UPDATED: Air Source Heat Pumps/Air Con - Full Info & Guide, is it cheaper to run than mains gas?

rhubarbe

We do weekly readings and have done for over two years. Our electric underfloor has just been switched off and our weekly KWH total had come down to 129 (last week) from 220 - 250 (last month) and at the height of the Winter up to 350KWh. This was made worse by the fact we had run out of LPG in February and were simply not prepared to pay £54 for 47KG propane any longer.

Last Summer we were using circa 50-70KWh/week, which I regard as a base.

We also use about £10 of solid fuel a week, and about five tonnes of firewood in a year, which costs us nothing but time and the sweat of our brows.

apoorman

rhubarbe wrote: »

Sure, the RHI distorts the playing field but if HMG lets itself be talked into accepting Euro Quotas for co2 reduction and it has to achieve them somehow. Clever HMG makes the suppliers of conventional fuels pay for the RHI so it costs them nothing but another stealth tax.

I have no problem with you taking any RHI, if that is the rules, that is the rules. The technology is not available to all though, so why should Mr & Mrs pensioner struggling with increasing electric heating bills, subsidise something they cannot take advantage of. I doubt most of the population will ever know that they are going to be colder to keep a few warm for less.
It's also a licence to print money for already overpriced, accredited installers.

rhubarbe

But it is available to pensioners. We are at the point of entering into another issue here, regarding the provision that people make for their own retirement during their working lives.

I don't intend to discuss off topic issues on this thread.

I do agree that most MCI accredited installers like to add in the £900 RHI Grant into their quotes, but there are a few about who quote prices at the same level as non-MCI accredited installers. You just have to do the work to find them.

clc5

Re the high capital costs of ASHPs, not sure about situation in England but the Scottish Govt give 30% grant and also interest free loans repayable over 8 years. However, I'm told these probably wont be on offer for very long and certainly not when RHI scheme begins.

rhubarbe

RHI grant of £900 in England currently and if you qualify you can also get £400 boiler scrappage. So, £1300 if you get both.

Yes, ASHP does qualify on scrappage scheme..

Bizmarque

Fantastic thread - I've been reading it for some hours, and am starting to get the idea.... (although losing focus!)

At risk of repetition can i ask for a bit of qualification on a few bits, and recomendations too if you'd be kind enough to....

Just bought 3 bed det. stone walled, non double glazed, house. Currently has rayburn on solid fuel, providing antiquated system with rad heating and hw cylinder. More insulation planned first, both in roof, drylining inside of external walls, and double glazing. plan to skip heating system, and think I've decided (with your help) that ashp is the way to go - and want to lay ufh in all rooms.

I should add we are family of 4, 2 under 5's, one bath is poured every day, and thought we would have two electric showers,
So the worries and queries....

Is the cost of approved fitters/plumbers more than the value of ?incentive scheme? There is a bit of space around house, but the noise? someone said its like a spinning washing machine - that sounds pretty intrusive for continuous use? Do i need Solar to add hot water? Is scrappage payable on rayburn? A ball park figure would be really great

Thanks for any thoughts:beer:

Biz

thills

There are better experts than I, but I looked deep into it, got turned down by planning (apartment) because of potential noise. Units are outside, good ones are not that noisy, but your neighbours might not agree.
Very soon, for a house, not in a conservation area, ASHP's will be permitted but you must use a MCS installer. If neighbours windows are close, you might have a problem (as in high density housing).
You really have to use an MCS certified installer, grant is not the issue, the RHI is. There is a good one who reads this forum, sure he could help. ASHP will do the hot water, cheaper water than electric shower as well.

thills

If it helps you. I looked @ ecodan (5kw) & altherma (7kw) ecodan ranged fro £5.5k (non MCS) to £9k MCS, with HWC. Average £7.5k altherma ranged fro £4.5k (non MCS) to £7k (MCS) average £6.3ish. UFH, quite costly if you need a "thin" floor £50m2 upwards just for materials, some are double that. Think pipe in screed would be less, if you have the floor/ceiling height or can dig out the floors.
Don't be surprised if for a bigger ASHP & all the UFH etc installed for you, that it could cost £15K or more.

thills

http://www.rhincentive.co.uk
Read this

Hermann

thills wrote: »

If it helps you. I looked @ ecodan (5kw) & altherma (7kw) ecodan ranged fro £5.5k (non MCS) to £9k MCS, with HWC. Average £7.5k altherma ranged fro £4.5k (non MCS) to £7k (MCS) average £6.3ish.

Interesting to note how much your quotes varied between MCS installers and non MCS installers for the same equipment.

One wonders if its worth the premium of going MCS to get the RHI. The amount paid by RHI is a complete unknown at the moment, and the consultation document mentions regular inspections/maintenance by MCS bods to keep your qualification for the payments so goodness knows how much that might cost per year!