Air-source heat pumps - are they good/crap?
Discussion
Evanivitch said:
We also sleep with bedroom winter open. But we close bedroom door and close bedroom window when we wake. The warmth from rest of house flows in. We don't have a heatpump but I'm trying to work the boiler as close to one as I can. However it's likely we'll get a Air to Air system in the next hear or so instead of a Air to water system..
What's your rationale for the air to air option? I've had them in offices and found them hateful things.hidetheelephants said:
ASHP works fine if it's installed and set up properly in an adequately insulated dwelling. If not it can be terrible.
As someone else has already side, if the house is properly insulated than a gas boiler would do the same job for at least the same running costs if not cheaper once you take into account long-term maintenance etc.I'm staggered how much insulation is now required by building regulations in our current house build versus what was needed before. I suspect our heating bill is going to be easily half of what it was next winter thanks to insulation. An ASHP installed into our house prerenovation would have been an absolute disaster, and without essentially ripping out and redoing the floor, roof, walls, most of the older UK housing stock will be in the same situation.
The bill for insulation ( supply only ) was £55k on the house we have just completed.
It is expensive ( and no doubt poluting to make) but works well. We were under the old regs. The most recent require even more.
Given our heating cost is low I am not sure now much lower if can go.
My girlfriend used to live in an all electric radiator flat with single glazed sash windows that let a lot of air past. Her heating bill was similar to mine. So it makes a vast difference.
It is expensive ( and no doubt poluting to make) but works well. We were under the old regs. The most recent require even more.
Given our heating cost is low I am not sure now much lower if can go.
My girlfriend used to live in an all electric radiator flat with single glazed sash windows that let a lot of air past. Her heating bill was similar to mine. So it makes a vast difference.
Jambo85 said:
What's your rationale for the air to air option? I've had them in offices and found them hateful things.
Probably provides a 80% solution for less than 50% of the cost of a west system retrofitted into wet radiator central heating system. Therefore it can be used alongside for lost of the year in .ost conditions, including cooling which would work nicely alongside solar panels.Jeremy-75qq8 said:
Given our heating cost is low I am not sure now much lower if can go.
The answer, of course, is that you can theoretically design buildings that don't require any active space heating at all.Being cynical, heat pumps are ideal system for buildings that don't require a functional heating system.
The latest version of the Regs is getting very close to the fabric standards required for PassivHaus (the definition of which is a limit of 15kWh/m2.year for space heating and cooling), but it's no coincidence that the last increase in the Regs for insulation was accompanied by a new section that deals with overheating... when you get to that level, it's a fine balance between not needing much energy input from a heating system to keep warm and incidental heat inputs being enough to make it overheat.
Equus said:
The latest version of the Regs is getting very close to the fabric standards required for PassivHaus (the definition of which is a limit of 15kWh/m2.year for space heating and cooling), but it's no coincidence that the last increase in the Regs for insulation was accompanied by a new section that deals with overheating... when you get to that level, it's a fine balance between not needing much energy input from a heating system to keep warm and incidental heat inputs being enough to make it overheat.
Seen any movement on continental style window shutters and canopies? Seems like the simple mechanical fix.Evanivitch said:
Seen any movement on continental style window shutters and canopies? Seems like the simple mechanical fix.
They are one of the solutions allowed by the Approved Document.Unfortunately, Planning trumps Building Regs., and the Planners have been given a different hymn sheet to sing from.
normalbloke said:
Siko said:
Our ASHP is brilliant - relatively cheap and efficient the vast majority of the time/year through all seasons in a clunky big old stone cottage.
No, no, you cannot possibly be right….Relative to burning damp £50 notes, it's outstandingly cheap and efficient, I'm sure. It's only when you go and do something totally unreasonable like comparing it to a mains gas-fired condensing boiler that it falls flat on its ass.
And you'll notice that even the heat pump fanbois never claim that their heating systems are brilliantly flexible? Best they'll manage there is to try to convince you (and themselves) that the lack of flexibility really doesn't bother them much...
r3g said:
Seems legit!OP - I would suggest finding one of the various ASHP groups on faceache and asking the same question with as much info as you can get from the seller, there are lots of knowledgable and friendly people in there who can help if you ask the same question. At least you can get some expert advice to help you make up your own mind.
Equus said:
normalbloke said:
Siko said:
Our ASHP is brilliant - relatively cheap and efficient the vast majority of the time/year through all seasons in a clunky big old stone cottage.
No, no, you cannot possibly be right….Relative to burning damp £50 notes, it's outstandingly cheap and efficient, I'm sure. It's only when you go and do something totally unreasonable like comparing it to a mains gas-fired condensing boiler that it falls flat on its ass.
And you'll notice that even the heat pump fanbois never claim that their heating systems are brilliantly flexible? Best they'll manage there is to try to convince you (and themselves) that the lack of flexibility really doesn't bother them much...
Siko said:
I would suggest finding one of the various ASHP groups on faceache and asking the same question with as much info as you can get from the seller, there are lots of knowledgable and friendly people fanbois in there who can help give you the answer you want to hear if you ask the same question. At least you can get some expert heavily biased advice to help you make up your own mind drink the Koolaid without gagging .
EFA... like if you want to hear an unbiased view on the pros and cons of a particular marque of car, you go to the owner's club forum, right? Next thing you know, you're convinced that the Rover 75 was the pinnacle of automotive engineering achievement. As with EVs, the tech will get better over time. Not all heat pumps are the same, so anyone thinking about installing them now would be well advised to read up on the latest kinds available, and only buy after careful consideration regarding suitability for your own home.
For example:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67511954
Maybe think about getting a proper professional advice and estimates, somewhere like here:
https://www.heatgeek.com/find-a-heat-geek/
I'd advise the OP to take your time and do a lot of homework rather than just listen to a mid slinging match on here between naysayers and advocates.
My gas boiler is nearing end of life, I live in a fairly modern house (1971 built), and am considering an ASHP as an option. But I'll not make any kind of decision until I've had proper professional advice, which frankly I'd be prepared to pay for as it's a pretty big decision.
For example:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67511954
Maybe think about getting a proper professional advice and estimates, somewhere like here:
https://www.heatgeek.com/find-a-heat-geek/
I'd advise the OP to take your time and do a lot of homework rather than just listen to a mid slinging match on here between naysayers and advocates.
My gas boiler is nearing end of life, I live in a fairly modern house (1971 built), and am considering an ASHP as an option. But I'll not make any kind of decision until I've had proper professional advice, which frankly I'd be prepared to pay for as it's a pretty big decision.
CivicDuties said:
My gas boiler is nearing end of life, I live in a fairly modern house (1971 built), and am considering an ASHP as an option. But I'll not make any kind of decision until I've had proper professional advice, which frankly I'd be prepared to pay for as it's a pretty big decision.
Buy a new gas boiler now before the government bans them.otolith said:
Evanivitch said:
Local pollution is your personal responsibility though...
Someone may take a view on that, but it's really the responsibility of government to align personal and community interests.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff