Heat Pumps: anyone have one/thought about it?

Jump over to this thread below for solar but also have a look at my posts above regarding battery storage - you don't need to go mad with it, there is definitely a 'sweet spot'

Solar panels and battery - any real world recommendations?

Morning all, I've started to look at the mind field that is Solar and wondering if anyone can offer real world reccomendations? I've got virtual consultations booked for today and tomorrow with another company coming to see me on Tuesday. I've got people offering GivEnergy systems, another...
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Minato said:
We had a Norsup heat pump installed some years ago to heat our indoor pool. Worked surprisingly very very well. We thought we'd need to top it up in the winter with the gas boiler, but actually it ran year round and kept the water nicely warm at around 27-30. Cost an absolute fortune though in electricity.

We've had it off for just under 2 years whilst doing some construction and extension. Finally got around to cleaning and refilling the pool, getting the pump etc all cleaned up and ready - turned the ASHP and the bugger is broken giving me a fault code. Some rubbish about the communication board. And because it's just over 5 years since installation it's out of warranty.

Back to the gas boiler it is.

Once I've got it fixed, I think I'll try to program it so it only runs between 23:30 and 05:30 (7p/kWh on Octopus Intelligent Go), and let the boiler run during the day time since gas is so much cheaper.
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Those rich Londoners with their indoor pools :)

congrats_happy_for_you_meme_cover.jpg
 
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Av8 said:
I'm still reading through all this from you guys, and all the posts I read about this that and the other I can't help but think sod it I won't bother. I'm struggling to win the mrs round full stop too us getting a ASHP, let alone following what everyone is saying from a negative view. Wife's argument, it won't pay for itself, my argument is neither does a lot of things in life.
Personally I want rid of the boiler and gas to the house, Electric only, and I am having solar and batteries done early next year 100% and the mrs isn't having a say in that at all.
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I was asked the ROI many times if the ASHP install was mentioned. I just said I needed to replace the 30 year old boiler and there was a grant available so why not take advantage of it.

My old system would use ~10kwh of gas each day as a base just to keep the water heated and would cost ~£1 with the standing charge. That's down to 15p per day because the gas SC has gone and the new cylinder is twice the size plus better lagged. So there's £300 saved compared to my old system that can go towards the winter heating bills in winter.
 
I'm thinking of replacing my gas boiler with a heat pump.

One thing is I hate noise during the night. Had to replace my boiler 5 years ago with a less noisy one. How much noise does a heat pump make inside the house?

I'm with Octopus Energy and they offer two fixed price air heat pump installation packages, which look quite affordable with the government grant. Did anyone had one of those and how well did it go?

Is it worth considering a GSHP?
 
SkyTerran said:
I'm thinking of replacing my gas boiler with a heat pump.

One thing is I hate noise during the night. Had to replace my boiler 5 years ago with a less noisy one. How much noise does a heat pump make inside the house?
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Absolutely none.
SkyTerran said:
I'm with Octopus Energy and they offer two fixed price air heat pump installation packages, which look quite affordable with the government grant. Did anyone had one of those and how well did it go?
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Yes, it was fine although they appeared to have raised prices since I got mine. Don’t get the cheaper ‘express’ installation, it will cost you more in the long run.
SkyTerran said:
Is it worth considering a GSHP?
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No. At least 3X the price and not really and more efficient than the latest generation ASHP.
 
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Just a referral code for £100 each if you want it.

I can’t send you a PM here, you’ve either got it disabled or you have not met the post threshold.

If you want it, I may need to post some way of getting hold of me off forum.
 
Ours is wall-mounted and it's the very slightest hum in the one room next to it when it is running hard, but its very quiet. We went from a combi boiler which was in the cupboard on the landing (now home to the HW cylinder) and that was much louder.

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. I have to check my home assistant to see if it's on most of the time as it's silent!
 
SkyTerran said:
I'm thinking of replacing my gas boiler with a heat pump.

One thing is I hate noise during the night. Had to replace my boiler 5 years ago with a less noisy one. How much noise does a heat pump make inside the house?

I'm with Octopus Energy and they offer two fixed price air heat pump installation packages, which look quite affordable with the government grant. Did anyone had one of those and how well did it go?

Is it worth considering a GSHP?
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Cheapest GSHP option uses the coils of pipes buried ~1m down in trenches but does need a fair amount of space. Install costs can be prohibitive. The system should then be fairly quiet and last decades. The pipes would out last the house.

The noise from the heat pump unit is more of a red herring these days. Modern units have soft start and lots of vibration reducing features. The fan on mine appears to run at a costant speed and is barely above the ambient. No issue for me with it sited directly below my bedroom windows. Will have to wait for winter temps to hear what the defrost cycle sounds like but again modern units are pretty quiet.

Now the noise of water running around the radiators will likely be the most instrusive. My timber frame mid-terrace does amplify this more than a more traditional cavity brick house I reckon.

Each house will vary but I can definitely hear water hissing throughout the house at maximum heating but it's still much quieter than the old boiler starting and running (which drowned out the pipes before). When running a hot water heating cycle to the cyclinder in the loft above I can't hear it at all.
 
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So those with HPs - how are they working in this hot weather with respect to cooling the home? (or have I got that wrong as I thought HPs could cool homes as well as heat them?)
 
Richie said:
So those with HPs - how are they working in this hot weather with respect to cooling the home? (or have I got that wrong as I thought HPs could cool homes as well as heat them?)
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Technically they can as they are only an A/C unit set to heat, but my install said only heating for the RHI payments. All I have to do is swap a dip switch or wires in the mainboard to get cooling aswell. Cooling on a wet system is problematic due to condensation when you get to low temperatures.
 
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Richie said:
So those with HPs - how are they working in this hot weather with respect to cooling the home? (or have I got that wrong as I thought HPs could cool homes as well as heat them?)
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Mine is heat only, air to water (radiators) heat pump. A condition of the grant is heat only at the moment.

As above technically you can configure it to cool also but as above that is risky and not advisable due to condensation. You don’t want condensation forming on pipes in cavities and under your floor.

It’s also not that effective as your radiators are low down and for the best convection when cooling, you need them to be high up as the cool air sinks down and pushes the warm air up. This is the opposite to what you want when you are heating. You want your radiators low down so the cooler air is forced down to the radiator as the heat rises up.

Air to air heat pumps (traditional ‘air conditioning’) units are much more effective at cooling but they are not covered by the grant.
 
For cooling you need to run the water to a heat exchanger linked to ventilation.

Not too expensive of an add on, if you are getting the ventilation done at some point… MHRV is on my shopping list at some point
 
reef said:
I finally got a date for my gas meter removal today. 2nd June.

So about 6 weeks in the end by the time it is done.
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That's good news, mine was removed on Friday, engineer was only here for 10 minutes, he only gave 10 minutes notice as well.
 
The Angry Welshman said:
new planning laws in england for heat pump installations

www.bbc.co.uk

Planning change makes heat pump installations easier for homes

The rule requiring planning permission if a heat pump is within 1m of a neighbours property has been removed.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
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About time, it had to come eventually.

Now makes it a valid option for me. The logical site is now open to us and the Mrs won't disapprove anymore.
Previously the only real options would have been far too visible and she just hates stuff like heatpump boxes.
 
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We went for Air to Air heat pumps, because they are slightly more efficient, give better per room control, quicker response, and cooling in summer.

2x9kW Daikin multisplits, one on each side of the house, each running 4 indoor units. Very happy with them and not used gas since getting them installed!
 
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