Posted by: @jamespa

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try asking for design details of any other consumer product and you may be disappointed!

The key difference with a heat pump compared to the vast majority of consumer products is that it is meant to be designed to match the property. In other words, all heat pump designs are, to a greater or lesser extent, bespoke. Then add in the track record of failed installations, and then there is a very good case for the consumer asking detailed questions before agreeing to a proposed design.

Doctors on the other hand should always be trusted, even the ones who do plumbing.   

Posted by: @jamespa

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@majordennisbloodnok is spot on with his aversion to 'trust me I'm a doctor', but try asking for design details of any other consumer product and you may be disappointed!

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The thing is that I don't believe we have to ask for design details of the product; merely what their design will mean in practice in that property. Heat Geek's "secret sauce" is not what flow temp they're going to design the whole system around at what outside air temperature; it's the algorithm they use to get to that conclusion. After all, the flow temperature will become pretty apparent as soon as the system is commissioned since if it's to benefit from a BUS grant the accompanying MCS documentation will reveal it anyway. Telling the customer (if the question is asked) what flow temperature they're going to be designing the system around isn't going to give away any trade secrets at all.

In my professional life, I design IT solutions to fit business processes. I have found over the years that if I include the people who'll use what I produce at all stages in the design, development, testing and implementation then by the time we're ready to go live they already have a sense of ownership and are already convinced that what's being delivered is what they want and need. There is no handover as such since they're already familiar with what's being delivered and there is no argument about "that's not what we asked for" since they've had ample opportunity to correct misunderstandings way before the system goes live. It's not quite the same with a heating system but I am certain that excluding the customer is a sure-fire way to maximise the chances of post-implementation complaints and associated repeat visits. 

@cathoderay I agree.

This is not only about the mass produced heat pump (which we have specs for) but a bespoke design for every individual property.

Also I had detailed heat losses with design flow temps, heat pump outputs etc from every installer except heat geek.

My heat geek installer sent theie own quote through Spruce where the info is clear about heat pump sizing, radiator sizing etc through Spruce.

Posted by: @cathoderay

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Doctors on the other hand should always be trusted, even the ones who do plumbing. 

...which, I'm reliably informed by one of them whose speciality it was, is doc-speak for heart surgery 😉.

And since heart systems have finer tolerances than heat systems, I'd have to agree; definitely worth trusting the doctors.

Posted by: @cathoderay

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In other words, all heat pump designs are, to a greater or lesser extent, bespoke. Then add in the track record of failed installations, and then there is a very good case for the consumer asking detailed questions before agreeing to a proposed design 

I agree, but many people won't/can't/can't be bothered.  For them the Heat Geek offer, assuming that the guarantee is, in practice, honoured, is distinct and adds value.