| Air source heat pumps 16:35 - Jun 22 with 866 views | wrightsrightglove |
Anyone have one?
We’re moving into a new place which needs a full refurb including a heating system (it’s currently got a mains gas back boiler). Looking at options, we could replace it with a new combi boiler for £6k-ish or we could fit an ASHP for £4.5k plus solar with battery for a further £7k and remove gas completely from the property. Just keen to know if anyone lives with a similar system and how you find it / whether it’s worth it |  | | |  |
| Air source heat pumps on 16:38 - Jun 22 with 834 views | Zx1988 |
Does the quote for ASHP include all of the other retrofit improvements required in order for the heat pump to run at full efficiency?
Based on what you've said, chances are that you'll need to replace the radiators at the very least - you need a much larger surface area on the rads to take into account the lower running temperature of an ASHP. It may even be that replacing the rads with underfloor heating could be an even better option. | |
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| Air source heat pumps on 16:45 - Jun 22 with 790 views | wrightsrightglove |
| Air source heat pumps on 16:38 - Jun 22 by Zx1988 |
Does the quote for ASHP include all of the other retrofit improvements required in order for the heat pump to run at full efficiency?
Based on what you've said, chances are that you'll need to replace the radiators at the very least - you need a much larger surface area on the rads to take into account the lower running temperature of an ASHP. It may even be that replacing the rads with underfloor heating could be an even better option. |
The quote includes 60% of the rads being replaced as needed so there may be an additional cost for the rest if needed. It’s a 60s bungalow so got cavity wall insulation, double glazing, the loft insulation will be increased so should be fairly efficient | | | |
| Air source heat pumps on 16:50 - Jun 22 with 771 views | Zx1988 |
| Air source heat pumps on 16:45 - Jun 22 by wrightsrightglove |
The quote includes 60% of the rads being replaced as needed so there may be an additional cost for the rest if needed. It’s a 60s bungalow so got cavity wall insulation, double glazing, the loft insulation will be increased so should be fairly efficient |
That's the most important thing - making sure that the rest of the house is as well-insulated and energy efficient as it can be.
Probably your biggest 'loss' area will be the solid concrete floor, which is highly unlikely to have incorporated insulation at that sort of age. That's potentially something that you can address as and when you replace floor coverings.
Also bear in mind the situation with your hot water cylinder. A cylinder connected to a ASHP will require a much larger surface area to the coil in order to better utilise the lower flow temperature of the ASHP. I assume the quote you've got will include replacement of the cylinder but, if not, ensure you factor this in.
Another broader point is that this may be a good opportunity to renew/re-route your central heating pipework. If the copper pipework is embedded within the concrete floor and is unsheathed, there is the risk that it has reacted with the concrete and has corroded, increasing the risk of leakage. In which case, it may be an ideal improvement to re-route the pipework through the roofspace instead. [Post edited 22 Jun 16:50]
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| Air source heat pumps on 16:59 - Jun 22 with 721 views | wrightsrightglove |
| Air source heat pumps on 16:50 - Jun 22 by Zx1988 |
That's the most important thing - making sure that the rest of the house is as well-insulated and energy efficient as it can be.
Probably your biggest 'loss' area will be the solid concrete floor, which is highly unlikely to have incorporated insulation at that sort of age. That's potentially something that you can address as and when you replace floor coverings.
Also bear in mind the situation with your hot water cylinder. A cylinder connected to a ASHP will require a much larger surface area to the coil in order to better utilise the lower flow temperature of the ASHP. I assume the quote you've got will include replacement of the cylinder but, if not, ensure you factor this in.
Another broader point is that this may be a good opportunity to renew/re-route your central heating pipework. If the copper pipework is embedded within the concrete floor and is unsheathed, there is the risk that it has reacted with the concrete and has corroded, increasing the risk of leakage. In which case, it may be an ideal improvement to re-route the pipework through the roofspace instead. [Post edited 22 Jun 16:50]
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Thanks that’s really helpful, hadn’t considered re-routing the pipework whilst we’re at it so we’ll definitely look into that! | | | |
| Air source heat pumps on 17:04 - Jun 22 with 707 views | naa |
I have an ASHP with solar and battery. I was very lucky to get mine for £4k including all rads. Recent quotes for friends have been way higher.
So far it's worked very well. In winter I do have to charge the battery three times a day on octopus cosy tariff, but I heated the house for less than I was paying for gas which was unexpected.
The solar and battery is saving me around £1k a year at the moment and cost £8k.
Personally, I'm very happy with the setup.
