouring to retain as main of the original features – including the fireplaces – as possible.
“The beauty of working on one-off houses and buildings is that no two jobs are the same. With large housing developments, you don’t have that. We take immense pride in our work. We’re extremely busy at the moment and long may it continue to be the case.”
Trevor concludes by thanking his customers and suppliers for their continued support as well as his staff and subcontractors for their hard work, dedication and expertise.
Clash Plumbing & Heating Ltd
Fairview House,
Tralee,
Co. Kerry.
Telephone: 066 7125639
Mobile: 087 659 4839
Email: [email protected]
Web: clashheating.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, March 2024, Vol 10 No 3
