Consumer protection in small-scale renewables - MCS report
I’ve just come across and read this report from MCS that acknowledges the shortcomings of dealing with poor installations and the overall complaints procedure. Credit should go MCS for admitting to the shortcomings and for identifying the issues. They are supposedly working towards addressing this and I hope that the new system will be easier and better.
Thoughts welcome.
Buy Bodge Buster – Homeowner Air Source Heat Pump Installation Guide: https://amzn.to/3NVndlU
From Zero to Heat Pump Hero: https://amzn.to/4bWkPFb
Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast
As you say its encouraging that MCS recognises it has shortcomings.
Through my two year old yet-to-conclude-heat pump journey I have come to question whether MCS actually protects consumers at all. My conclusion is, sadly, no, it doesn't protect consumers, it protects installers.
By enforcing a set of rigid rules (which are clearly not fit for purpose in at least a fair proportion of retrofit scenarios) it creates a regime where installers are fully protected so long as they follow those rules, whatever the outcome for the consumer. Furthermore it stifles innovation. I remember experiencing that on a small scale 12 years ago with solar PV, and what is happening with heat pumps appears to be several orders worse.
At least some in the installation industry are beginning openly to admit this, and becoming frustrated with the unnecessary overhead and inappropriate rules and, as a result, finding creative ways around. However I fear that the majority grant harvesters, employing rookie designers and plumbers and creaming off the subsidy, are probably quite happy with the closed shop more or less bullet proof protection MCS offers.
Many justify the continued existence of MCS on the grounds of consumer protection, I think they should perhaps take a step back and examine whether that is currently justified.
Lets hope that the changes in MCS focus on outcomes for the customer and by doing so free up the better installers to do what the customer wants/needs in a cost effective and, where appropriate, innovative way, thus elevating them above the grant harvesters and hopefully eliminating the latter altogether.
4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.
My experience with an MCS registered installer which was a requirment for the RHI payments (now in their 7th and final year) is that the standard sets a low bar and is not fit for purpose.
I've mentioned this before in other threads but they initially supplied too large an ASHP, which had to be swapped when the sytem was inspected. The installation has always performed very badly in low outside air temperatures (close to and below 0 C electricity consumption goes off the scale). In the last 9 months I have spent almost £2k on plumbers to fix different leaks in the pipework around the water tank (thankfuly none in the underfloor pipework). This included an expansion tank that had simply corroded from the inside. These are basic plumbing issues (not especialy heat pump related) which shouldn't be arising in a new (not retro-fit) system that's less than 7 years old.
Any repairs have had to be done by other heating engineers as the installer dropped out of the MCS scheme not long after mine was completed and they had no interest in our system. It always take other engineers some time to figure out what all the pipework is anyway - there doesn't seem to be a standard approach to these installations.
The mind boggles at what the results will be if the major roll-out the government wants for heat pumps actually happens. There are nowhere near enough genuinely competent installers and its difficult for the average consumer to judge whether theirs is one of them until after the work has been done.
Mike
Grant Aerona HPID10 10kWh ASHP
- 22 Forums
- 2,055 Topics
- 44.8 K Posts
- 49 Online
- 3,289 Members
Join Us!
Trusted Installers
Struggling to find a reliable heat pump installer? A poor installation can lead to inefficiencies and high running costs. We now connect homeowners with top-rated installers who deliver quality work and excellent service.
✅ Verified, trusted & experienced installers
✅ Nationwide coverage expanding
✅ Special offers available
Latest Posts
-
RE: Is your heat pump insured?
I am with Tesco Insurance and when I rang to check that...
By Jancold , 23 minutes ago
-
Win a 6-panel PV courtesy of egg and Renewable Heating Hub
Our epic giveaway just went live! Want to win a 6-pan...
By Mars , 10 hours ago
-
RE: Yes, the "zoning with ASHP" topic again...
James, thanks again for your thoughtful and persistent ...
By HarryRea , 11 hours ago
-
RE: Getting the best out of a heat pump - is Homely a possible answer?
Isn't that the whole point of homely - it does that fun...
By Johnmo , 13 hours ago
-
RE: Is this normal? Click of the DHW returning to space heating
So the Lone Ranger returned today! Even though we thoro...
By Grantmethestrength , 14 hours ago
-
RE: How To Balance Radiators & the Role of the Lockshield Valve: A Homeowner's Guide
@jamespa So settings to date are as follows for now. ...
By Alfapat , 14 hours ago
-
RE: Vaillant & OVO partner up to offer Heat Pump Plus
Hopefully iv done the right thing today by signing up t...
By Westkent , 15 hours ago
-
RE: IVT Greenline high pressure switch and electrical cassette errors
Hi, are you able to see the delta between GT8 vs GT9 te...
By abbote , 16 hours ago
-
RE: Battery sizing - How low can you go!
My own experience with connecting four batteries to thr...
By Transparent , 22 hours ago
-
RE: Plate heat exchanger considerations
Work on 2-3 percent per degree. This is a reasonable e...
By JamesPa , 1 day ago
-
RE: Advice for ground source heat pump in new build with PV and batteries
The useful bit is the bit that specifies the heat loss ...
By JamesPa , 1 day ago
-
RE: Volumisers in Heat Pump Systems: Does Placement Matter?
You’re absolutely right that during defrost the refrige...
By Mars , 1 day ago
-
@editor thanks Mars that’s the same table I found in th...
By Gary , 2 days ago
-
RE: Tariff and charging strategy advice please
They haven't asked me to prove that I have an EV (I do)...
By JamesPa , 2 days ago
-
RE: Solar Power Output – Let’s Compare Generation Figures
Took a while to find on the OFGEN site: ”The FIT sche...
By AgentGeorge , 2 days ago
-
RE: why solar diverters for HW instead of the heat pump?
For me there are few factors why you may want to heat w...
By Johnmo , 2 days ago
-
RE: Hydronic plinth heaters and ASHPs
@editor yes I think so. It will be a while until I get ...
By benson , 2 days ago
-
RE: Aira Heat Pump: Stylish Scandinavian Heating
I’m an Aira customer with a 6kW Outdoor Unit in a small...
By KevinPotts , 2 days ago
-
RE: Warm weather and heat pumps.
Just looked at my WC setting, it is programmed for 25 D...
By Johnmo , 3 days ago