Air source heat pump

tamzzy · 2024-10-30T17:47:18+0000

Talk to me about air source heat pumps
At 8p/kwh electricity + solar PV, it seems a no-brainer

However I've got a very new boiler about 2 years old and I don't wish to remove this just yet

With the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, do I have to remove this boiler or can I use the grant to install a ASHP system that runs alongside the boiler (ie a "hybrid" system)?

tamzzy · 2024-10-30T19:22:04+0000

200sols said:
Also you won't be getting 8p all day.

it's 7 hours from 0000-0659, is that enough time to heat the tank?

tamzzy · 2024-10-31T10:18:14+0000

b0rn2sk8 said:
. There is a 40 page thread on heat pumps in this sub forum already.

Bah totally missed it :cry:

#manlook

tamzzy · 2024-10-31T10:46:45+0000

SpellowHouse said:
The main cost is not the heat pump itself. Rather it is modifications to your existing central heating, insulation and maintenance costs.

93% of installations require significant changes to, or complete replacement of the central heating system, and additional home insulation.

Thank you, just had my home refurb a couple years ago, added in internal insulated plasterboard to the external-facing walls.
My current boiler runs at 50c flow temp (so similar temps to a heat-pump).
All piping and radiators are new as well and function well with 50c flow temp so I don't anticipate any of them needing replacement.
Fwiw my gas bill during Dec/Jan/Feb this year was £60/mth on average.

Having slept over it maybe the cost/benefit isn't that much to warrant throwing away a 2 year old high-end boiler currently.

tamzzy · 2024-10-31T10:48:43+0000

b0rn2sk8 said:
Yes your boiler has to be ripped out to be eligible for the grant.

Uergh that sucks. Don't really want to throw away my new boiler just yet

tamzzy · 2024-10-31T12:50:16+0000

b0rn2sk8 said:
On the insulation point, you just can’t have any loft insulation recommendations on your EPC, if you have 300mm, it’s fine.

Yeah no loft insulation recommendations, also re-done and boarded during the refurb.

tamzzy · 2024-10-31T12:53:43+0000

b0rn2sk8 said:
You’ll not ‘make money’ but you might want to consider that given how little work you actually need to do, the government grant is likely to cover the cost of the entire installation. You might be left with a token £500 to pay. You might get £500 back over the lifetime of the appliance but there is no ‘ROI’ like solar. Just don’t forget the tons of carbon savings per year.

Yeah, I considered it as savings per year rather than actually earning money as with the solar PV

tamzzy · 2024-10-31T13:01:17+0000

Ormy1 said:
This. Gas boilers can put out hot water at 80C no problem. Heat pumps usually only manage 40-50C, which means for the equivalent amount of heating you need to have it working for twice as long as your boiler would have been, and have twice the surface area of radiators in the house. That's just one of the many reasons for modification. Gets very expensive very quickly.

True. In my case though my boiler is already running at 50c for max efficiency so it's the same as an ASHP