£7-£8k for Aircon system

Reed_Richards

Swipe said:
I can't see noise being an issue at that distance.

...in which case planning permission will be granted.

mnbvcxz

If it was me I would think hard about getting one or two heads downstairs in the most used room(s) first as an experiment. Then I could get an idea of how practical they were for heating and whether I would want one in a bedroom and what having warm air blown around was like. You never know, once downstairs was warmed up you might not feel the need for the extra heaters. 

Small single AC units are also availible with higher effiencies, you can get a COP of over 5. And their minimum power draw is less too.  I suspect a single large 10kw box will draw at least 1kw minimum and have a COP close to 3.

You would think lots of heads on a single box would be cheaper but it doesn't seem to work that way. It does mean less outside boxes though.

A bit worrying what Swipe says. They mostly claim to be good to -15C or so, but clearly that was not his experience. Perhaps they are not better ten years on? Certainly scandinavian countries get special low temperature models, whether there are UK ones better aimed at heating than cooling? I know the propane diy models from appliances direct say they are background heating only and the reviews say stop in cold weather but I was hoping the smarter brands would be able to cope.

Obviously none of this gets you any hot water....

They do seem wonderful on paper, almost to good to be true, so if you do go ahead let us know how it works out. I'm not brave enough to be a pioneer and put them to them test...

good luck

 

danrv

Reed_Richards said:

The great thing about air-to-air is that it heats the air to the temperature you want.  

Thanks. Yes, I’m used to that with the warm air heating. 

danrv

shinytop said:

@danrv,  An A2W ASHP plus radiators for your house is likely to cost around £15k.  But RHI might get you back most of the increrase (or more) over your £8k A2A system and give you cheaper HW, as well as being 'proper' central heating.  You do have to find the money up front though and make sure your insulation is up to scratch.  

I think that would be a very last resort, if at all possible with the concrete walls. 
Option 1: Quantum NSH’s down, electric rads up  £2200
Option 2 : 10kw Aircon install with six indoor units  £7k
Option 3 : ASHP wet system + hot water  £15k with RHI payments

The bedrooms are seldom used so electric rads maybe ok. Quantums on E7 should kick out a fair bit of heat and would be sized accordingly. Cheapest option and a bit of a compromise.
Air to Air ASHP at £7k I think would be the most I’d want to pay. Full heating system that I hope would be sufficient in sub zero temps. Water heated on immersion for about an hour daily.
ASHP wet system would be ideal and what most houses have. Not sure why it’s £15k initial outlay. Might be cheaper if I had a radiator system already. 

shinytop

danrv said:

shinytop said:

@danrv,  An A2W ASHP plus radiators for your house is likely to cost around £15k.  But RHI might get you back most of the increrase (or more) over your £8k A2A system and give you cheaper HW, as well as being 'proper' central heating.  You do have to find the money up front though and make sure your insulation is up to scratch.  

I think that would be a very last resort, if at all possible with the concrete walls. 
Option 1: Quantum NSH’s down, electric rads up  £2200
Option 2 : 10kw Aircon install with six indoor units  £7k
Option 3 : ASHP wet system + hot water  £15k with RHI payments

The bedrooms are seldom used so electric rads maybe ok. Quantums on E7 should kick out a fair bit of heat and would be sized accordingly. Cheapest option and a bit of a compromise.
Air to Air ASHP at £7k I think would be the most I’d want to pay. Full heating system that I hope would be sufficient in sub zero temps. Water heated on immersion for about an hour daily.
ASHP wet system would be ideal and what most houses have. Not sure why it’s £15k initial outlay. Might be cheaper if I had a radiator system already. 

The ASHPs are expensive to buy (£5-7k or even more), as are the HW cylinders (£1500?).  Plus all the controllers, pipework and rads, labour.  It adds up.  There also seems to be a bit of a premium on the pricing, maybe because of RHI. It is definitely an expensive option.  

Reed_Richards

My ASHP installer tells me that prices have gone up quite a bit since I had mine installed last December.

I wonder if increasing numbers of people wanting to charge their electric vehicles overnight is going to erode the price differential between day and night electricity?  Already it's not what it used to be.  

danrv

Reed_Richards said:

I wonder if increasing numbers of people wanting to charge their electric vehicles overnight is going to erode the price differential between day and night electricity?  Already it's not what it used to be.  

Maybe. Worth bearing in mind if I install Economy 7.

shinytop

Reed_Richards said:

My ASHP installer tells me that prices have gone up quite a bit since I had mine installed last December.

I wonder if increasing numbers of people wanting to charge their electric vehicles overnight is going to erode the price differential between day and night electricity?  Already it's not what it used to be.  

Something is doing it.  Unless you are a really heavy E7 user the best single rates work out a similar price.  And the big differentials are where the day rate is really high.  I think storage heaters are close to being obsolete now.

danrv

shinytop said:

Reed_Richards said:

My ASHP installer tells me that prices have gone up quite a bit since I had mine installed last December.

I wonder if increasing numbers of people wanting to charge their electric vehicles overnight is going to erode the price differential between day and night electricity?  Already it's not what it used to be.  

 I think storage heaters are close to being obsolete now.

But so many homes have them and E7. I’ve already ruled out an oil CH system but would hope there’ll always be cheap rate electricity for storage heaters.
I don’t want to install them plus the wiring needed and then find that they’ll become uneconomical to run.

Reed_Richards

danrv said:
 I’ve already ruled out an oil CH system but would hope there’ll always be cheap rate electricity for storage heaters.

I recommend you get some electricity price quotes before you commit.  Economy 7 will doubtless remain but it may have to be renamed "E 7" because most of the Economy will have been phased-out.