The rads aren't too huge either, but it's definitely worth finding out what they intend to install as one quote I had had them fitting rads basically the entire length of the wall in most rooms. | | | |
| Air source heat pumps on 17:25 - Jun 22 with 607 views | Herbivore |
Got a ASHP about 18 months ago. Our bills have gone down (not by loads but by about £20 a month) and over the winter the house was toastier than ever. You have to use it differently, the heating is on for longer in the winter months and you can't just give it a quick blast like with gas fired central heating, but it's been excellent for us. We went with Octopus and all in, including all the radiators and all extra costs, it cost us about £4k after we'd claimed the grant. A new boiler probably would have cost more. |  |
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| Air source heat pumps on 17:39 - Jun 22 with 554 views | Tampa_Florida_Blue |
Air conditioning tech here who works in Florida. In Florida l would put a heat pump unit in over any thing. Pros, they use 3.456 times less electric than gas or electric heat. Not only that you will have air conditioning to get ride of those horrid humidity summer days. Cons: when the outside temperature drops below 0°c they don’t work to well. They take the heat from outside and convert into heat in the house. So the colder it is, the less heat you will get. If you can get a gyothermal unit which has pipes buried 5ft under the ground to take the heat from the soil, you would be able to use it year long summer and winter.
In England I would not have a heat pump as your only heat source. But a combination of Mobil heaters for the real cold weather and a heat pump in most of the above freezing weather, I could live with that.
For those of you who say we don’t need heating in Florida. Heck we do. We are use to 35-45 c summers. 15c winter is freezing to locals. |  | | |
| Air source heat pumps on 17:48 - Jun 22 with 519 views | naa |
| Air source heat pumps on 17:39 - Jun 22 by Tampa_Florida_Blue |
Air conditioning tech here who works in Florida. In Florida l would put a heat pump unit in over any thing. Pros, they use 3.456 times less electric than gas or electric heat. Not only that you will have air conditioning to get ride of those horrid humidity summer days. Cons: when the outside temperature drops below 0°c they don’t work to well. They take the heat from outside and convert into heat in the house. So the colder it is, the less heat you will get. If you can get a gyothermal unit which has pipes buried 5ft under the ground to take the heat from the soil, you would be able to use it year long summer and winter.
In England I would not have a heat pump as your only heat source. But a combination of Mobil heaters for the real cold weather and a heat pump in most of the above freezing weather, I could live with that.
For those of you who say we don’t need heating in Florida. Heck we do. We are use to 35-45 c summers. 15c winter is freezing to locals. |
Most ASHPs installed here will be air to water, but eit worth noting that if you are doing from scratch an air to air system is worth considering, because, as stated, it can also be an air conditioner which is getting more useful in the UK each year | | | |
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| Air source heat pumps on 17:54 - Jun 22 with 492 views | positivity |
| Air source heat pumps on 17:39 - Jun 22 by Tampa_Florida_Blue |
Air conditioning tech here who works in Florida. In Florida l would put a heat pump unit in over any thing. Pros, they use 3.456 times less electric than gas or electric heat. Not only that you will have air conditioning to get ride of those horrid humidity summer days. Cons: when the outside temperature drops below 0°c they don’t work to well. They take the heat from outside and convert into heat in the house. So the colder it is, the less heat you will get. If you can get a gyothermal unit which has pipes buried 5ft under the ground to take the heat from the soil, you would be able to use it year long summer and winter.
In England I would not have a heat pump as your only heat source. But a combination of Mobil heaters for the real cold weather and a heat pump in most of the above freezing weather, I could live with that.
For those of you who say we don’t need heating in Florida. Heck we do. We are use to 35-45 c summers. 15c winter is freezing to locals. |
norway has heat pumps in 60% of their houses, so it can work perfectly well in a colder climate! | |
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| Air source heat pumps on 18:35 - Jun 22 with 420 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Air source heat pumps on 17:04 - Jun 22 by naa |
I have an ASHP with solar and battery. I was very lucky to get mine for £4k including all rads. Recent quotes for friends have been way higher.
So far it's worked very well. In winter I do have to charge the battery three times a day on octopus cosy tariff, but I heated the house for less than I was paying for gas which was unexpected.
The solar and battery is saving me around £1k a year at the moment and cost £8k.
Personally, I'm very happy with the setup.
The rads aren't too huge either, but it's definitely worth finding out what they intend to install as one quote I had had them fitting rads basically the entire length of the wall in most rooms. |
I wish I’d taken out a battery option when I had my solar panels fitted 6 years ago. I’d be close to paying for it by now. The good news is they don’t seem much more expensive than they were back then and seem better now. It’s on the list, but the list is long. We’ve a modern-ish house built in 2000, but everything is falling apart now at the same time and we’ve got sh*tloads of bathrooms to replace, and the kitchen, and all exterior woodwork, and some of the uPVC doors/windows, and all the paving/walls in the garden need repointing/attention, and the rendering on the garage. Bloody houses! 😭 |  |
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| Air source heat pumps on 18:45 - Jun 22 with 395 views | wrightsrightglove |
| Air source heat pumps on 17:39 - Jun 22 by Tampa_Florida_Blue |
Air conditioning tech here who works in Florida. In Florida l would put a heat pump unit in over any thing. Pros, they use 3.456 times less electric than gas or electric heat. Not only that you will have air conditioning to get ride of those horrid humidity summer days. Cons: when the outside temperature drops below 0°c they don’t work to well. They take the heat from outside and convert into heat in the house. So the colder it is, the less heat you will get. If you can get a gyothermal unit which has pipes buried 5ft under the ground to take the heat from the soil, you would be able to use it year long summer and winter.
