Ground Source Heat Pumps

JHen1

Thanks Mister_G - let's hopes its that and not a crack in the pipe

Assume I need to turn the pump off until this is replaced ?

JHen1

I've been told I need to top up with Glycol r500c but I can only see 20l for £200 - all the glycol I had has nearly gone now.

beardymarrow

JHen1 said:

I've been told I need to top up with Glycol r500c but I can only see 20l for £200 - all the glycol I had has nearly gone now.

The glycol would be mixed with water. Usually something like 60-70% water. The manual for your model will say the exact mixture. 

JHen1

Thought I'd update you on my glycol leak - phoned my IVT service co. and they informed me they only maintain the unit and not any external pipe work. I tried to get a plumber, as there was not much give in the pipes, but they were all busy so I removed the mounting brackets on the copper and plastic pipes and this was enough, with some brute force, to remove the faulty adapter.

After removing the adapter I found the seal was split and in a bent state, It looks like it was pinched when it was installed - how it lasted 10+ years. On the copper pipe was a Copper Adaptor 32 x 28 so I purchased

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adapter-REDUCING-Plastic-Female-Adaptor/dp/B08D3VWCYS/ref=sr_1_4?crid=15DYATCY2H9XW&keywords=HYDROBIL+Adapter+for+MDPE/PE+Pipes,+2xFemale+Outlet&qid=1658125908&sprefix=hydrobil+adapter+for+mdpe/pe+pipes+2xfemale+outlet,aps,99&sr=8-4

and

https://www.waterirrigation.co.uk/plasson-copper-adaptor-32-x-28.html

I checked the existing pipe ends were in good order and was able to replace the parts.

I powered on the unit, manually started the loop 5.3, topped up the expansion vessel and made sure there were no leeks.

So far so good.

Mister_G

JHen1 said:

Thought I'd update you on my glycol leak - phoned my IVT service co. and they informed me they only maintain the unit and not any external pipe work. I tried to get a plumber, as there was not much give in the pipes, but they were all busy so I removed the mounting brackets on the copper and plastic pipes and this was enough, with some brute force, to remove the faulty adapter.

After removing the adapter I found the seal was split and in a bent state, It looks like it was pinched when it was installed - how it lasted 10+ years. On the copper pipe was a Copper Adaptor 32 x 28 so I purchased

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adapter-REDUCING-Plastic-Female-Adaptor/dp/B08D3VWCYS/ref=sr_1_4?crid=15DYATCY2H9XW&keywords=HYDROBIL+Adapter+for+MDPE/PE+Pipes,+2xFemale+Outlet&qid=1658125908&sprefix=hydrobil+adapter+for+mdpe/pe+pipes+2xfemale+outlet,aps,99&sr=8-4

and

https://www.waterirrigation.co.uk/plasson-copper-adaptor-32-x-28.html

I checked the existing pipe ends were in good order and was able to replace the parts.

I powered on the unit, manually started the loop 5.3, topped up the expansion vessel and made sure there were no leeks.

So far so good.

Well done!  Probably saved you a few bob as well.

beardymarrow

JHen1 said:

Thought I'd update you on my glycol leak - phoned my IVT service co. and they informed me they only maintain the unit and not any external pipe work. I tried to get a plumber, as there was not much give in the pipes, but they were all busy so I removed the mounting brackets on the copper and plastic pipes and this was enough, with some brute force, to remove the faulty adapter.

After removing the adapter I found the seal was split and in a bent state, It looks like it was pinched when it was installed - how it lasted 10+ years. On the copper pipe was a Copper Adaptor 32 x 28 so I purchased

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adapter-REDUCING-Plastic-Female-Adaptor/dp/B08D3VWCYS/ref=sr_1_4?crid=15DYATCY2H9XW&keywords=HYDROBIL+Adapter+for+MDPE/PE+Pipes,+2xFemale+Outlet&qid=1658125908&sprefix=hydrobil+adapter+for+mdpe/pe+pipes+2xfemale+outlet,aps,99&sr=8-4

and

https://www.waterirrigation.co.uk/plasson-copper-adaptor-32-x-28.html

I checked the existing pipe ends were in good order and was able to replace the parts.

I powered on the unit, manually started the loop 5.3, topped up the expansion vessel and made sure there were no leeks.

So far so good.

Good work! 

ccbrowning

So, looks like our Heliotherm unit has decided to quit working! When requesting DHW it will trip the RCD exactly 35 minutes in each time, and never heat up the water. Really fun getting anyone out to have a look at it, so we have no hot water! I do see our 300 litre immersion tank has a tiny 3.4kw heating element in it, but I imagine it's not getting used since the GSHP does all the work.

100% adding an Eddi or similar next year, too, although not sure if that will utilise the GSHP for heating or the tiny immersion element (which is less efficient?).

beardymarrow

ccbrowning said:

So, looks like our Heliotherm unit has decided to quit working! When requesting DHW it will trip the RCD exactly 35 minutes in each time, and never heat up the water. Really fun getting anyone out to have a look at it, so we have no hot water! I do see our 300 litre immersion tank has a tiny 3.4kw heating element in it, but I imagine it's not getting used since the GSHP does all the work.

100% adding an Eddi or similar next year, too, although not sure if that will utilise the GSHP for heating or the tiny immersion element (which is less efficient?).

I don't know that system at all, but is it tripping when the heating element kicks in after 35mins of GSHP only (although why it would need to, I don't know)? Might be shorted or something. 

beardymarrow

35 minutes seems a long time for the GSHP to be on, for just DHW. Our IVT takes about 25 minutes (possibly over 35mins if both of us take a long shower one after the other). Also worth resetting the rcd to see if another 35 minutes will finish heating the water enough. 

ccbrowning

beardymarrow said:

35 minutes seems a long time for the GSHP to be on, for just DHW. Our IVT takes about 25 minutes (possibly over 35mins if both of us take a long shower one after the other). Also worth resetting the rcd to see if another 35 minutes will finish heating the water enough. 

It's not heating at all... Just trying to do stuff and flipping the RCD after 35 min. I noticed the immersion tank never went up at all.