Understanding my current electricity set up

leeruddecology

Hello all,

I moved into my current flat in April and before that I just used to haveradiators, on/off and a communal boiler. I didn't have to worry about anything.

However, I now pay for what I use and the set up I have is complicated, wellto me it is.

I have a NIBE f205p tower. I think it is some kind of heat recovery system.I have air ducts in the bathrooms and kitchen.

Underfloor heating, with thermostats for each room.

I also have a small tank in another cupboard. It is called an aquasystem(AAGMNOOWO1JA1) and says 18 liters. In this cupboard I also have a heatingswitch, another switch which is next to a dial thermostat made by ROBUS. I haveno idea what these things are for.

I am assuming this is where my hot water is stored? 18 liters doesn’t soundlike much though. Saying this, on the floor of this cupboard is a whole seriesof copper pipes with room names on them. I think these are the valves thatallow heat to pass through to each room.

I tried to attach photographs of these, but it asked for an URL?

Cardew

I suggest you do a search on MSE for NIBE.


I believe the system you have is a specialised Air Source Heat Pump(ASHP) system that uses a heat recovery system; and by all accounts it gives huge amounts of trouble.


There are a lot of people posting on MSE who are very unhappy and there was a 'Watchdog' type programme. In some Council/housing association properties the system has been ripped out.

leeruddecology

I understand some people before were reporting seriously high bills. I wondered if it's because they were not using the system to its maximum effect.

I did have issues when I moved in with it keep going faulty. They installed a new switch thing and since then it's not been faulty.

Energy use since April has been about £28-32 a month. I live alone. Although that's with hardly any heating!

dumpallhere

See NIBE F205P (user leaflet).
Does the Aquasystem look like this? It's an expansion vessel / tank.

leeruddecology

Yes that's the nibe system.

The vessel looks similar to that but white.

Any views or tips on it's setup. I have read through some stuff but find it difficult to put into practise to be efficient.

I've read they don't like to work below say 16 degrees as they take the air from the room and run it through the system. Does that mean if it takes in cold air it will have to work harder to heat it up? There are three settings on the nibe system. I understand setting one is solely based on the air intake. Not sure about the others apart from one runs the immersion heater and is expensive? But perhaps cheaper where the air in the room is below 16 degrees?

dumpallhere

Sorry, no experience of using the said system!
See if reading the user instructions will help (if not read yet).
Installation and maintenance manual here.

Richie-from-the-Boro

I can't see how this excellent system can work at all in the UK unless you have an EPC of at least an A or B+. If with our lousy insulation standards in the UK the NIBE finds itself short of heat it will automatically default to switching on the immersion heater at full price for a heat supply. The O/P should ask the neighbours and track what their costs are over the winter months, then average the cost / benefits over the year, if the annual cost comes in around £1200 its [heating type agnostic] about the same as any well insulated UK dwelling.

leeruddecology

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

I can't see how this excellent system can work at all in the UK unless you have an EPC of at least an A or B+. If with our lousy insulation standards in the UK the NIBE finds itself short of heat it will automatically default to switching on the immersion heater at full price for a heat supply. .

I am not sure what an EPC of at least an A or B+ is. Can you explain please?

On this sytem I have 3 settings, I think only setting 2 and 3 will use the immersion heater. However, I have it on setting 1 at the moment, which wont use it. However, as the temps get low, I might have too?

leeruddecology

Ok I should have googled EPC first.

My flat energy performance certificate rating is C with a score of 75. This sits in the middle of the C category (69-80)

leeruddecology

I have read through the user manual again.

It says for every 1kwh energy used to operate the machine, it gives out 3 kwh heat out due to the compressor. This sounds good. Especially in the summer months, as I can take the hot temps from outside and generate lots of hot water for cheap. Not so good in winter I guess.

So if it I get 3 for every 1kwh using the compressor does that mean it is 3 times cheaper than the immersion?

I am currently using setting 1. This means the compressor and circulation pump is operational on demand.

However, it does say that in winter I should use setting 2. However, it also says use 1 for as long as possible until its too cold. I read somewhere the system likes to run at temps above 15 degrees. So, really how do I know if its too cold for setting 1?

Setting 2. Compressor, immersion and pump are operational on demand.

setting 3. Compressor is not operational. Immersion heater and circulation pump operational on demand.

However, I understand the difference between 2 and 3 is the compressor is not running in 3. But, what does that mean for setting 2. At what stage does the immersion run during setting 2 if the compressor is also running?

Also, I read that if I have a temperature set, such as 16 degrees, and the temperature of the room is warmer it will send cold water through to reduce the termpature. Seriously? Or is this only if I set the temp to be 20 degrees, and then the next time slot I want it to be 15 degrees. I am obviously demanding it to be lower this way.

I have set my temps to 16 degrees on a timer for 05:00 - 07:30 and 18:30 - 22:00 daily. Does that mean, if the temperature is 18 degrees during these time chosen, it will try and make it cooler? Thus costing me money to make the room colder? (although my comment above may mean it doesnt) I am using a NIBE ASHP system as a reminder.

leeruddecology

Right a little update. I had the engineer come out as my heating was coming on outside timed slots. Here is why. Ps user error.

There are two set times.

Set 1. Enter start time -temp - end time. Then set temperature.

Set 2. Start time -end time.

So I think the the last temp for set one related to set 2 but did find it odd. So my two temps were 18. Effectively my heating was on 24/7!

The first temp is set 1 relates to set 2 temps as well! The temp at the end of set 1 relates to all other times. Weird I feel.

The other question I asked about was.

When do I put the NIBE system into winter mode(uses compressor during high demand mode). The engineer said use summer mode for as long as you can ( compressor and fan pump on 24/7). If it delivers the water temp I want, which is 55 and delivers the heat and the light doesn't flash the. It's coping. This way I delay using the immersion/direct electricity.

My living room in the morning is not getting to 18 degrees ATM so I've set the timer to come on earlier. The evening gets to 18 quickly.

I have used 16 units for hot water and heating over the last three days. This is typical ATM.

I also asked about the numerous trickle vents as well as they are drawing in cold air. They said partially lock cents and as long as the machine doesn't flash and I get my hot water and temps it's fine. Trial and error.

Another interesting point which wasn't explained before. I have rhermostats in every room. Baths rooms included.

I thought they were all independent. Nope. My timer is set in the living room and as soon as that it to temp it cuts of all heat going to the other rooms. In theory if I want all other rooms warmer I have to have the temp set to higher in the living room. Luckily it's normal to want the living room at a higher temp.