Upgrade heating gas not an option

shinytop

The problem is, if you cooners said:

Thanks for that. 
The only worry I have is given the layout of the house the only obvious place to put it would likely be right on the boundary as the other side has too much stuff in the way and it's not a big house, would you be able to get planning permission for that?
I sat next to the air con pumps at work (four of them) and they barely made a sound tbh so if the domestic versions are the same I personally wouldn't have a problem.

The problem is if you want to site it closer than 1m to the boundary, you will need planning permission.  You might get neighbours' objections and need noise analysis, plans, scale drawings, etc.  You might not, but it would be safer to go via permitted development.

Gerry1

coffeehound said:

I suppose the worst case would be when used for cooling on hot summer nights while neighbours have windows open?

It would certainly be the worst case because IIRC you can't claim the RHI for an air-to-air heatpump, which is what you'd be using !

Reed_Richards

coffeehound said:

I suppose the worst case would be when used for cooling on hot summer nights while neighbours have windows open?

I commented on this earlier.  One of the conditions for an ASHP to be a permitted development is that it is "used solely for heating purposes".  The only reason I can think of for that is precisely so it doesn't disturb the neighbours when they are likely to have their windows open.  

coffeehound

Reed_Richards said:

coffeehound said:

I suppose the worst case would be when used for cooling on hot summer nights while neighbours have windows open?

I commented on this earlier.  One of the conditions for an ASHP to be a permitted development is that it is "used solely for heating purposes".  The only reason I can think of for that is precisely so it doesn't disturb the neighbours when they are likely to have their windows open.  

Hmm, wouldn't it be because it would be introducing a new mode of energy use rather than decreasing overall consumption?  

It's a bit disappointing to hear as that would have been an extra perk to making the change

Reed_Richards

@coffeehound planning permission for air conditioning units seems to be a grey area for official guidance.  Some web sites cite the same regulations as for a heat pump; other websites suggest there is an additional maximum noise level for an air conditioning unit to be a permitted development (and thus not requiring planning permission).  

nigelbb

macman said:

nigelbb said:

cooners said:

danrv said:

macman said:

In terms of capital cost, NSH's and an immersion heater will surely be the cheapest option.

Much cheaper. There’s no gas for my property so will be fitting modern NSH’s downstairs and convectors for bedrooms.
I already have an immersion heater.

Also ASHP operating noise needs to be considered. Ok if
positioned away from neighbours and sleeping areas.

It would be on a semi detached house that isn't very big. Our bedroom is on the other side obviously have no idea of the neighbors situation. If we got one and they took a disliking to it could they do anything about it? 
I'd try and mount it on the far side of the house but given the gate and the back door are both on that side. 
I've got NSH in the place I'm in now as has my girlfriend, we both know how to use them (turn the input to something appropriate to the weather and turn the output to zero until you need the heat) and they absolutely gobble up the electric, we are both easily going through £100 a month in the winter meaning she has to turn it off at times and deal with the cold so NSH and standard electric heaters are a no go.
I don't want an oil or LPG tank if I can avoid it and gas is impossible which leaves air source heating.
I've been told air to air is cheaper than air to water and also works as air conditioning, is this worth considering?

You can have the LPG tank buried underground if the eyesore & loss of space in your garden is your concern

But £3.50 per day for heating during the coldest months would be absolutely normal...
Yes, using convectors on single rate would be hideously expensive. But on E7 it's about a quarter of the single rate charge.

LPG is more expensive than mains gas although at most 25% more it's still considerably cheaper than using E7 which is about 100% more per KWh. You also have the traditional E7 night storage heater problems that you pay for heat before you know whether you need it or not & if it's very cold your NSHs run out of steam & you need to use peak rate electricity to keep warm.

edgex

Insulation?

What's the insulation, glazing, ventilation, draughtproofing like?
The less heat you have escaping, the less new heat you need to put in, which gives you a wider range of options.

cooners

edgex said:

Insulation?

What's the insulation, glazing, ventilation, draughtproofing like?
The less heat you have escaping, the less new heat you need to put in, which gives you a wider range of options.

The EPC says I need to get more insulation in the loft and there is no floor insulation. I'm going to get this sorted ASAP.
The homebuyers report says windows and the back door need replacing so that will be done right away too (luckily I have family that work for a window company 😁).
So hopefully that will improve it somewhat.

cooners

I'm still trying to work out how to get rid of the NSH but now I've come to the realisation that the house needs other things as well as heating so my budget is a little smaller.
I still want an ASHP and am looking for some sort of scheme or grants but the main one seems to have expired and RHI is only good if you have the cash up front.
My girlfriend (who won't own any part of the house) is on benefits (Enhanced ESA and PIP) and my solicitor has suggested we might be able to get help that way especially as she has the worst asthma her doctor has ever seen. Anyone got any idea what to look at for that?
Also I've come across something called Assignment of rights which basically gives you a free ASHP bit an investor gets the RHI payments. Has anyone used that? How do I go about getting it?

Thanks

Reed_Richards

cooners said:

The EPC says I need to get more insulation in the loft and there is no floor insulation.

You would have to add loft insulation to qualify for the RHI.  Floor insulation is some sort of imaginary pipe-dream of the EPC software; in practice these is little you can do that would be effective and economic.

cooners said:

Also I've come across something called Assignment of rights which basically gives you a free ASHP bit an investor gets the RHI payments. Has anyone used that? How do I go about getting it?

I have come across this in the context of solar panels and it can cause big problems with mortgage lenders if you want to sell your house (and your purchaser wants a mortgage).  In this case I imagine the ASHP might be free but you don't actually own it, essentially you rent it with your RHI payments - so look carefully at what happens when these run out after 7 years.