Joining the Renewable Heating Hub forums is completely free and only takes a minute. By registering you’ll be able to ask questions, join discussions, follow topics you’re interested in, bookmark useful threads and receive notifications when someone replies. Non-registered members also do not have access to our AI features. When choosing your username, please note that it cannot be changed later, so we recommend avoiding brand or product names. Before registering, please take a moment to read the Forum Rules & Terms of Use so we can keep the community helpful, respectful and informative for everyone. Thanks for joining!
Choosing between two quotes for ASHP, Solar and EV
Afternoon folks, finally at the point where we have two quotes for ASHP and solar with ev so need to decide which to go for. We're going through the Home Energy Scotland grants and loans process so need to decide at this point as the application needs the quote.
First company is https://www.cnerenewables.co.uk/ and the second is https://www.optimumheatingandrenewables.co.uk.
Both get decent reviews, although this is obviously based more on their conduct etc than the nature of the install. The first company is about an hour away and is a larger concern whereas the second is very local and is a single team. Both are 'mastertech' fitters for Vaillant and both have quoted for a 5kwh Vaillent arotherm plus. Whilst neither is a heat geek or the like they do look to be my best options locally, and we've been dragging through this process of trying to get the funding and system fitted for months now so my options are limited. I've done a lot of my own research through this site and feel confident that the system will be competently fitted. Rads are well sized, the house will be a single zone, the system will run from the main controller and not room stats, and whilst both quotes call for a buffer I'm pushing for valves on either side to balance.
The first company can fit the whole lot together, and are slightly cheaper than the second which fits only ashps, and another local guy would fit the solar and battery. Whilst the guy at the first company has perhaps been more helpful, and has definitely got the quote to us a lot more quickly, there is something about using a company which is 10 minutes away which is attractive. And the fact he fits only air source heat pumps and has a good reputation is appealing. The slight concern when it comes to his quote is that he specifies less rads and won't give me sizes until I sign the contract which seems weird however his heat loss calcs are exactly the same as the other company and I suspect he is just designing for fewer larger rads.
I've included all the quotes etc I've had from both companies as well as the extra quote for solar and battery from the other local company. This, incidently, quotes for more panels and a bigger battery which is attractive. Slightly uncomfortable putting quotes up online for too long so I'll probably take these down after a week or so.
An incidental question for other Vaillant users is whether we should pay the extra for the My Vaillant app. I'm inclined not to bother as I'd rather run everything from the controller and am concerned about needing to pay subscriptions etc. Has anyone found it particularly useful?
Any comments on anything which would help me make this choice would be much appreciated.
ALL DETAILS OF FILES ARE IN FILE NAME
Just an observation one quote is for a 250L HW tank the other is for a Sunamp 210 unit, which are expensive, I would get that requoted with a 250L HW cylinder it will then be £1000 cheaper than the other quote.
I forgot to add that the quote for the sunamp was also offered with a cylinder for 1350 less, which is what we would do if we went for that quote. I suspect we would also go for a 200 lt on both instead of the 250. The second quote (optimum) is about £1000 more in terms of plumbing and electrical materials. Its hard to tell if this is because he is being more realistic, or will do a better job, or for some other reason. Whatever it is its quite a substantial difference.
- 27 Forums
- 2,811 Topics
- 66.5 K Posts
- 2,772 Online
- 7,219 Members
Join Us!
Installer Finder
Degrees of Separation
Latest Posts
-
RE: Heat Geek installations: share your experiences
It's heavily dependent upon the actual installers and I...
By EtchedPixels , 6 hours ago
-
RE: Why don't people choose heat pumps?
Savings you need to consider versus the investment valu...
By EtchedPixels , 6 hours ago
-
RE: The Changing Jet Stream Could Challenge UK Air Source Heat Pumps
@susannasaunders An interesting conversation to have ...
By Rob of York , 14 hours ago
-
RE: How much of your renewable and home setup would still work if the internet went down?
Yes, in my case, the ISP hub is permanently there, they...
By Batpred , 18 hours ago
-
RE: Electricity price predictions
@rob-of-york sounds like a term that Heidegger would...
By Papahuhu , 19 hours ago
-
RE: Adding data centre electricity costs to domestic energy bills?
never ceases to amaze me.. Keeping steel works going ...
By Batpred , 1 day ago
-
RE: Boiler Upgrade Scheme funding reduced by circa £750 million in 2026 budget
Absolutely agree. The massive Hager CU my vaillant requ...
By Batpred , 1 day ago
-
RE: Octopussy cosy 6 experience
People who have a Cosy appear generally to be happy wit...
By JamesPa , 1 day ago
-
How Can I Prove Coal Was My Main Heating Source Without Receipts?
thank you for having me,i am just asking for advice i h...
By Chilli304 , 1 day ago
-
I thought the cr*p came first and the biofuel came afte...
By Majordennisbloodnok , 2 days ago
-
RE: Aerotherm and weather compensation
@jamespa I replied yesterday with detailed readings whi...
By DavidB , 3 days ago
-
RE: Marvel Heating liquidation
@editor This is an important point. each winter, you...
By davidnolan22 , 4 days ago
-
RE: Solar Power Output – Let’s Compare Generation Figures
Very nice. we’ve been super soggy here, but rather m...
By Papahuhu , 4 days ago
-
RE: DIY powerflushing tutorial
Interesting! I toyed with the idea too. But I installed...
By bobflux , 5 days ago
-
RE: 15kw pump for 225m2 1990's house - over kill?
@seaviews Agree with the others on sequence: loft first...
By mk1234 , 5 days ago








