Octopus heat pump, can't fit! Alternatives?

Scottish_Dorset

 I've just had my Octopus survey for a heat pump, they can't help  .  I live in a small village in a 7 year old semi.  The house is suitable but there is no where to put the actual pump outside.  Our side return is too narrow, we have windows at the front and long patio windows at the back.  The surveyor said we would need planning to place it in the back garden as the neighbours window is in view.  I am so disappointed. 

If anyone has read my previous posts, the developer who built the three houses where I live, put in underground calor gas tanks.  Ours sits low in the garden so there is a pit which collects water.  I really want to move away from using this.  

Has anyone got any other suggestions what fuel we could use.  Our house is well insulated, has a B EPC rating and four solar panels.  The gas is used currently to heat the house, radiators upstairs and UFH downstairs, and provide hot water.  

Feeling very flat 

Reed_Richards

At the moment there is unfair discrimination against heat pumps.  They make no more noise that the exhaust outlet from a condensing gas or oil boiler but are subject to much more stringent restrictions based on noise.  You could apply for planning permission and hope that your planning authority is sensible, but based on what others have posted that doesn't seem very likely.  Or you can wait until the Government wakes up to this issue and forces a relaxation of the regulations in order to boost the uptake of heat pumps.  

DougMLancs

Would the site in the garden within 1m of the boundary or is it just this piece of the Permitted Development rules 

• “Sited, so far as is practicable, to minimise its effect on the external appearance of the building and its effect on the amenity of the area.” 

Because I would imagine this paragraph is open to interpretation and if there isn’t an alternative site and it still meets the noise test then there’s a case for it? 

Alternatively, there’s been a consultation on expanding the permitted development rights for heat pump installations including the scrapping of the 1m rule and updating noise calcs to account for quieter modern units. The expectation is that it could be implemented this Autumn so this might put you in a stronger position.

Scottish_Dorset

DougMLancs said:

Would the site in the garden within 1m of the boundary or is it just this piece of the Permitted Development rules 

• “Sited, so far as is practicable, to minimise its effect on the external appearance of the building and its effect on the amenity of the area.” 

Because I would imagine this paragraph is open to interpretation and if there isn’t an alternative site and it still meets the noise test then there’s a case for it? 

Alternatively, there’s been a consultation on expanding the permitted development rights for heat pump installations including the scrapping of the 1m rule and updating noise calcs to account for quieter modern units. The expectation is that it could be implemented this Autumn so this might put you in a stronger position.

Ideally I would place it near the boundary fence between myself and my neighbour.  That is where it would make sense.  We have standard fence panels between us.  Although we live in a rural area, we live on a B road so there is always an element of road noise.  This would place it within the 1m of the boundary.  The neighbours would not see it there.  The surveyor talked about new pumps that would work like a combi boiler and would fit in a cupboard inside the house.  But he said this would be about 2 years away!  Hopefully the consultation will allow more installations, if the government want to encourage us to use a greener fuel type.

Reed_Richards

@Scottish_Dorset, you misunderstood your surveyor.  The heat pump will be a large unit outside for the foreseeable future.  But instead of a large hot water cylinder inside, you might get a much smaller tank that could indeed fit within a kitchen cupboard.  This would act as a "thermal store" and would enable a heat pump to mimic the operation of a combi boiler.  The big advantage is you don't have to find space for a large hot water cylinder, as you do at present with a heat pump.

FreeBear

Scottish_Dorset said:

 I've just had my Octopus survey for a heat pump, they can't help  .  I live in a small village in a 7 year old semi.  The house is suitable but there is no where to put the actual pump outside.  Our side return is too narrow, we have windows at the front and long patio windows at the back.  The surveyor said we would need planning to place it in the back garden as the neighbours window is in view.  I am so disappointed.

Reading between the lines, Octopus are suggesting they don't want to get involved with a planning application. If you were to personally put in the application, Octopus may well go ahead with the installation. I'd suggest contacting the local planning department and then ask Octopus if they would go ahead with the install once permission had been granted.

Rodders53

Octopus take on the easy installs (= most profitable).  

Other installers may have solutions and help with a Planning Application at a cost.  Possibly siting the outdoor unit elsewhere?.

LPG bulk is possibly as cheap a fuel as HPs using electricity.  Alternatives are Kerosene but that  would be uneconomical to change.  What is the issue with the pit collecting water? (Use a suitable pump to water the garden in the summer or empty as needed?)

Consider fitting a solar diverter to heat the HW tank via an immersion to save a little gas use?

Talk to neighbours to see if they have any concerns for potential alternative sites and get them on board if you pursue a Heat Pump installation.

HPs are quiet but run almost continuously at colder times.  Comparing that near-continuous noise to most condensing gas boiler vents which cycle on/off a lot more is rather disingenuous in my opinion.  Mind you our air to air HPs are a darned sight quieter than our Kerosene boiler!!  But we are detached and they are a good way from the other dwellings living and sleeping areas.

michaels

I had a quote from an installer who suggested a 'split unit' design with the heat pump bit half way down the garden so clearly didn't think that would be against building regs as long as the sound levels were ok.  Pretty sure Octopus don't do split units though.