Forums

Search with Wattson
Forums
Renewable Heating
Air Source Heat Pum...
Is this ASHP instal...
 
Notifications
Clear all

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!

Is this ASHP install OK?

 
Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs)
Last Post by JamesPa 9 months ago
10 Posts
5 Users
8 Reactions
1,095 Views
RSS
 El3b
(@el3b)
New Member Member
Joined: 10 months ago
Posts: 3
Topic starter 26/06/2025 4:25 pm   [#2364]

I had this ASHP installed in April. It failed the Trust Mark inspection because it was installed on uneven ground/edging and was not level front to back.

A man from the company has been out since and I believe he put a bit of broken up breeze block under one of the feet to level it out and put more soil on top.

The photos show the result.

For context the edging is concreted in, which is why they've just smashed it up and put feet on top. The soil area used to be a flower bed and To my knowledge no groundwork/weed membrane or anything was used. Just a little bit of new gravel was scattered around the condensation outlet (which had already frosted over with mineralisation, hopefully this is normal).

To be honest I was expecting they'd lay a concrete slab, but maybe I was expecting too much?

Anyway, I'm worried they're going to get me to sign to say I'm happy with it...and I don't think I am. Should I be? Is this normal/acceptable?

I also don't really understand why it's level in the middle (side to side) but not at the edges, I guess the unit must be bowed in the centre as the drip tray is not level.

I'm hoping trust mark come back out. Does anyone know if they do?

Thanks in advance for any advice.


This topic was modified 10 months ago by Mars

   
Quote
Topic Tags
installation groundwork Air source heat pumps
Mars
 Mars
(@editor)
Illustrious Member Admin
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 4516
26/06/2025 4:41 pm  

Can you please post some photos? What you've described doesn't sound great.


Get a copy of The Ultimate Guide to Heat Pumps

Subscribe and follow our YouTube channel!


   
ReplyQuote
 ASHP-BOBBA
(@ashp-bobba)
Honorable Member Member Professional Installer
Joined: 1 year ago
Posts: 440
27/06/2025 8:38 pm  

@el3b Hi, sorry to hear that, it is advisable to install the system level to allow it to function correctly and to prevent unwanted noise vibration or ware on the components.  

I have attached 2 types of plinth we usually ask for or provide to the external units, this allows minimal vibration, a level and sturdy hard standing and good soak-away for the condensate.

 

 

Mitsubishi PUZ-WM60-112VAA_YAA Plinth measurments.pdf
Mitsubishi Ecodan simple soak-away plinth.pdf

 


AAC Group Ltd covering the Kent Area for design, supply and installation of ASHP systems, service and maintenance, diagnostics and repairs.
Professional installer. Book a one-to-one consultation for pre- and post-installation advice, troubleshooting and system optimisation.


   
👌
1
ReplyQuote



 El3b
(@el3b)
New Member Member
Joined: 10 months ago
Posts: 3
Topic starter 28/07/2025 4:00 pm  

@ashp-bobba

20250626 141214
20250626 141228
20250626 141223
20250626 154447

 

20250623 122056

 Hi, Sorry I don't know why these didn't show on my original post. Hopefully you can see these.

 

Many thanks,

 

El



   
🤔
1
ReplyQuote
Majordennisbloodnok
 Majordennisbloodnok
(@majordennisbloodnok)
Famed Member Moderator
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 1759
28/07/2025 4:56 pm  

I think @editor and @ashp-bobba are being very polite about this but their views are clear nonetheless. Without putting any words into their mouths, I'm going to be a little more blunt with my own take.

Posted by: @el3b
↑

I had this ASHP installed in April. It failed the Trust Mark inspection because it was installed on uneven ground/edging and was not level front to back.

...

This ASHP was installed by an installer with - at least as far as this part of the job is concerned - a clean slate. They could have chosen to put a concrete slab down if they preferred or they could have chosen to wall mount the unit. All they needed to do was make sure the outdoor unit was sited in a safe, stable position that ensured the unit was level in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications. Let's forget that it's an ASHP; this bit is not plumbing. If they plumped for a wall bracket it's basically heavy duty shelf-hanging. If they plumped for a unit sitting on the ground the preparation is basically small-scale garden shed preparation. You wouldn't put up with a door frame that isn't truly vertical so why should you put up with a base that isn't level? It couldn't be more noddy and basic. The fact they haven't done it correctly is their fault and theirs alone, and sorting it out is their problem.

 

Posted by: @el3b
↑

...