In England I would not have a heat pump as your only heat source. But a combination of Mobil heaters for the real cold weather and a heat pump in most of the above freezing weather, I could live with that.
For those of you who say we don’t need heating in Florida. Heck we do. We are use to 35-45 c summers. 15c winter is freezing to locals. |
Thanks for your advice! I think the barrier to air-to-air is that the government don’t subsidise it so it’s effectively £7.5k-ish more expensive than air-to-water and would mean having a separate system for hot water. Ground source is still hellishly expensive over here as well unfortunately! I’d be more than happy to use some electric heaters in the winter if needed to top up the ASHP, especially with the solar but neither of us are people who want a really hot house so hopefully wouldn’t be needed | | | |
| Air source heat pumps on 18:46 - Jun 22 with 387 views | wrightsrightglove |
| Air source heat pumps on 17:04 - Jun 22 by naa |
I have an ASHP with solar and battery. I was very lucky to get mine for £4k including all rads. Recent quotes for friends have been way higher.
So far it's worked very well. In winter I do have to charge the battery three times a day on octopus cosy tariff, but I heated the house for less than I was paying for gas which was unexpected.
The solar and battery is saving me around £1k a year at the moment and cost £8k.
Personally, I'm very happy with the setup.
The rads aren't too huge either, but it's definitely worth finding out what they intend to install as one quote I had had them fitting rads basically the entire length of the wall in most rooms. |
Thanks for that, good to hear you’re happy with your setup! | | | |
| Air source heat pumps on 18:48 - Jun 22 with 378 views | Swansea_Blue |
I’d certainly consider underfloor heating - my sister-in-law has it and it’s a game changer. £6k sounds ridiculously expensive for a combo too, unless you need to change all the rads irrespective of whether you go gas again or ASHP. A combo boiler alone should be around £1.5-2k. | |
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| Air source heat pumps on 18:49 - Jun 22 with 373 views | wrightsrightglove |
| Air source heat pumps on 17:25 - Jun 22 by Herbivore |
Got a ASHP about 18 months ago. Our bills have gone down (not by loads but by about £20 a month) and over the winter the house was toastier than ever. You have to use it differently, the heating is on for longer in the winter months and you can't just give it a quick blast like with gas fired central heating, but it's been excellent for us. We went with Octopus and all in, including all the radiators and all extra costs, it cost us about £4k after we'd claimed the grant. A new boiler probably would have cost more. |
How did you find the process with octopus? Our quote is from a different online company but I’d be tempted by Octopus so they can advise on tariffs etc. but read online that they might have a long lead time | | | |
| Air source heat pumps on 19:20 - Jun 22 with 291 views | Herbivore |
| Air source heat pumps on 18:49 - Jun 22 by wrightsrightglove |
How did you find the process with octopus? Our quote is from a different online company but I’d be tempted by Octopus so they can advise on tariffs etc. but read online that they might have a long lead time |
I found it pretty smooth to be honest. From memory, our initial appointment with them was in the September and installation took place in February, so a bit of a wait but not too bad. | |
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| Air source heat pumps on 19:50 - Jun 22 with 174 views | naa |
| Air source heat pumps on 18:49 - Jun 22 by wrightsrightglove |
How did you find the process with octopus? Our quote is from a different online company but I’d be tempted by Octopus so they can advise on tariffs etc. but read online that they might have a long lead time |
I waited ages for octopus to come round (having put down a £500 returnable deposit). They then said they couldn't install one in my house and left.
Used Aira in the end who were very quick and excellent service. | | | |
| Air source heat pumps on 19:51 - Jun 22 with 172 views | stainless |
| Air source heat pumps on 17:04 - Jun 22 by naa |
I have an ASHP with solar and battery. I was very lucky to get mine for £4k including all rads. Recent quotes for friends have been way higher.
So far it's worked very well. In winter I do have to charge the battery three times a day on octopus cosy tariff, but I heated the house for less than I was paying for gas which was unexpected.
The solar and battery is saving me around £1k a year at the moment and cost £8k.
Personally, I'm very happy with the setup.
The rads aren't too huge either, but it's definitely worth finding out what they intend to install as one quote I had had them fitting rads basically the entire length of the wall in most rooms. |
An option on the rads would be to go with aluminium. They give out a lot more heat than steel, therefore you can go smaller, but they are alot more expensive. ASHPs are great and will save you money. Anyone that says differently either have a poor install or don't understand how to use it. |  | | |
| Air source heat pumps on 20:57 - Jun 22 with 55 views | Leaky |
Can't see you getting ASHP for £4.5k put a 1 in front of it will be nearer |  | | |
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