Air Source Heat Pump - advice

Cardew

There is an interesting exchange of posts in the ASHP 'sticky' thread in the LPG and heating forum.

A lady has bought a new build house with an ASHP system that is totally inadequate to cope with this weather. The other new houses have gas CH, but her property had an ASHP as it was imposed on the builder.

savvysammy

All I can say on the subject of ASHP is I wouldn't personally recommend it having ran one for 3 winters now.
We installed one which was more than big enough kw rating for our house after much much research into it. The only time our house is warm is when it is above approx 7 degrees outside. Other than this, we have an electric backup boiler for the system which not only is incredibly expensive but still doesnt heat the house up like a Gas CH system. We have calculated that the electric bill for the heating over the past 2 months is around £10 per day :eek: as it has been so cold (down to -18) that we havent turned the system or the backup off as it would have never managed to get remotely lukewarm again. Unfortunately this didnt mean the house was warm- at all! Luckily we have an open fire too so have been sticking to one room and electric blanket prior to getting in bed!
We do, like im sure many other ASHP owners do, know that it wasn't the best decision as it ultimately works out no cheaper than oil ( we cant get gas) with the difference that if we had oil, the house would actually be warm! We are now in the process of looking into an additional system but are awaiting the RHI launch to see if there is anything of interest (no doubt the products and installers who are MCS certified will be absolutely extortionate prices).

Cardew

savvysammy wrote: »

All I can say on the subject of ASHP is I wouldn't personally recommend it having ran one for 3 winters now.
We installed one which was more than big enough kw rating for our house after much much research into it. The only time our house is warm is when it is above approx 7 degrees outside. Other than this, we have an electric backup boiler for the system which not only is incredibly expensive but still doesnt heat the house up like a Gas CH system. We have calculated that the electric bill for the heating over the past 2 months is around £10 per day :eek: as it has been so cold (down to -18) that we havent turned the system or the backup off as it would have never managed to get remotely lukewarm again. Unfortunately this didnt mean the house was warm- at all! Luckily we have an open fire too so have been sticking to one room and electric blanket prior to getting in bed!
We do, like im sure many other ASHP owners do, know that it wasn't the best decision as it ultimately works out no cheaper than oil ( we cant get gas) with the difference that if we had oil, the house would actually be warm! We are now in the process of looking into an additional system but are awaiting the RHI launch to see if there is anything of interest (no doubt the products and installers who are MCS certified will be absolutely extortionate prices).

You are not alone. In the LPG and heating section there are loads of threads with some real horror stories - including this thread.


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2968958

It might be an idea if you post your experiences in that section.

Catbells

savvysammy wrote: »

All I can say on the subject of ASHP is I wouldn't personally recommend it having ran one for 3 winters now.
We installed one which was more than big enough kw rating for our house after much much research into it. The only time our house is warm is when it is above approx 7 degrees outside. Other than this, we have an electric backup boiler for the system which not only is incredibly expensive but still doesnt heat the house up like a Gas CH system. We have calculated that the electric bill for the heating over the past 2 months is around £10 per day :eek: as it has been so cold (down to -18) that we havent turned the system or the backup off as it would have never managed to get remotely lukewarm again. Unfortunately this didnt mean the house was warm- at all! Luckily we have an open fire too so have been sticking to one room and electric blanket prior to getting in bed!
We do, like im sure many other ASHP owners do, know that it wasn't the best decision as it ultimately works out no cheaper than oil ( we cant get gas) with the difference that if we had oil, the house would actually be warm! We are now in the process of looking into an additional system but are awaiting the RHI launch to see if there is anything of interest (no doubt the products and installers who are MCS certified will be absolutely extortionate prices).

Yours was the kind of post I was hoping not to read but now that I have it has confirmed my worst suspicions about ASHPs. I'm not going for it. Must add though that a friend has bought and gutted a house and installed underfloor heating through ASHP and they are pleased with it. Haven't seen them since the big freeze however and must find out if they suffered when the temp outside went below 7 deg as you did.