Are ASHP the way to go?

strawb_shortcake

I've not read the whole thread, our neighbours have just had what I assume is an ASHP and it's an absolute monstrosity on the side of their house. They are still HA so work has been done entirely by their contractors.

It's blocked off part of the narrow path, they now have maybe a 2ft drop from the drive onto the path to the back garden. 

Other neighbours that are still HA have very mixed views on the performance of their new heating systems

Reed_Richards

annabanana82 said:

I've not read the whole thread, our neighbours have just had what I assume is an ASHP and it's an absolute monstrosity on the side of their house. They are still HA so work has been done entirely by their contractors.

Before I had a heat pump I had an outside oil boiler so I replaced one large metal box with another large metal box.  Either box could be described as a "monstrosity", neither was/is small.  But in the case of a heat pump it needs to be below a certain volume (0.6 cubic metres) to escape the requirement to seek planning permission.  You could maybe sneak over with a tape measure to check?

Ideally your heat pump should be installed by someone who know what they are doing and who is MCS accredited (another requirement to avoid the necessity of planning permission).  That doesn't always seem to be true of contractors.  It's rare that you can install a heat pump as a drop-in replacement for a boiler; you would generally need a new hot water cylinder and to uprate some or all of your radiators.  Where this isn't done properly you can end up with a house that isn't warm enough in cold weather, a heating system that is expensive to run and a dissatisfied occupant.    

  

strawb_shortcake

Reed_Richards said:

annabanana82 said:

I've not read the whole thread, our neighbours have just had what I assume is an ASHP and it's an absolute monstrosity on the side of their house. They are still HA so work has been done entirely by their contractors.

Before I had a heat pump I had an outside oil boiler so I replaced one large metal box with another large metal box.  Either box could be described as a "monstrosity", neither was/is small.  But in the case of a heat pump it needs to be below a certain volume (0.6 cubic metres) to escape the requirement to seek planning permission.  You could maybe sneak over with a tape measure to check?

Ideally your heat pump should be installed by someone who know what they are doing and who is MCS accredited (another requirement to avoid the necessity of planning permission).  That doesn't always seem to be true of contractors.  It's rare that you can install a heat pump as a drop-in replacement for a boiler; you would generally need a new hot water cylinder and to uprate some or all of your radiators.  Where this isn't done properly you can end up with a house that isn't warm enough in cold weather, a heating system that is expensive to run and a dissatisfied occupant.    

  

Most of our neighbours were on oil previously, if/when we change our boiler it will be for an external one. 
My gripe with the neighbours is that it's made their pathway virtually impossible to pass, the box is maybe 4ft off the ground,  with a raised driveway to the side, vastly reducing their ability to get anything into the back garden.

Mstty

annabanana82 said:

Reed_Richards said:

annabanana82 said:

I've not read the whole thread, our neighbours have just had what I assume is an ASHP and it's an absolute monstrosity on the side of their house. They are still HA so work has been done entirely by their contractors.

Before I had a heat pump I had an outside oil boiler so I replaced one large metal box with another large metal box.  Either box could be described as a "monstrosity", neither was/is small.  But in the case of a heat pump it needs to be below a certain volume (0.6 cubic metres) to escape the requirement to seek planning permission.  You could maybe sneak over with a tape measure to check?

Ideally your heat pump should be installed by someone who know what they are doing and who is MCS accredited (another requirement to avoid the necessity of planning permission).  That doesn't always seem to be true of contractors.  It's rare that you can install a heat pump as a drop-in replacement for a boiler; you would generally need a new hot water cylinder and to uprate some or all of your radiators.  Where this isn't done properly you can end up with a house that isn't warm enough in cold weather, a heating system that is expensive to run and a dissatisfied occupant.    

  

Most of our neighbours were on oil previously, if/when we change our boiler it will be for an external one. 
My gripe with the neighbours is that it's made their pathway virtually impossible to pass, the box is maybe 4ft off the ground,  with a raised driveway to the side, vastly reducing their ability to get anything into the back garden.

Surely that is their gripe and for them to take up with the HA if it has been badly situated and there is a better place for it.

Like poor gas fitters there are poor ASHP fitters. 

ASHP are ugly outside units and bulky but at least the noise is outside and no boiler noise inside cutting in and out which is nice.

We might get a summer cover for ours when we only heat hot water for 30 mins 3 times a week then remove for winter.

matt_drummer

I had my Octopus survey on 27 March after they didn't turn up on 13 February due to illness.

I saw on their website that one happy customer received their quote within 15 minutes of the surveyor leaving.

I still don't have mine.

I thought they might have made mine `a priority' after cancelling with 90 minutes notice.

Not that impressed if I am honest.

