Neighbour has installed an ASHP Incorrectly
Discussion
We live in a village with no mains gas so most are on oil or lpg (we are on oil).
Our direct neighbours have had a new ASHP installed along with some solar panels and had their oil tank and boiler removed, so far so good.
Prior to the install, they did mention that it was going to happen and the potential location of the ASHP which is adjacent to our property and in particular a bedroom. I made my concerns known on two occasions that they need to be sure that it wouldn't cause any impact such as noise or vibration etc. They assured me that "it'll be fine".
Fast forward to last week when it was installed and the intstallers seem to have failed to adhere to the MCS and Planning Portal guidance:
It's under 1m from the property line (maybe 500mm or so)
It's directly next to a bedroom
By the neighbours self admission, it's emitting around 55db but I've not measured it.
So all 3 do not meet the minimum conditions set out by the guidance.
When it was really cold it was running all night and I could hear it all the way down the garden and it could also be heard in our bedroom.
Relationship with this neighbour is currently good, so do I:
A: Not mention anything at all and hope it will be fine and not cause any issues as it's only loud when it's really cold
B: Go full nuclear and demand it gets moved & changed to a quieter model
C: Approach with diplomacy and try and come to an amicable solution suggesting that they need to check with the installer that they've installed it correctly.
Wanted to get some opinions and if anyone else has had a similar scenario - thanks!
Our direct neighbours have had a new ASHP installed along with some solar panels and had their oil tank and boiler removed, so far so good.
Prior to the install, they did mention that it was going to happen and the potential location of the ASHP which is adjacent to our property and in particular a bedroom. I made my concerns known on two occasions that they need to be sure that it wouldn't cause any impact such as noise or vibration etc. They assured me that "it'll be fine".
Fast forward to last week when it was installed and the intstallers seem to have failed to adhere to the MCS and Planning Portal guidance:
It's under 1m from the property line (maybe 500mm or so)
It's directly next to a bedroom
By the neighbours self admission, it's emitting around 55db but I've not measured it.
So all 3 do not meet the minimum conditions set out by the guidance.
When it was really cold it was running all night and I could hear it all the way down the garden and it could also be heard in our bedroom.
Relationship with this neighbour is currently good, so do I:
A: Not mention anything at all and hope it will be fine and not cause any issues as it's only loud when it's really cold
B: Go full nuclear and demand it gets moved & changed to a quieter model
C: Approach with diplomacy and try and come to an amicable solution suggesting that they need to check with the installer that they've installed it correctly.
Wanted to get some opinions and if anyone else has had a similar scenario - thanks!
What sort of size houses are we talking about, is there any alternative place they could have put it?
If its nice big detached houses it's a bit different than if it's a row of narrow terraces.
Not saying it means they should get away with it but those units aren't small so I think a lot of people will have this issue in the long term unfortunately. I guess you can drown it out by getting your own one installed
If its nice big detached houses it's a bit different than if it's a row of narrow terraces.
Not saying it means they should get away with it but those units aren't small so I think a lot of people will have this issue in the long term unfortunately. I guess you can drown it out by getting your own one installed
Unless your neighbour is the installer, it's not their fault - I'd hazard a guess that they've raised your concerns with the installer and been told it'll be fine.
TBH even if they haven't, if the installation doesn't comply it's still not their fault.
So it's definitely C.
And if they get the hump, then it becomes a B. But not unless/until.
If relations are good and they're not dicks, no reason why their installer f
king it up is a slight on them, so they'll be ok to get them to sort it.
If on the other hand they're dicks once you raise it, then why should you suck it up and not push to get it sorted properly?
TBH even if they haven't, if the installation doesn't comply it's still not their fault.
So it's definitely C.
And if they get the hump, then it becomes a B. But not unless/until.
If relations are good and they're not dicks, no reason why their installer f
king it up is a slight on them, so they'll be ok to get them to sort it.If on the other hand they're dicks once you raise it, then why should you suck it up and not push to get it sorted properly?
Jaska said:
What sort of size houses are we talking about, is there any alternative place they could have put it?
If its nice big detached houses it's a bit different than if it's a row of narrow terraces.
Not saying it means they should get away with it but those units aren't small so I think a lot of people will have this issue in the long term unfortunately. I guess you can drown it out by getting your own one installed
The road is a mixture of detached bungalows and houses so a fair amount of space around them all - if it was me I probably have put it there but not quite so close.If its nice big detached houses it's a bit different than if it's a row of narrow terraces.
Not saying it means they should get away with it but those units aren't small so I think a lot of people will have this issue in the long term unfortunately. I guess you can drown it out by getting your own one installed
What sort of boiler did the ASHP replace?
I've recently had an ASHP installed, in place of a Worcester system oil boiler. It's down the side of my integral garage, just over 1m from the boundary.
Pretty much exactly where the flue of the oil boiler came through the wall, and it's much quieter.
I've recently had an ASHP installed, in place of a Worcester system oil boiler. It's down the side of my integral garage, just over 1m from the boundary.
Pretty much exactly where the flue of the oil boiler came through the wall, and it's much quieter.
OP, what is your assessment of how they might fix it, based on alternative locations to site it etc? If you can see an obvious solution that doesn't just move the problem to the house on the other side of your neighbour, then that could be offered. But if the only option is say moving it back from the boundary 500mm, that's really not going to do anything re the noise (which is the main problem). All another way to say, if it were installed to regs it sounds like it won't make much difference to you unless something relatively radical is able to be done. Worth thinking about this as otherwise the installer may just rectify to the regs which may make F-all difference to the problems you are facing.
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