Massive Electricity Cost for Running My Air Source Heat Pump
I don't think the insulation around those four external pipe runs is adequate.
Although I can't see how they arrange themselves to pass through a 100-125mm outer sleeve, the pipe clips have already compromised the wall thickness before the flow even gets there.
I also wonder if the installer has used Split-Insulation.
If so, then the split will be gaping open on the side which faces into the wall.
The approved method is to use adhesive to join the splits,
and for all bevel-cut ends around pipe elbows.
This then gets an outer layer of 'tape' to further cover the joins.
Armaflex and Kaiflex both manufacture UV-resistant external insulation.
It's usually sold as "solar insulation" because it gets used on roof-mounted solar-thermal collectors.
Save energy... recycle electrons!
As for the steel shed, I would expect to see around 100mm thick insulation sheet for the roof,
and around 75mm for the walls and door.
It must be draft-proof,
which may require neoprene rubber gaskets to be cut and glued around the pipe-exit holes.
I can provide further construction details if required.
The adhesive will be a 'contact' type such as this from Screwfix
Pipe insulation is usually best undertaken as a DIY task...
... preferably by someone with OCD!
Save energy... recycle electrons!
@transparent Hi, I spend most of my time on international travel through work.
However, I have taken some time to check what you guys are saying and you're entirely correct.
See pics!
My first avenue was simply to get it all corrected, however I see now I will have to find the time to do most of it myself if I want it done well.
If I posted pictures of the horrific work they did in my house I think you guys would turn up with pitch forks outside their office!
If you're going to take a DIY route to fixing the pipe insulation, then you should be asking for a rebate from the installer.
To calculate this, first ask them how long it will take them to remove what's there and do it again properly.
Then use £45/hour per person and add in the cost of buying the insulation yourself.
That should provide you with a good starting point.
They'll be super busy and wanting to get on with their next job rather than fix yours.
So the option of repaying you in cash will be tempting for them.
One possibility for you to consider is to make a rectangular box around those external pipes and seal them in...
... at least for the main vertical run.
There are PVC parts used by window-fitters and firms who clad facia boards, which could be fashioned into suitable boxing.
Save energy... recycle electrons!
@transparent I couldn't agree more, my first idea when looking at it was to box it in.
There isn't enough clearance between the pipes and wall to insulate it much better.
My sons arm was recently injured quite badly, but as soon as he is fit I will lob him up in the loft to check the pipe insulation in there. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it is just the rockwool!
Absolutely!
Child labour is well suited to the task of pipe insulation in confined spaces.
To seal where pipes enter the steel shed, I'd be using offcuts of EPDM rubber roofing material.
It's excellent for shaping around joins, and easy to cut.
You can glue it directly onto existing vertical surfaces.
So it's also a good choice to seal the top of your boxing.
Save energy... recycle electrons!
I know I'm late to this but I thought it would be worth pointing out that insulation of pipe runs outside the thermal envelope of the house is a building control matter. The installers should be responsible for complying with those regulations.
The relevant sections are 4.24 to 4.26 of approved document L:
It's worth noting that the insulation thicknesses described in that document are for very high quality insulation (i.e. very low thermal conductivity and low emissivity). The building regs defer to BS 5422 for lower performance insulation, and that can have a huge influence. See the attached two tables for low and high emissivity insulation, cribbed from a verv old copy of BS 5422.
If we take 22mm pipe as a reference. The really high quality insulation would require only 8mm thickness, but if it was high emissivity then that would increase to 11mm and if it then had high thermal conductivity typical of the sort of neoprene like insulation (~0.04 W/mK) then you'd need 23mm insulation to meet the regulations. That's a big jump from 8mm!
As an aside, the building regs are a great source in some areas like this. IMHO they're easy to read and a model of clarity.
I agree @mark-h The Building Regs are now very readable...
... although I do miss the sections of 'advisories' and illustrations of acceptable practices which used to be present.
There's an additional problem when selecting external pipe insulation because it has to be UV resistant of course.
The range of sizes available for installers to choose from is therefore reduced,
and especially so if they wish to use larger bore insulation around valve bodies.
Pipe Lagging offer a selection of 'solar' pipe insulation online, but it's expensive once you opt for sizes outside the common pipe diameters.
Another option is to swathe UV-resistant tape around the odd-sized sections and bends.
But my own experience with this approach is that the adhesive on the tape isn't good enough to hold firm around tight corners.
It needs supplementing with contact-adhesive at the edges.
There are also anti-UV paints which can be applied on top of existing insulation...
... provided it hasn't already been degraded of course!
Save energy... recycle electrons!
- 26 Forums
- 2,136 Topics
- 46.8 K Posts
- 34 Online
- 5,662 Members
Join Us!
Podcast Picks
Latest Posts
-
@majordennisbloodnok The drying out of air shouldn't ha...
By dgclimatecontrol , 7 minutes ago
-
RE: Powerwall 3 or Myenergi or something else?
They use the info from the heat pump which they obvious...
By JamesPa , 2 hours ago
-
RE: Does anyone have experience of a smart water meter?
Thanks, @technogeek. So far as I can make out, whilst...
By Majordennisbloodnok , 20 hours ago
-
RE: Mitsubishi PAR-WT60R-E Wireless Controller installation
@morgan They have been paired once but it was thought b...
By DavidAlgarve , 22 hours ago
-
RE: Isolating the system for a planned power cut
A great many ground-mounted local substation transforme...
By Transparent , 22 hours ago
-
@bontwoody From what I’ve learned the hard way: 1) T...
By DREI , 2 days ago
-
RE: Heat Pump Servicing & Maintenance – Good Value or Rip-Off?
Having bit the bullet and paid £250 for a service, our ...
By Old_Scientist , 2 days ago
-
New heat pump heating system underperforming in Italy... Advice needed!
hi all, first post! I've just renovated a house in sout...
By robinlawrie , 2 days ago
-
RE: Anyone still weathering it out with Agile?
I went to Agile when I had solar installed July last ye...
By NJT , 3 days ago
-
RE: Mitsu Wireless Controller and MelCloud
Well it has now become obvious that the installation of...
By DavidAlgarve , 3 days ago
-
RE: Say hello and introduce yourself
Whilst you're busy installing services (pipes and wires...
By Transparent , 4 days ago
-
RE: New Vaillant aroTherm Plus in black - When will it come to the UK?
@editor I know it was formally announced at Ish the oth...
By PatrickVito , 5 days ago
-
@moman0311 welcome to the forums. I've received your em...
By Mars , 5 days ago
-
RE: Thermostat for Ideal Logic Air with 3 zone support
No harm at all in plumbing it as 3 zones, I would have ...
By JamesPa , 6 days ago
-
RE: ASHP heat output monitoring
@carlo I see there is a discussion in Facebook user gro...
By Tim441 , 6 days ago
-
RE: Flexi-Orb Heat Pump Scheme: A Game-Changer for the UK's Heat Pump Industry
MCS have set a potential trap in the new version of MCS...
By JamesPa , 1 week ago
-
RE: Who has a V2G EV installation
General comment on battery care... I guess if ev is on ...
By Tim441 , 1 week ago
-
@old_scientist like for like comparisons are almost imp...
By Tim441 , 1 week ago
-
RE: Who's your electricity provider and what's your tariff?
@old_scientist There is an option in the Tesla app that...
By Toodles , 1 week ago
-
RE: Octopus Cosy & Octopus EV + bidirectional smart tariff, together. What, eh?
@old_scientist me too. Just installed my new heat pump ...
By Eliuccio , 1 week ago