ASHP/GSHP in Winter?

bobbyhuh

Hi,

Sorry if this has been asked before but how is everyone getting on with their Air Source / Ground Source Heat pumps now the weather has turned very cold?

I am undertaking a business plan to become an installer of renewables and am doing some research and so would expect GS to be better in the cold.

Regards

Rob

stevehead

bobbyhuh wrote: »

Hi,

Sorry if this has been asked before but how is everyone getting on with their Air Source / Ground Source Heat pumps now the weather has turned very cold?

I am undertaking a business plan to become an installer of renewables and am doing some research and so would expect GS to be better in the cold.

Regards

Rob

Using 2 Mitsubishi ASHP's as my only heating, and on my 2nd winter with them. Last year they used less than £150 of electricity. This November... a tenner (@ 10p / KWh).
End Terrace house, occupied and warm all day.

I haven't had to stress the ASHP's yet this winter, and by that I mean turn them up so they're working hard. They have a max temp of 28C and Low/Med/High Power settings. I have mine set at 22C / Low which means that they stay quiet, don't ice up and only pull 350 - 450 watts each.

Law of unintended consequences - only that window condensation got much worse since moving to ASHP's. With the old GSH, the rads were under the windows.
Now completely fixed with new windows and MHRVs.

grahamc2003

Bobby/Steve I wonder if I could ask some questions regarding domestic ASHPs - maybe useful to see the kind of questions people come up with when looking to installing them.

The person I had round to quote recommended a 5kw Fujitsu unit (asya12lc, aoyr12lc looking very much like yours Steve. I'm taking a modular approach, and just buying one unit to start with, see how it goes, then buy one or two more as necessary). He said it would be quite a bit cheaper than the Mitsubishi heavy industries equivalent. Any idea why? Do Fujitsu have a decent reputation. I noticed the cop is quoted at a lowish 3 for the Fu, whereas the Mi seems to quote in the high 5s, and I'm wondering if they are made on the same basis as it seems a massive difference.

Also, I notice that the Fu units act as dehumidifiers too. Is that just when they are cooling, or do they also dehumidify the room when heating it? (I'd like that facility).

On your video Steve, you show a meter measuring the power and cost to your indoor unit - is that the total cost, or is there a separate supply to the outdoor unit too? Or does the socket supplying the indoor unit also supply the outdoor unit by a cable connecting the two?

I'd be interested in the maintenance required - presumably there are filters to change on both units, are they easily changed/expensive to replace/washable?

If this post isn't suitable here, should I move it somehwere else? Thanks

stevehead

Hi Graham,
I'm sure some of the AirCon installers on this board could give a better appraisal of your choice of unit as I have only had the 1 model.
I wanted the highest COP I could possibly get as low power was THE top priority. I probably missed out on some more stylish units, or ones that dehumidify when on heat mode (mine don't) or even pull in fresh air. The indoor Mitsi's are bulky, but they need a big exchanger to work efficiently.
I would think that the Fujitsu's with a COP of 3 will be expensive to run in this weather. Probably a COP of 1.5ish at 0C.

My power meter measures the total load of both units. The indoor unit has a power cable exiting and running alongside the refrigerant piping to the outdoor unit.

Filters are user washable whenever needed.
I had them serviced last year; can't remenber but I think £80 ish. This consisted of an inspection and clean. I've cleaned them myself this year.

samtheman1k

My Ecodan is performing very well in the SE throughout the snow the last few days. Constant 50degC water to rads/UFH. Only issue is the large amounts of condensate produced during the defrost cycle...think I need to channel it away better!

Greatwhite_2

Hi

I hope someone can help me. I have a block of four flats that i woulkd like to use ASHP for. Is there a way i can use 1 ASHP and then put a meter in each of the flats to tell each individuals usage so they can be charged accordingly? If so what Meter would this be?

Your help would be much appreciated.

samtheman1k

I wouldn't of thought so as the ASHP requires only one power supply. Unless you put a pump in each flat for a zone, and charge per 'unit' of pump activity?