All electric - heating - and big mistakes!

Andy_WSM

Returner wrote: »

I'm intrigued by the A2A systems and have much reading to do. No doubt that will then generate another gazillion questions...

Suffice to say, any of us with A2A heat pumps will answer what we can from "real life" experience, rather than text books. This is important as you will discover. Manufacturers claims can't always be met in the real world.

That said - If I was starting again I would install A2A split units in each room, decent ones with built in time controls so each room can do it's own thing as required.

Be_Happy

Hi Andy

While you're answering questions, just how noisy are the A2A units (outside and inside) when running? I find the noise of a fan heater, especially while its thermostat is switching off and on, really annoying. I like the idea of A2A, but am concerned about possible noise.

The only place for the outside unit would be below our bedroom window.

Returner

Real life experiences would be the most useful Andy, you're right.

I have also had questions about the noise level of the A2A units. Whilst living abroad we had central air-conditioning. But I think that unit would have been quite a bit larger (and thus more noisy?)

saveallmymoney

I have an air-2-air heat pump in my home office to save having the house heating on all day. Its a Daikin one and its very quiet inside and out. The impact on my electric bill has been insignificant as well as the great benefit of air conditioning in the summer.

Andy_WSM

Be_Happy wrote: »

Hi Andy

While you're answering questions, just how noisy are the A2A units (outside and inside) when running? I find the noise of a fan heater, especially while its thermostat is switching off and on, really annoying. I like the idea of A2A, but am concerned about possible noise.

The only place for the outside unit would be below our bedroom window.

Returner wrote: »

Real life experiences would be the most useful Andy, you're right.

I have also had questions about the noise level of the A2A units. Whilst living abroad we had central air-conditioning. But I think that unit would have been quite a bit larger (and thus more noisy?)

The indoor units can be virtually silent nowadays. Especially the bigger brand units. Daikin even have a "silent" setting. The output is somewhat reduced, but for a bedroom for example, it would be ideal. Nowadays they use solid state switching, not relays, so no annoying clicks!

The outdoor units can be noisier, but modern inverter units aren't any noisier than say a large desk fan on full power. The harder it is working the noisier it will be - and noise is subjective as it will depend on background noise in your area. In London you probably wouldn't notice it. Here, you might.

If you look on various manufacturers websites they state noise levels and whether they have a silent setting.

Daikin, Samsung, Fujitsu are all good brands. Avoid cheap!

My current house has a Fujitsu ducted central air system, which will heat or cool. I only use the heating as back up though as I also have mains gas. Although I did use the A/C for heating during my first winter here and another winter since when the boiler failed. I personally find moving air causes a chill when it isn't actually heating and my central air being an older unit doesn't have whisper mode or any way of stopping it blowing air when it isn't actually heating - modern units do.

Returner

Thank you Andy. All extremely useful info!

matelodave

If you are contemplating A2A units or even Air Source Heatpumps (ASHP) then I'd suggest that you find an installer or dealer that got a showroom so you can see what they look like, sound like and have a chat about installation.
We've all got our own ideas of what is acceptable and what isn't and don't forget to take your wife if it involves equipment that's going to be on show in the living rooms (I have enough trouble with the stuff that sits out of the way in the utility room)

I made a couple of visits to the firm that actually installed mine so I could see what was involved and could ask lots of questions.
I did a lot of research myself and put together a specification of my requirements for them to quote against. I also did my own heat loss calculations and used a heat pump simulation program so I had a really good idea myself of what was possible and could understand their calculations.
I probably made a bit of a nuisance of myself but I did end up with a system that does what I want it to.

Going in with some knowledge will help you understand how they work and hopefully avoid being sold something that's not suitable