Facing increasing calls from guests about low water pressure and inconsistent temperatures, the luxury Grandover Resort in North Carolina turned to the IntelliStation 2 by POWERS, a Watts brand, for precise temperature control and rapid response, finally resolving the resort’s longstanding issues. Maintenance staff immediately felt the relief of going from a system that needed constant tinkering to one that worked flawlessly. Watts Water Technologies is a benefactor of MCAA26.
Under Pressure
Hot water is a basic expectation for guests; one they only think about when the temperature is not what they expect. Keeping temperatures consistent across a large commercial property can be challenging, especially as demand changes throughout the day.
Behind the scenes, the Grandover Resort’s issues were traced back to faulty mixing valves and broader hot water instability throughout the system. The resort relied on piston-style mixing valves that required hands-on adjustments, stuck frequently, and struggled to respond to fluctuating demand. These problems consumed many hours of labor for troubleshooting and diverted attention from preventive maintenance. Grandover Resort needed an intuitive, comprehensive solution capable of delivering consistent and precise water temperatures throughout the entire facility.
A Smarter Approach
Recognizing that their existing setup could not adapt to the demand, the resort turned to the IntelliStation 2, a digital mixing valve, to control water temperature and responsiveness. It monitors system performance in real time, allowing the facility team to see temperature conditions across the potable hot water system and identify issues before they affect guests. The system also supports practical functions, such as scheduled temperature setbacks for energy savings and timed sanitation cycles to help reduce the risk of waterborne bacteria. These capabilities gave Grandover a more controlled, predictable way to manage their hot water system and reduced the amount of manual adjustment required by staff.
The unit arrived factory preassembled and pretested, allowing installation with minimal disruption. Once the new units went online at Grandover, improvements were noticeable immediately. The IntelliStation 2 outperformed traditional mechanical valves by maintaining accurate and consistent temperatures even at peak draw.
The chief engineer of Grandover Resort, John McLeod, noted, “If more draw on the building is coming down the line, this thing adjusts, it regulates, and I can tell you it’s been in here for almost three months and I haven’t had one issue.”
The system’s automatic response to changing demand removed the need for manual adjustments and protected the building from performance dips. The facility team also saw water pressure on the upper floors increase by nearly six pounds, resolving a long-standing issue that had contributed to routine service calls.
The IntelliStation 2 gave Grandover a solution that not only met the needs of guests and facility teams but also offered a safer and more intelligent approach to temperature control. By helping prevent scalding and reducing the risk of waterborne bacteria, the system supports the demands of large properties such as Grandover that rely on stable, building-wide performance.
Try Watts’ Digital Mixing Saving Calculator to see the cost differences between thermostatic and digital mixing valves: https://www.watts.com/resources/references-tools/savings-calculator-intellistation
More Efficiency, Less Babysitting
The Grandover demonstrated that a modern digital mixing system can strengthen performance, reduce labor needs, and support long-term system stability:
- Digital precision drives reliability: The IntelliStation 2 held accurate temperatures even during peak demand, eliminating the inconsistent performance that often comes with mechanical valves. Facility staff benefit from steady, predictable operation without constant adjustment.
- Fewer callbacks improves efficiency: After installation, Grandover reported no hot water complaints and no emergency callouts. This level of reliability freed up the facilities staff for other projects.
- Smart automation reduces labor: The IntelliStation 2 removed the need for technicians to “babysit” equipment or intervene when demand shifted. Automated response allowed the team to move from reactive troubleshooting to efficient, planned maintenance.
- Safety and stability go hand in hand: By protecting against scalding and reducing the risk of waterborne bacteria, the IntelliStation 2 delivered both safety and performance benefits.
Taken together, the lessons learned at Grandover Resort illustrate how digital mixing can simplify maintenance and improve system consistency in large commercial properties. “From a leadership perspective, you don’t want your engineers thinking this hotel is not fixing their problems,” explained Kelly Harrill, executive vice president of Koury Hospitality Hotels, which operates Grandover Resort. “Now they see we invest in a product not only to help our guests but to help them as well.”
For more information, visit www.watts.com. MCAA thanks Watts Water Technologies for being a benefactor of MCAA26 and sponsoring dinner on Wednesday.