A man from the company has been out since and I believe he put a bit of broken up breeze block under one of the feet to level it out and put more soil on top.

...

When I was a youngster, disreputable car sales people would put sawdust in a noisy gearbox to quieten it down, and the problem would obviously surface later after the customer had parted with their money. This is the same kind of approach; it's not a fix; it's a cludge. The installer should be hauled back to correct the problem properly.

 

Posted by: @el3b
↑

...

Anyway, I'm worried they're going to get me to sign to say I'm happy with it...and I don't think I am. Should I be? Is this normal/acceptable?

...

If you're not happy with the work then don't sign anything to say you are. What you've described is unacceptable and not signing off presumably stops the installer from being paid - and quite rightly in my opinion. No matter how much emotional blackmail the installer exerts on you, I would personally cast a similarly critical eye over the rest of the installation and only sign off when you are absolutely 100% sure you're happy with what's been delivered, including double checking the way the whole thing is configured to run. If they've proven themselves prepared to cut corners in one place, double check they haven't done so elsewhere. If it turns out this was the only problem I'll be very happy for you but a bit of investigation doesn't hurt at all.


105 m2 bungalow in South East England
Mitsubishi Ecodan 8.5 kW air source heat pump
18 x 360W solar panels
1 x 6 kW GroWatt battery and SPH5000 inverter
1 x Myenergi Zappi
1 x VW ID3
Raised beds for home-grown veg and chickens for eggs

"Semper in excretia; sumus solum profundum variat"


   
👍
3
ReplyQuote
Mars
 Mars
(@editor)
Illustrious Member Admin
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 4516
29/07/2025 9:33 am  

Posted by: @el3b
↑

Anyway, I'm worried they're going to get me to sign to say I'm happy with it...and I don't think I am. Should I be? Is this normal/acceptable?

If you're not happy with it, do NOT sign it off and do NOT release any remaining payments. You're paying a lot of money for this, and you need to be satirised satisfied and happy!


This post was modified 9 months ago by Mars

Get a copy of The Ultimate Guide to Heat Pumps

Subscribe and follow our YouTube channel!


   
👍
1
ReplyQuote



JamesPa
 JamesPa
(@jamespa)
Illustrious Member Moderator
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 4714
29/07/2025 12:36 pm  

Posted by: @editor
↑

and you need to be satirised

Not sure that's what you meant albeit that the industry could do with some comic treatment!


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.


   
😂
1
ReplyQuote
Mars
 Mars
(@editor)
Illustrious Member Admin
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 4516
29/07/2025 3:31 pm  

@jamespa it was the classic autocomplete with my iPad thinking it should be satirised not satisfied! 🤣


Get a copy of The Ultimate Guide to Heat Pumps

Subscribe and follow our YouTube channel!


   
ReplyQuote
 El3b
(@el3b)
New Member Member
Joined: 10 months ago
Posts: 3
Topic starter 29/07/2025 5:38 pm  

@majordennisbloodnok Thank you. I have sent a very stern email today. Since posting this I also discovered that they have also used no rawl plugs to hang up the radiators (?!?!) Luckily they never came back to get me to sign anything, but I've also heard nothing from them since. I assume they have to have failed the Trust Mark guarantee. Thankfully I have not paid for this (directly anyway) as it is a council grant, but it is still terrible that they are taking council money for shoddy work.



   
ReplyQuote



JamesPa
 JamesPa
(@jamespa)
Illustrious Member Moderator
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 4714
29/07/2025 6:15 pm  

Posted by: @el3b
↑

. Thankfully I have not paid for this (directly anyway) as it is a council grant, but it is still terrible that they are taking council money for shoddy work.

You should contact the council and report the unsatisfactory work, requesting them to withold paynent.  Without rawlplugs (how do you know) your radiators risk falling off one day with obvious consequences.    

Can I suggest taking some more photos of the installation and posting them here for comment. 

Also I would question how has it been commissioned, possibly in a way that makes it expensive to run.  Fortunately you can almost certainly fix that with the help of those on here


This post was modified 9 months ago 3 times by JamesPa

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.


   
💥
1
ReplyQuote
Forum Jump:
  Previous Topic
Next Topic  
Related Topics
Topic Tags:  installation (7) , groundwork (1) , Air source heat pumps (11) ,



Share:

Join Us!

Worth Watching

Latest Posts

Members Online

Click to access the login or register cheese
x Powerful Protection for WordPress, from Shield Security PRO
This Site Is Protected By
Shield Security PRO →