It's not easy trying to be environmentally friendly!

I have a local installer coming to do a survey on Tuesday, it's been arranged for a few weeks, I would have preferred to have known the outcome of the Octopus survey and quote beforehand.

matelodave

Mstty said:

annabanana82 said:

Reed_Richards said:

annabanana82 said:

I've not read the whole thread, our neighbours have just had what I assume is an ASHP and it's an absolute monstrosity on the side of their house. They are still HA so work has been done entirely by their contractors.

Before I had a heat pump I had an outside oil boiler so I replaced one large metal box with another large metal box.  Either box could be described as a "monstrosity", neither was/is small.  But in the case of a heat pump it needs to be below a certain volume (0.6 cubic metres) to escape the requirement to seek planning permission.  You could maybe sneak over with a tape measure to check?

Ideally your heat pump should be installed by someone who know what they are doing and who is MCS accredited (another requirement to avoid the necessity of planning permission).  That doesn't always seem to be true of contractors.  It's rare that you can install a heat pump as a drop-in replacement for a boiler; you would generally need a new hot water cylinder and to uprate some or all of your radiators.  Where this isn't done properly you can end up with a house that isn't warm enough in cold weather, a heating system that is expensive to run and a dissatisfied occupant.    

  

Most of our neighbours were on oil previously, if/when we change our boiler it will be for an external one. 
My gripe with the neighbours is that it's made their pathway virtually impossible to pass, the box is maybe 4ft off the ground,  with a raised driveway to the side, vastly reducing their ability to get anything into the back garden.

Surely that is their gripe and for them to take up with the HA if it has been badly situated and there is a better place for it.

Like poor gas fitters there are poor ASHP fitters. 

ASHP are ugly outside units and bulky but at least the noise is outside and no boiler noise inside cutting in and out which is nice.

We might get a summer cover for ours when we only heat hot water for 30 mins 3 times a week then remove for winter.

If the unit is taking up a lot of space and causing an obstruction, then a posh cover like that will significantly increase the space it takes up even though it might make it look better so I cant really see it being much of a solution to the perceived problem.

matt_drummer

Each to their own.

I work for a timber importer and know people who sell stuff like this, they aint posh!

I have probably even been where it was made!

I like equipment so I would rather look at my nice shiny £6,000 heat pump!

But I know some people think they are ugly.

Magnitio

matt_drummer said:

I had my Octopus survey on 27 March after they didn't turn up on 13 February due to illness.

I saw on their website that one happy customer received their quote within 15 minutes of the surveyor leaving.

I still don't have mine.

I thought they might have made mine `a priority' after cancelling with 90 minutes notice.

Not that impressed if I am honest.

It's not easy trying to be environmentally friendly!

I have a local installer coming to do a survey on Tuesday, it's been arranged for a few weeks, I would have preferred to have known the outcome of the Octopus survey and quote beforehand.

It took over 3 weeks for mine to arrive after the survey and that was after chasing for it.

matt_drummer

Magnitio said:

matt_drummer said:

I had my Octopus survey on 27 March after they didn't turn up on 13 February due to illness.

I saw on their website that one happy customer received their quote within 15 minutes of the surveyor leaving.

I still don't have mine.

I thought they might have made mine `a priority' after cancelling with 90 minutes notice.

Not that impressed if I am honest.

It's not easy trying to be environmentally friendly!

I have a local installer coming to do a survey on Tuesday, it's been arranged for a few weeks, I would have preferred to have known the outcome of the Octopus survey and quote beforehand.

It took over 3 weeks for mine to arrive after the survey and that was after chasing for it.

Hi,

Maybe you could tell me more?

When was that, what did they offer in terms of equipment, did you or are you having it done?

The surveyor couldn't tell me much, I get the impression that what they offer is quite basic, ie nothing fancy in terms of controls or energy monitoring?

Magnitio

matt_drummer said:

Hi,

Maybe you could tell me more?

When was that, what did they offer in terms of equipment, did you or are you having it done?

The surveyor couldn't tell me much, I get the impression that what they offer is quite basic, ie nothing fancy in terms of controls or energy monitoring?

Quote came through a few weeks ago. Daikin EDLA08E2V3 heat pump and Joule TCEMVI-0200SFC cylinder. I can't justify to my wife why we should be spending £7k (after £5k contribution from the government) when it will cost us more to run at the current gas and electricity rates. Plus we will have also have a heat pump in the garden, pipes up the wall, a smaller airing cupboard and a lot of disruption whilst it happens.

I am keen to reduce emmissions, but this option is a bit challenging at the moment. I'm sure there will be some interesting developments in the next couple of years that will make installation a bit easier and the difference between gas and electricity rates may well reduce.