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

mitchy74

rhubarbe wrote: »

I read loads of stuff at the beginning of this thread where people (who didn't have an ASHP) argued with others that the things wouldn't give out enough heat on the coldest of days. But, so what? 95% of days aren't the coldest of days and so far (and we've had a few frosts but nothing like last year) this year ours has heated the radiators in our house like a trooper. Not quite as hot as the LPG boiler but then it's only costing circa 25p an hour, rather than a quid.

I'm not sure about the implication to the RHI payments of having an LPG boiler as well as ASHP. They might argue that if you chose, you could just use the LPG and that wouldn't satisfy the requirements of the scheme. You'd have to check and with so little info about I expect that'd be hard to do. OTOH, if you do get a full RHI payment for 18 years that'd buy a lot of bags of coal for the coldest of coldest of days. Wouldn't it?

Yes very true!! I just struggle to see past the fact it was a brand new boiler and seems daft to scrap it! No doubt I could punt it on ebay or something. When you put yours in, what sort of piping did you have to your rads? I have that Microbore and obviously as its under the house there is a loss there. Had a quote to get that done and theyre looking at £1500 which I thought was a bit much, but its probably one of those kind of jobs nobody wants to do!

rhubarbe

We have 15mm which was put in in 1989 as part of a gravity fed solid-fuel fired back boiler system, later we added a Grundfos pump. Many years later when the back of the coal fire had burned through we removed the back boiler and found to our dismay that it had never been connected to the radiators, just a pipe running behind the boiler.

I think you'll need to get the microbore changed. Think how much you'll be getting from the RHI over 18 years and these jobs - which will need doing anyway sooner or later - pale if not into insignificance at least to a bearable level.

I expect that the microbore replacement will be likely offset by the savings you'll make using a "normal" installer compared to a gold plated one like Ice.

berkshiresue

Hi ya, 1st post so if I get it wrong please excuse me!!
I have recently moved into a Housing Association new build four bed house (yup lucky aint I!!) and we have this heating.
Its good ..... really good! its the Mitsibushi one, and so its great. Only down side is that apparantly, as it controls the hotwater as well as the heating the hotwater gets priority over the heating, but havent really noticed the house being cold at all. Obviously as this is a new build its uber economic anyway. Havent had a electric bill yet, but I have been reassured "you will notice a heck of a difference in your bill" just hope they are right!!!

rhubarbe

Try setting the hot water time to come on before the heating comes on in the morning, Sue. Ours heats 150L of water in about 25 minutes.

mitchy74

Thats Ice back to me now with a revised quote following the heat loss survey, down from £16k ish to £9k for a 14kw Ecodan as opposed to 2 *8.5kw. Will be interesting to see what the more economic ones come in at now!

berkshiresue

rhubarbe wrote: »

Try setting the hot water time to come on before the heating comes on in the morning, Sue. Ours heats 150L of water in about 25 minutes.

thanks for that!! HA told me NOT under any circumstances to mess with the controls, perhaps they think I am thick or something so have just left it, only control the heating via the thermostat atm but think I will have a little look lol

albyota

mitchy74 wrote: »

Thats Ice back to me now with a revised quote following the heat loss survey, down from £16k ish to £9k for a 14kw Ecodan as opposed to 2 *8.5kw. Will be interesting to see what the more economic ones come in at now!

Mitchy74, check the smallprint.....does it include plumbing, electrics, test and commission?

albyota

mitchy74 wrote: »

To what extent would it affect the RHI if it was just there as a backup?? Not wanting to burn all bridges, get it taken out then find that the Heat Pump isnt all I thought it would be.

Despite everyone being very possitive on here, I'm ever the pessimist on these things!

Contacted both companies mentioned above so waiting to hear back.

for peace of mind, there is no need to remove the LPG boiler, just valve it off, take out the fuse, run the heat pump all year as normal.....if you find on the very rare occasion in coldest Scotland, open valves, fuse back in....sorted. But to be honest, I don't think the you'll ever need it again.

rhubarbe

I had a quote from Ice - it didnt include ANY plumbing. Just supply, fit and commission ASHP. I asked how they squared the third party plumbing of the Honeywell Y system, including hot water tank, immersion heater, etc. with Mitsubishi, vis-a-vis the 3 year warranty. They didn't reply.

And they were the second most expensive quote!

mitchy74

albyota wrote: »

Mitchy74, check the smallprint.....does it include plumbing, electrics, test and commission?

No nothing, just the commission and supply of the system, I should of said that in the post. So I assume I would be another 2k ish for installation.

Had a reply from ACS that were mentioned above, they feel they cant supply the required amount of customer support this far north.