Posted by: @markc

@derek-m Thanks for your comment Derek. Unfortunately I was replying to a post way back on page 6 but the forum software doesn't seem to collate threads. I didn't make it clear that my post was about DHW.

Hi Mark,

You could switch your pump on and off by means of a Pipe Clamp Thermostat, which could be installed at a suitable location on the pipework. When the temperature falls below the desired setting it would switch the pump on until the temperature exceeds the desired value. If you were to mount the thermostat on the return pipe, it would ensure that all the water in the pipework is up to temperature.

Posted by: @derek-m

Posted by: @markc

@derek-m Thanks for your comment Derek. Unfortunately I was replying to a post way back on page 6 but the forum software doesn't seem to collate threads. I didn't make it clear that my post was about DHW.

Hi Mark,

You could switch your pump on and off by means of a Pipe Clamp Thermostat, which could be installed at a suitable location on the pipework. When the temperature falls below the desired setting it would switch the pump on until the temperature exceeds the desired value. If you were to mount the thermostat on the return pipe, it would ensure that all the water in the pipework is up to temperature.

Now that could be a great solution for @george as well. Thanks.

@markc Thanks Mark,

I try to be helpful whenever possible.

As an afterthought to help conserve energy, you could retain the timer in the circuit, so that the water in the pipework is only kept hot during the time of day when it will be required.

Hi all,

We have an Ecodan 14Kw ASHP - House is 2 storey 286m2

We have underfloor heating downstairs and oversized radiators upstairs.

We have thermostats all over!

Issues

It’s using 18-22 thousand KWh annually and it’s costing us a fortune

The house doesn’t really feel warm

The heat pump is situated at the rear of the house but seems very noisy - not sure if this is normal - hadn’t really thought about the noise when it was installed - stupidly

Any suggestions welcome

@caroline2000 Hi Caroline,

Welcome to the forum.

ASHP's are noisiest when they are working hardest, which would also be when they are using most energy. Has your heat pump always been noisy or is it only recently that you have noticed an increase in noise level?

How long has your ASHP been installed and has it always used this amount of energy?

Do you have the heat loss calculations for your home?

Is there plenty of room around your ASHP for the cold air coming out to dissipate into the atmosphere? If the cold air coming out is drawn back into the heat pump, this will reduce the efficiency and increase the noise level.

If you can answer these questions it may lead to further questions to try to locate the root cause of your problem.

Posted by: @caroline2000

Hi all,

We have an Ecodan 14Kw ASHP - House is 2 storey 286m2

We have underfloor heating downstairs and oversized radiators upstairs.

We have thermostats all over!

Issues

It’s using 18-22 thousand KWh annually and it’s costing us a fortune

The house doesn’t really feel warm

The heat pump is situated at the rear of the house but seems very noisy - not sure if this is normal - hadn’t really thought about the noise when it was installed - stupidly

Any suggestions welcome

Hi @caroline2000,

Excessive energy usage, house not warm and noisy I think that all sound wrong.

I too have an Ecodan 14Kw pump servicing around 240m2, UFH downstairs and rads up so not too dissimilar to yours. As Derek suggests, performance is linked to many factors but I'd be happy to share some details on setup/performance stats with you so you have a better idea on what you should be expecting.

Also, your location in the UK will have an impact with regards to outside temperatures.

There is an Ecodan review in the reviews section which is also a similar sized property to yours which gives details on their annual energy usage that should also give you a ballpark of what you should be expecting.

@derek-m 

Thanks, it was fitted around May 2019.

i think there’s enough space around it (or so we were told)...it’s to the rest of the house on a side wall (in a corner) - there’s at least a foot behind it and 3foot to the left.....completely open with no instructions to the right and front.

Its the heating that is eating the energy.......when the heating isn’t on the bills are low

I think it’s always been noisy.......and energy consumption was the same during winter 2019 and 2020 (slightly better in 2020 as we tweaked the temperature and  thermostats)

@markc 

Thanks,

We’re in Newcastle. I’ll have a look at that review section

@caroline2000 

Are you heating your water tank 24/7 or have you set the ASHP to heat the tank at intervals during the day?

We found that was costing us a lot and has improved once I took the advice from the people in here, and set the tank to be heated at points during the day. 

For what it’s worth, our UFH costs loads in comparison to any other of our electrical devices. We turned it on for the first time in 8/9 months or so this week, and watched the smart reader turn red. 

Posted by: @caroline2000

Hi all,

We have an Ecodan 14Kw ASHP - House is 2 storey 286m2

We have underfloor heating downstairs and oversized radiators upstairs.

We have thermostats all over!

Issues

It’s using 18-22 thousand KWh annually and it’s costing us a fortune

The house doesn’t really feel warm

The heat pump is situated at the rear of the house but seems very noisy - not sure if this is normal - hadn’t really thought about the noise when it was installed - stupidly

Any suggestions welcome

That's quite a big house.  Ours is about half that size and we have the same ASHP.  Having said that, if your ASHP is working properly with a COP of 2-3, that's a huge amount of energy to be using.  What temperature are your thermostats set to?  And your flow temps - are you using weather compensation?

Ours is quite noisy when it's working hard, e.g. to heat the house on a cold morning.  But after that it's very quiet, sometimes barely audible standing a few metres away. 

@caroline2000 Your high energy bills are mor than likly caused by your thermostats. The heat pump is running flat out all the time and not modulating, the equilivance is, driving a car at 70 miles per hour in third gear down the moterway, you cannot expect good performance.

Try turn all your thermostats up full and controwl the house temperature with the weather compensation on the heat pump only and treat your house as a whole. It will work well with your under floor.The heat pump will work 24-7 but at a very low speed, it will be very quiet and efficient using a lot less electricity.

However, if you have pumps and blending valves on your manifolds, you stand little chance of having reasonable heating bills, the system has been poorly designed and probably will not give you good performance.

@heacol 

Thanks for this - I think we’re probably doomed then!

Biggest regret of the house renovation - the pump and underfloor heating in general.....but it looks like we’re stuck with it so will try some of all the suggestions - once I get a chance to sit down and read the ‘War & Peace’ level instructions.....