ECO4 installation hints and tips

ianfromnotts

As In understand it, ECO4 installs are now governed by the PASS 2035 standard.  PASS 2035 having the overaching goal to reduce CO2 emmsions and in the process ensure new build and retrofit (ECO4) installations are to a high standard.  hmmmmmmm - from my experiences some of the EC04 installers have overlooked this.  

Some hints and tips for anyone having energy saving measures installed. The goal being to make sure you have a record of excatly what you are agreeing to.  Ask for a contract that details it but to make sure nothing changes follow these hints and tips

1. Download and read PASS 2035 - 2019 it is availble online FOC.  Its heavy going but helps you understand what should happen

2. During the planning try to stage get hard copies or all plans, documents etc especially.  If you cant, which is probable, take clear close up photo graphs of everything.

3. During the planning stage take notes of everything that is said, especially relating to what is being installed, where it will go, what energy savings it will deliver. Make and models being especially important. GET THE PLANNER TO SIGN YOUR NOTES

4. Make sure you know the make and model of any Boilers/Controllers/Thermostats/Cylinders being fitted.  DOUBLE CHECK that these work together properly.  Many popular controls use the "OpenTherm" protocol but many popular Boilers, Bosch, Valliant etc use bespoke protocols In these situations energy saving and boiler longevity is reduced when using "OpenTherm" protocols.  There is nothing woring with OpenTherm as long as the boiler understands the protocol.

4b Make sure you know what the manufactuers warranty is and how to acess it.  ECO4 installs come with a 2 year warranty via the installer but manucatuers warranties may be longer

5. Make sure you know and have a written record of which boiler is being fitted, Make, Model and Output.  

6.Ask about calculations that underpin its selection.  Fitting a boiler that is too large will increase fuel costs and reduce reliability. To check the calculations you will need to establish Radiator size, Temperature (Delta = average temp across rad less 20) they will operate at, Power out put in KW.

7. Ask what the controls will do, get a signatures against the answers.  Will the controls modulate the boiler output, adjust its power output up and down as needed to hit the target room temperature.  Will the controls compensate for the outside temperature, Will the controls adjust according to the load being placed on it.  Are the controls adjustable via the internet.  PASS 2035 requires smart controls.  Combi Boilers have to work to Boiler Plus.

8. Install phase check parts match what was promised BEFORE the install starts.  Track arrival and departure times. Take photographs of problems and report concerns to the project manager ASAP.  Remember PASS 2035 covers virtually everything

9. Check you are happy with every aspects, what about holes in your carpet, holes in your walls, where wall mounted pipes and wires will go.

10. What about the extract fans that they are fitting that you know nothing about, large holes in the wall, wall mounted wiring etc

11. With new boilers etc , double check that the system is flushed properly  - read the boiler instal instructions - it may demand 2 flushes. Check the inhibitor is added

12. Make sure everything is left clean, neat and tidy at the end of each day

13. If the installers know you are on the ball hopefully everything will be ok but if not complain, if that doesnt resolve matters ask for a copy of their complaints escalate to a "FORMAL COMPLAINT" be factal, to the point, what is wrong and what you want done about it

14 Still not getting resolution, ask for deadlock letter.  Raise complaints to the regulatory body with copies to Trustmark, Ofgem. 

15 Remember to reference your concerns back to the appropriate section of PASS 2035.

FreeBear

ianfromnotts said: 5. Make sure you know and have a written record of which boiler is being fitted, Make, Model and Output.  

6.Ask about calculations that underpin its selection.  Fitting a boiler that is too large will increase fuel costs and reduce reliability. To check the calculations you will need to establish Radiator size, Temperature (Delta = average temp across rad less 20) they will operate at, Power out put in KW.

The boiler should modulate down to reduce the output, so even if it is oversized, it shouldn't be wasting gas.

I have a Viessmann 30KW combi - I could have probably got away with a 24KW, but both versions will modulate down to 3.2KW - In this respect, there is little to choose between the 30KW and the 24KW.

The key parameter to look at is the minimum output that the boiler will modulate down to. If this is greater than your minimum heat load, then the boiler will be cycling on/off. This will waste some gas and potentially reduce the life of the boiler.

Location of the boiler is another subject to raise - Some will opt to install in a garage or up in the loft. This will mean frost protection will be kicking in during really cold spells. You'll also be wasting some 2% of the heat being generated - Depending on boiler, this could be as much as 500W that could have been used to heat the house.

ianfromnotts

Modulation

Many non manufacturer controls are based on the "OpenTherm" protocol.  These tend to be cheaper and more widely installed than the manufacturer branded ones.  

Many boiler manufacturers also use Open-Therm

When the controls and the boiler use the same protocol all is well. 

When they do not the boiler may well revert back to on/off ie It wont modulate.  

Think of several people being in a room they can all speak and write in their own language but none speak or write any foreign languages, lets say they are Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Thai, Japanese and English. Communication is going to be poor. 

Worcester/Bosch use their inhouse protocol/language - EMS
Vaillant/Glow-worm use their inhouse protocol/language - eBUS.  

They don't speak OpenTherm so when an OpenTherm controller/thermostat is fitted they may not modulate.  

In some EU countries they have to speak OpenTherm by law - so there are adapter/translation modules that can be fitted。Customers need to make sure the manufacturer controls are fitted or the adapter module.  NB - The Vaillant one isn't supported in the UK and fitting may invalidate the warranty.