Octopus Heat Pumps

Netexporter

Reed_Richards said:

Netexporter said:

.... I imagine the large developers cut the radiator sizes to the bone.

Unless they buy just a few sizes in bulk and use those throughout.

The big housebuilders only have a handful of designs. They just reverse them, dress them up differently, to make developments look a bit more mixed, but it is essentially Henry Ford's "you can have any colour you like, as long as it's black", so I imagine the number of sizes of radiator required is pretty limited from the get-go.

Alnat1

Signed up today for install with Octopus.

4 bed detached built 2003, £3000 for 8kW Daikin, 250l tank and 7 of the 13 radiators being changed, one small mirror rad on landing wall to be removed at our request (it's always hot up there, tank cupboard, heating pipes all run under the floor and stairs open from room below) Install date to be advised, springtime was mentioned. Chucked in free 1st year service plan (£108) if we signed up before end of the month.

I'll be watching this thread for updates from other posters.

mickyduck55

I think I'm in the minority here as I have read nothing but good about Octopus and ASHP installation.

My install should have started on Monday, engineers arrived decided that the location of the pump would result in a very inefficient system as it was about 15m from my cylinder mostly outside.  Very annoying as I had to apply for planning permission to site it there which is probably now invalid.

I have also removed my hot water cylinder to take down my chimney to enlarge the airing cupboard to facilitate the install of the cylinder.  Up until Monday all was fine.. now I'm in a house with no central heating and no install date.  About £2k out of pocket because of my building work and planning application.  I think I started this process in March.

On the day a suggestion from head office was "we will install it in the agreed position which we know will be inefficient and move it at a later date" .. no one on site thought this was a good idea as there would have been quite a lot of mess left behind due to moving all the plumbing and electrical works.

Edit: Just had a call I need anther survey but should be minimal as it is only the external pipework run that will need changing

Reed_Richards

My pipe run is less than 1 m outside from the heat pump, into the wall, up a level inside the wall into the loft, then about 9 + 2 m to reach the DHW cylinder and buffer tank.  The pipes are insulated with foil-coated phenolic pipe insulation.  I'm not aware that I suffer hugely from heat loss.  I installed the pipe insulation myself because you have to seal all the joints with aluminium tape and it takes too much time for installers to want to get involved with.

In winter I sometimes get field mice in my loft and they like to chew on soft pipe insulation but they don't touch the foil-covered type, so that that's a bonus.  

mickyduck55

Reed_Richards said:

My pipe run is less than 1 m outside from the heat pump, into the wall, up a level inside the wall into the loft, then about 9 + 2 m to reach the DHW cylinder and buffer tank.  The pipes are insulated with foil-coated phenolic pipe insulation.  I'm not aware that I suffer hugely from heat loss.  I installed the pipe insulation myself because you have to seal all the joints with aluminium tape and it takes too much time for installers to want to get involved with.

In winter I sometimes get field mice in my loft and they like to chew on soft pipe insulation but they don't touch the foil-covered type, so that that's a bonus.  

I guess the main concern is that the pipe run outside is over 10m.  Extra insulation on the pipes would help as you have done and though your loft space is probably not any warmer than outside it would be easier to insulate in there than in my garage, even installing extra loft insulation on top of the pipes.  I'm now awaiting another survey which should be brief as internally nothing has changed.  Not an ideal time of year to be without central heating.

racingmars

Hi all, 

I am new here... i joined as I am looking into replacing our 38 year old (seriously) oil boiler.

We are with Octopus, so I got the initial quote, which came back as £935.  We live in 3 bedroom semi detached 1950s ex council house.  We have cavity wall insulation already.

I am certain our radiators will need upgrading, but the quote said that this would be included.

A number of the posts that I've read on this forum seem to have quotes in the 1000s.  I don't understand the vastly different quotes, pre and post survey.  I have no doubt that extra work will need to be done, but still can't see why such a difference.  What am I missing?  What small print have I missing? 

Thanks all

paul991

none have have been some very low quotes remember the cosy 6 is  for  a higher run temp so if that is what they fit existing rads should be ok see what they say after the survey 

thevilla

racingmars said:

Hi all, 

I am new here... i joined as I am looking into replacing our 38 year old (seriously) oil boiler.

We are with Octopus, so I got the initial quote, which came back as £935.  We live in 3 bedroom semi detached 1950s ex council house.  We have cavity wall insulation already.

I am certain our radiators will need upgrading, but the quote said that this would be included.

A number of the posts that I've read on this forum seem to have quotes in the 1000s.  I don't understand the vastly different quotes, pre and post survey.  I have no doubt that extra work will need to be done, but still can't see why such a difference.  What am I missing?  What small print have I missing? 

Thanks all

I'd go for it.  Bite their hand off.  28 year old boiler will have terrible efficiency!

QrizB

racingmars said:

A number of the posts that I've read on this forum seem to have quotes in the 1000s.  I don't understand the vastly different quotes, pre and post survey.  I have no doubt that extra work will need to be done, but still can't see why such a difference.  What am I missing?  What small print have I missing?

There's a £7500 Government grant.

When you're comparing a quote of £500 with one of £2500, you're really comparing £8k with £10k. So the difference isn't anything like as big, as a percentage.

You can buy a heat pump - just the bit that produces heat, like a boiler would - for about £3k. All the rest is fitting and extras.

Magnitio

Some of the earlier quotes on here were also with £5000 grant rather than the £7500 grant.