Nibe Air Source Heat Pump or Combi Oil Boiler

himmerz

Hello, I am faced with a difficult decision.

I have ripped out all my old storage heaters and had a quote on both a Nibe Air Source Heat Pump and a Worcester Bosch Heat Slave 18/25 Combi Oil Boiler.

The Nibe is a F2040-12 and estimate I should be able to get over £5000 back from the RHI payments over 7 years. The install would be £13672.95 as bigger radiators are required and a different style water cylinder. This also includes a solar diverter as I have a 4kw solar system already in the property.

The house is timber framed meaning it is not suitable for cavity wall.

The Worcester Bosch Heat Slave 18/25 Combi Oil Boiler install and pipe work total £8617.20. With the added inconvenience of me buying oil and making a base for the oil tank which I got for free and haven't tested for leaks. I would also have to dig my own trench for the oil pipe.

The main concern is after Searching the web and finding Nibe on rip off Britain and various cases where they have not worked as efficiently as they should have.

Any review on their Nine system experience would be appreciated.

himmerz

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matelodave

I'm guessing that there's no reason why a properly configured, installed and most of all operated heatpump system shouldn't be efficient and cost effective.

My Daikin system is 8 years old and been through nine winters. It's hard to quantify how much its saved in energy costs but even now we only pay £75 a month for out total leccy bill (£900) and I reckon we'' get at least £50 back at the end of our fix because of the mild winter.

We'll also get around £5k in RHI payments although they weren't part of my calculations when we went for the heatpump because it was uncertain whether it was to be implemented - we've had about 4 years worth so far.

I'd strongly advise that you get several quotes and do a lot of research before jumping in. Understanding how it works and how its configured will go a long way to getting the most out of it. I reckon most problems are caused by poorly installed system, unreasonable expectations and incorrect operation.

They are suited to long-term low temperature heating rather than high temperature morning and evening on/off operation.

I can let you have more info if you want some - just PM me.

himmerz

matelodave wrote: »

I'm guessing that there's no reason why a properly configured, installed and most of all operated heatpump system shouldn't be efficient and cost effective.

My worry is encase it's incorrectly installed. I have bought a load of radiators already but then the idea of air sourced instead of oil kept playing in my mind.

On the quote they did have 7 new radiators with my lounge ones I bought being moved to the bedrooms. Is underfloor heating much more in cost as I have all my carpets up and they never mentioned doing this once. Possible due to hassle or price but my understanding was underfloor heating and air source go hand in hand together.

I've been advised Nibe have a 7 year warranty. It's mainly my solar panels that keep making me feel air source is the way forward as otherwise all my electric will mostly go to the grid when it could be usefully used.

matelodave

TBH you use your heating when the sun doesn't shine and the days are very short and very cold so I'm not convinced that solar power and heatpumps are that good a match.

Likewise we run ours during the day and evenings and turn it down overnight so E7 isn't a good idea either.

We get all the hot water that we need for around 2kwh of leccy a day (less in the summer) which on our present tariff is around 23p a day. Not a reason to for solar panels either.

jk0

himmerz wrote: »

I have ripped out all my old storage heaters and had a quote on both

That was rather rash, wasn't it? If the new system lasts 20 years, that's about £500 per year. Will you really save £500 per year over storage heaters?

matelodave

jk0 wrote: »

That was rather rash, wasn't it? If the new system lasts 20 years, that's about £500 per year. Will you really save £500 per year over storage heaters?

Actually I reckon you can but you've got to install the right system and use it properly

himmerz

jk0 wrote: »

That was rather rash, wasn't it? If the new system lasts 20 years, that's about £500 per year. Will you really save £500 per year over storage heaters?

If a heat pump work out to be 5/6p per kw and so does oil surely one of them options r a non brainer?

Atomicsnail

We have an older nibe 360p eashp. It's too small to heat our house without using the immersion, which absolutely chews the electric!! It's fit for a one bed flat, not a 3 bed house.
Then you have nibe to deal with when it goes wrong. Terrible customer service! Booked in engineers don't turn up, then find out they were never booked in. Parts come from Sweden, when they eventually order them.
I would look elsewhere for an ashp if you choose that route over the oil.

matelodave

I have noticed that quite a few systems seem to be under sized. When I was looking for quotes eight years ago I'd done my homework and calculated that I'd need 10kwh.

I went with an 11kw Daikin.

I had several quotes (mainly for Ecodan) for 8kwh units. The problem being that they run out of heat as the temperature drops and then require extensive use of the backup/boost heater to maintain flow temperatures or the user turns up the stat because they are cold. Heatpumps don't really manage above 55c either so having hot water above that will require the immersion or boost heater to kick in.

It's worth looking at the performance curves to see how the heat output drops away when it's everso cold and the efficiency curves to see how the COP drops off at higher temperatures to ensure that the unit you are being offered is working comfortably across the temperature range that you require.

I reckon my unit averages a COP of between 2 to 3, which, using leccy at 11.5kwh, means I'm paying approx 4.6p - 6p kwh for my heating. Not as cheap as mains gas but I reckon it compares pretty favourably with oil or LPG at the moment and we dont have the hassle of storing and ordering them either.

himmerz

I have now had an epc done.
I am not sure if I have worked out the RHI grant correctly but perhaps it is a good estimate to what I will get back?

The difference between Oil vs ASHP is £5055.75
I think I would get back £4130 over 7 years.

My heating demand on my epc is 7012kWh
water heating is 2115kWh.
With cavity wall and loft both marked as n/a

Thus giving a difference of £925.75 over 7 years.
The oil boiler has a 5 year parts only warranty vs the Nibe with a 7 year parts and labour warranty, subject to annual servicing.