Flowmeter and glycol
We have just had our Valiant ASHP serviced and the report has come back that we only have plain water in the circuit and we lack a flow meter.
Do we need both glycol and a flow meter (if so our bloody useless installers have mucked up yet again) if not why are they recommended by the servicing team?
At around £800 it more bloody remedial work on this installation.
Cheers
Mark
Posted by: @witchcraftWe have just had our Valiant ASHP serviced and the report has come back that we only have plain water in the circuit and we lack a flow meter.
Do we need both glycol and a flow meter (if so our bloody useless installers have mucked up yet again) if not why are they recommended by the servicing team?
At around £800 it more bloody remedial work on this installation.
Cheers
Mark
You should not need an additional flow meter. The ASHP should have a flow rate sensor which is enough for normal use. This will throw an error code if the flow is too low. I have an external flow meter but this is for MMSP monitoring. You should ask the engineer why a flow meter is needed? Maybe they are just fishing for work?
The system would normally be filled with a glycol mix on commissioning. If not, anti freeze valves are an alternative. If you have neither then there is a risk that if/when there is a power cut and it's very cold the ASHP could freeze up and be damaged. Unfortunately it's quite an expensive job to refill with glycol.
Posted by: @witchcraftWe have just had our Valiant ASHP serviced and the report has come back that we only have plain water in the circuit and we lack a flow meter.
Do we need both glycol and a flow meter (if so our bloody useless installers have mucked up yet again) if not why are they recommended by the servicing team?
At around £800 it more bloody remedial work on this installation.
Cheers
Mark
I would suggest that you ask your installer to add the glycol that they should have added during the installation. If they refuse then make a complaint to MCS and any other body who have supposedly accredited their service.
Posted by: @witchcraft@derek-m But these installers are the lovely mob I took to court and they then went bust
They should have indemnity insurance against which you should be able to claim.
@witchcraft, your MCS installers will have been insured by HEIS or another body. It’s a requirement and it’ll be in your paperwork.
On the subject of glycol, it’s usually added in systems to prevent accidental freezing in the event a heat pump stops working or if there’s a power outage. Most installers add it to be “safe”. I’m not sure it’s a requirement though.
I’m with Kev on the flow meter. The pump should have this built in as it cuts out when there’s insufficient flow. Surely Vaillant heat pumps have their own flow sensors without the need for additional external ones.
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
You don’t need glycol or a flow meter….
glycol is just a terrible solution to the ‘power cut in the middle of winter’ problem…. Caleffi anti freeze valves are £150-200 a pair, Chinese ones are £40 a pair.
Off grid on the isle of purbeck
2.4kW solar, 15kWh Seplos Mason, Outback power systems 3kW inverter/charger, solid fuel heating with air/air for shoulder months, 10 acres of heathland/woods.
My wife’s house: 1946 3 bed end of terrace in Somerset, ASHP with rads + UFH, triple glazed, retrofit IWI in troublesome rooms, small rear extension.
- 22 Forums
- 2,057 Topics
- 44.9 K Posts
- 39 Online
- 3,299 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: IVT Greenline high pressure switch and electrical cassette errors
OK, so when the HP comes on it becomes obvious.It's on ...
By tdudgeon , 2 hours ago
-
RE: Is Your 6kW Air Source Heat Pump Really a 6kW?
@johnmo I think we’ve been trudging through the same...
By SUNandAIR , 3 hours ago
-
RE: Heat Pump Manufacturers Recommending Buffer Tanks
One manufacturer Viessmann has to have their buffer, as...
By Johnmo , 10 hours ago
-
RE: How To Balance Radiators & the Role of the Lockshield Valve: A Homeowner's Guide
Good luck, I hope it all works out!
By JamesPa , 1 day ago
-
@johnd it's a difficult one, because we've seen instanc...
By Mars , 1 day ago
-
RE: Is your heat pump insured?
@johnmo sorry it comes across like that. The post is au...
By KevinPotts , 1 day ago
-
RE: Getting the best out of a heat pump - is Homely a possible answer?
@johnmo Perhaps a little detail might explain my reason...
By Toodles , 1 day 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 , 2 days ago
-
RE: Yes, the "zoning with ASHP" topic again...
James, thanks again for your thoughtful and persistent ...
By HarryRea , 2 days 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 , 2 days ago
-
RE: Vaillant & OVO partner up to offer Heat Pump Plus
Hopefully iv done the right thing today by signing up t...
By Westkent , 2 days ago
-
RE: Battery sizing - How low can you go!
My own experience with connecting four batteries to thr...
By Transparent , 2 days ago
-
RE: Plate heat exchanger considerations
Work on 2-3 percent per degree. This is a reasonable e...
By JamesPa , 3 days 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 , 3 days ago
-
RE: Volumisers in Heat Pump Systems: Does Placement Matter?
You’re absolutely right that during defrost the refrige...
By Mars , 3 days ago
-
@editor thanks Mars that’s the same table I found in th...
By Gary , 3 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 , 3 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 , 3 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 , 3 days ago