@old_scientist I have never cleaned the mag filter myself either but, if I had to, I think it is a case of isolating with the two valves, having a bucket or suitable container then using that large plastic spanner that should be hanging close by. Regards, Toodles.

@heat-pump-newbie Yes you need F Gas engineers like us if a split or monoblock system. Otherwise they just service the heating side of things.

@old_scientist my Daikin ran for nearly 2 years following the cat-astrophic refrigerant leak, but with no error code. Once I'd persuaded the installer that something was wrong they removed and weighed the refrigerant and it only contained 55% of what should have been there. Since refilling with the correct amount the COP has improved no end !!!

Posted by: @heat-pump-newbie

↑

@old_scientist my Daikin ran for nearly 2 years following the cat-astrophic refrigerant leak, but with no error code. Once I'd persuaded the installer that something was wrong they removed and weighed the refrigerant and it only contained 55% of what should have been there. Since refilling with the correct amount the COP has improved no end !!!

@heat-pump-newbie as I suspected. I measure/monitor my COP daily, so I think I'd notice pretty quickly unless it was a very slow prolonged leak where performance gradually tailed off.

Having bit the bullet and paid £250 for a service, our service engineer came today so I thought I'd report on the experience.

We'd paid for the ASHP and tank service, and the service engineer was great - very happy to show me what he was doing and seem genuinely pleased I was interested and engaged.

Outside he stripped the casing and thoroughly cleaned. We talked about the vibration from the compressor which I thought was a little noisy. We briefly fired up the unit for him to hear, and we agreed it was at the top end of normal. He's asked me to record a video when it's running hard for him to send to Samsung. The compressor is mounted on rubber feet, and just moving the compressor slightly reduced the vibrations, so we will see how things go.

Due to vibrations, he explained that cable connections can work loose over time, so tightened all the screw down cable clamps to ensure they were tight and had not worked loose.

He examined cabling for signs of burning and explained some cables can sometimes start to brown, so just visually checking all the cabling looked good and no signs of electrical faults.

He showed me where to check for refrigerant leaks. He mentioned the circulating refrigerant gas contains a small amount of oil so you can feel if the joints have leaked. He showed me the common failure points to check and all looked good. He did not otherwise check refrigerant levels.

Inside I am happy with all the controller settings, so we skipped checking those at my request.

We did have an issue with our immersion heater cutting out too early to complete the legionella cycle (cuts out at ~57C). He had a spare thermostat for the immersion, so swapped that and just quickly checked it powered up without tripping anything - I didn't want to fully test the cut off temp of the new thermostat as we were on peak rate by then, so I'll test that later.

We cleaned the Y strainer and the mag filter. I'd already cleaned the Y strainer a couple months after installation, but I now know how to clean a mag filter, so that's good. Checked pressure relief valves and expansion tanks.

Overall I'm pleased we did the service. The engineer was great but I do feel the price is a bit steep (part of the issue will be the amount of travelling these guys are doing to service nationally, so I expect he's done more travelling than servicing in a day). I've learned quite a bit and know more things to keep an eye on and check. Of course the main issue is the warranty. Next year I think I'll be happy to maybe just pay for the ASHP service, and take care of the tank side myself.

Another result and another very happy service customer: Clients 1.4 yr old initial incorrect installation, months of negotiation, multiple visits by original installer and failed to resolve, final word from original installer is user error and customer reaches out to us 14 months after installation, explains to me whats happening at which point I decide they have a case for us to intervene and we go in anonymously to investigate and repair in 1 day. We do not look to judge others but just to provide a service, diagnosis and repair if possible, we do about 1 of these a month. The installation has never worked and our discovery found that it never would have. These errors were corrected and the customer is happy they had the service, diagnostic and modification done.

I have offered this client the link to this community to seek support for further actions they would like to take against the initial installer and I explained there is a wealth of knowledge here for people who have gone through the same kind of issues, I trust you will all help if they choose to contact the community. We as a company cannot help further or advise further as it is better that we support this client with the system and looking after it for now.

They left a very nice review for which we are grateful. 

@ashp-bobba Well done for stepping in where most would fear to tread.  There is clearly a business in this (sadly), I have a distinct feeling that many of the tales of woe we attempt to diagnose remotely on here could be better fixed by a day or two onsite.

@jamespa Thanks. Yes, its a bit sad so many of these jobs exist but 1 at a time we will try to help fix some of them, its nice to get such good praise.

@ashp-bobba wish you lived closer to Wiltshire! My installer charges £294 for a service. Given the issues I have had with my system I believe it's purely a basic box-ticking exercise. They have just reminded me that a service is due so I have written to them to clarify what is covered in the service so that I can check what they would actually commit to doing. I did ring round local companies to get other quotes and most of them were unable to service Midea heat pumps. One said he could at £180 incl VAT and I have also asked him for a service scope to compare.

Does anyone in southern England have a recommendation for Midea ASHP servicing?

Thanks

@pash44pump I hope you get the service you are looking for, I have fiends in Bath and near Wiltshire, beautiful area of the country.

Like @pash44pump  I would be interested in recommendations for a service engineer in the Derby area for my Ecodan 11.2 ASHP.

Our 1st Octopus heat pump service just completed.

He was here just over an hour, I mainly left him to it, but saw him cleaning out all the filters, stripped down heat pump casing, washed off covers, cleaned fan, took pics of everything he did as he said it's always requested by Octopus.

I had a free 1st year service plan included with installation of heat pump so service effectively free. 

I start paying £9 a month soon which gives a 5 year warranty, and annual service with Octopus.

All in all I'm more than happy so far