@transparent thank you for your help. When you say reference to this topic, are you referring to this thread on this forum or is it supposed to be a clickable link to another thread? Do you suggest me copying my emails to the installer on this thread?
the installer is coming on Monday to take a look at the system but this is forecast to be a much warmer day. The struggles we have had have been throughout this cold spell (when we need heating the most!) - my ideal outcome would be a full refund, compensation for the ridiculous expense on electricity and a installation to revert back to gas, possibly utilising the newly installed 3rd party cylinder
Soz... I was ambiguous. I meant that you should provide the URL to this topic you're now reading. You can obviously selectively copy particular comments if that helps you make a point.
I don't suggest that you copy here what you email to the installer. That correspondence should remain private, and you really don't want an installer who feels 'got at' if they'd be willing to get the system sorted!
Where we can help most is with technical issues. So, for example, when I mentioned the requirement for a condensate drain, that was intended for your level of understanding. If the installer was asking that question then I'd be able to go further and recommend the required bore of pipe and the precise insulation which should be covering it.
Here on the Forum, we're more interested in solutions than problems. We'd really like your installer to know that they're welcome here whilst we work together to get things right. 🙂
@hughf the immersion heater is connected to an iboost so isn’t linked with the melcloud
also forgot to mention the ASHP is facing a fence and is probably recirculating cold air which isn’t helping
According to the manufacturer's manual, there should be a distance of at least 300mm at the rear of the heat pump.
An easy way to check if your heat pump is creating a 'cold' well' is to measure the air temperature at the rear of the heat pump when it is running. Then measure the ambient air temperature somewhere else in your garden, but well away from your heat pump. If the temperature behind the heat pump is lower than the ambient temperature, then your heat pump is creating a 'cold well'.
@transparent thanks for clarifying. I really don’t see any alternative solution apart from a 14kw ashp, the problem with that is that it’s not suitable for that location. It’s already within 1m of the property and will probably cost more to run.
there is currently a condensate drain installed with lagging but it’s not working as it should for some reason.
@derek-m a bad design and install in that case! I’m lucky that we have had this cold spell within 3 weeks of install - do you know anything about consumer law? I just want them to rip this thing out and put back my old gas boiler! £850 in 2 weeks - total electric cost so far
I'm not an expert on consumer law, but I will give you what information I can.
You can try the route that Mars has suggested, via MCS, HIES etc.
Try Consumer Protection and Trading Standards.
Look on the installers website for mention of an insurance protection scheme.
If you paid by credit card you could try claiming back the payment. I have used this method when companies have failed to deliver goods in a timely manner or have been slow at making refunds.
As a last resort you may be able to take your installer to the small claims court.
@transparent thanks for clarifying. I really don’t see any alternative solution apart from a 14kw ashp, the problem with that is that it’s not suitable for that location. It’s already within 1m of the property and will probably cost more to run.
there is currently a condensate drain installed with lagging but it’s not working as it should for some reason.
For the time being I would suggest that you try to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Draft Proofing, Secondary Glazing and further insulation, anything that will reduce the rate of heat loss from your home.
@derek-m i will check and report back - the back page of the manual says it only needs 10cm at the back? See earlier post
Although that's the case, it's very liberally (unfairly) interpreted in this case since it's sheltered on three sides, but not in a way one of those pictures describes.
Are you able to change either of those fences to have slats with gaps in? That might help a little bit if you wanted or had to keep this model.
As soon as it gets warmer, you need to turn off any supplement immersion or space heating to lower costs. Also I recommend you check in your controller settings that the heat pump isn't constantly trying to keep your tank at like 60C. 45C once or a few times a day should be enough. That would both lower costs and give you more heating capacity.
You then might need to do some radiator balancing if some rooms seem to be struggling particularly and others are getting warm enough.
I empathise with just wanting to return it for a refund, and indeed I partly think you should do just that, but I think this installation could be salvageable to a certain extent.
@derek-m already put in top up insulation over 150mm and have double glazing. Few leaky places , namely bifold doors and French doors which a company are currently looking at
@derek-m you were right there is most definitely a cold well. Using a thermometer the ambient temp is 2.5c but behind the unit it’s hovering around 1c 😞
@derek-m you were right there is most definitely a cold well. Using a thermometer the ambient temp is 2.5c but behind the unit it’s hovering around 1c 😞
It would appear that your installer has failed to observe all the basic requirements when it comes to how an ASHP should be installed. Who installed your heat pump?
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