Thanks @editor and @derek-m   I have the uniSTOR 200lt tank and I think the pump is a Wilo Circulation pump? The noise is quite difficult to describe, I'm guessing I can't upload a vid? Reminds me of my hybrid vehicle going uphill? 😆 It's good to speak to someone with the same system to compare. So you think there may be air in the system still and that's why the UF is patchy?

@saz 

Hi Saz,

The fact that your radiators were not getting hot at the top was because they had air inside, which your installer will have removed by open the bleed valve at the top of each radiator. After bleeding the radiators your installer should have topped up your system with water.

A gurgling sound in a central heating system would normally be caused by trapped air moving around the system. Your installer should have made certain that all air had been removed and the system topped up before they left.

I am not an expert on UFH, and it depends on what you mean by 'patchy'. UFH pipes loop around the floor area to provide heating of the majority of the floor area. Dependent upon how well the heat energy is dissipated, the floor area directly above the pipe may be warmer than the floor area between the pipework. If you have a suitable thermometer, you could try measuring the temperature of the floor at different places and plotting the layout of the pipework. Obviously, if half the floor area is being heated but the other half is not, then there is a problem somewhere. You should therefore get your installer back since they have not carried out the commissioning of your system correctly.

There are quite large areas of floor that feel cold underfoot so I do suspect a problem. The system has replaced an old Dimplex ASHP and I don't remember cold patches. There's no gurgling sound though it's more like a constant whine but it's loud enough to disturb sleep when it comes on? I have setback temp of 19 degreeC at mo. I do think that UFH needs properly commissioning (they kindof rushed through it) so I will call them although they have been back and fore for over a month so I'm starting to get a bit tired of it all, but I guess just teething troubles?

@saz 

Hi Saz,

It is always difficult problem solving from afar.

So, if my understanding is correct, your UFH, radiators and pipework are not new, just your ASHP? It therefore sounds like your UFH is airlocked in places (there is air in the system that is preventing the water from flowing), or there are section valves that are not operating. Can you supply pictures of your equipment layout and details of the equipment manufacturer and type/model. Check that there are no manually operated valves that have been left closed.

As far as the whining sound is concerned, it could be your central heating pump or water being forced through restricted pipework. If you cannot upload a video to the forum, you could try sending it to my e-mail address which is :- derek_marsh_aicss@yahoo.com

This may interest some.  I’ve just had MMSP monitoring installed and although it’s not quite up and running yet, it is giving some data. This is the heating only energy consumption from my ASHP for 3 hours last night.  It starts at 6pm.  It’s about 10 C outside and the flow temp is about room temperature in the high teens. I manually switched the thermostat up at just before 6:30. It seems to increase energy use in steps until it gets to the flow temp it wants.  It then lets it drop a bit before slowly increasing. It then seems to find a level at which it can maintain flow temp. Sometime after 8, the thermostat stops calling for heat and the flow temp drifts down. 

I know the system is using input and output flows and outside temperature (it’s set on weather compensation) to do what it’s doing.  I assume the red line is return flow temp but I don’t know what the energy units are;  the data points are every minute so I think they might be kJ but I need to find out.  I know that the room temperatures are not being used for this as the 3rd party wireless thermostat does not communicate this back to the central ASHP controller; all it does is call for heat.  

The Ecodan is capable of using room temps to further modulate output.  I need to investigate this further but I would have to ditch the 3rd party thermostats and revert to/move the central controller (this is in cupboard with the HW tank) or use Mitsubishi wireless controllers.  Even without this, it can be seen modulating and fairly quickly settling down to a steady (ish) state.  This is as it was installed in April; I haven't changed any of the settings since then.

I'll report back again when it's all fully working; then I will have delivered energy and COP.  I may do some experiments in the meantime. 😮 

@kev-m Hi Kev,

The data looks quite interesting and is similar to what I would expect from a Proportional Action + Integral Action (PI) controller response.

I may be wrong, but I suspect the scaling for the outside and flow temperature traces is 0 to 100C and the energy trace may be 0 to 100% of nominal output heat energy.

It will be interesting to see how the flow temperature and energy consumption vary with changes in outside temperature.

Posted by: @derek-m

@kev-m Hi Kev,

The data looks quite interesting and is similar to what I would expect from a Proportional Action + Integral Action (PI) controller response.

I may be wrong, but I suspect the scaling for the outside and flow temperature traces is 0 to 100C and the energy trace may be 0 to 100% of nominal output heat energy.

It will be interesting to see how the flow temperature and energy consumption vary with changes in outside temperature.

I agree with the temps.  I don't know about the energy.  I thought it might be percentage but then I've seen it more than 100, up to 106 so far.  I thought it might be kilojoules delivered in each minute.  100kJ/minute = 1.67 kJ/second = 1.67kW.  That's in the right ballpark.  I'll find out though.

The flow temps definitely change with outside temp.  When it was about 15 C outside they were under 40, now they are creeping up to the low 40s.  This is a similar graph from earlier in the month. it's 13-14 outside and flow temps are all under 40.  

• My ASHP installation.

The original plan was to split the instal over two weeks due to commitments on the part of the installers. 21st & 22nd October and 28th & 29th October.  I received a call informing me they were experiencing supply issues for other works and literally begging me to take an earlier slot to help them out.  The promise of a Monday start and Friday of the same week completion and system commission.  Suited me for sure so confirmed to start on 11th October to complete on 15th October.

Works duly started on Monday as stated with three guys beavering away all day. HW cylinder in, immersion connected and ASHP sited and partially plumbed.  Tuesday two guys plumbing beavering away.  Nobody on site on Wednesday but they did warn me on Tuesday this would be the case.  Thursday and Friday (15th, the supposed finish date) only one guy installing and dry plumbing radiators.  Nowhere near completion and I’m informed nobody would be attending on the Monday.

Tuesday arrives and, again, only one plumber who goes about the fixing of radiators. The same applies on Wednesday when he informs me he is elsewhere on Thursday and will see me on Friday.  Friday without any warning from him personally or the company there is a no show.

So here we are on Monday at the start of week three and………. again no show and no communication.  I ‘phoned the company at 10AM to ask for information.  I was told they would look into it and get back to me.  Over an hour has passed without a call back.

The situation as it stands just now is two remaining radiators, whilst on the wall, have yet to be plumbed.  In addition, at survey, it was clear the bathroom couldn’t have a wet radiator so I was provided with a link to a nice traditional style, wall mounted electric one to replace the existing and told to buy it and they will install it.  To cut a long one short the plumber, although the rad’ is still lying on the floor of a spare bedroom, has unboxed it, installed the thermostat (prematurely) and managed to break the thermostat rendering it unusable.  In fairness he has accepted responsibility and assures me the company will address the issue.

To say that I’m frustrated is an understatement.  I shall update as and when I have an update from the installers.

To add to the above I had to make an emergency call to the company office at the end of day 1 to get somebody back asap.  Fortunately they hadn’t long since left and returned within half an hour. Luckily I had a nose around their work and found a considerable leak spraying under pressure from a soldered joint near the top of the HW cylinder.  It happens but that doesn’t stop it being annoying.  Neither is that one the only leak during this instal. 😖 

Just called the company back as they haven’t called me.  Apparently, I could smell BS on the phone!, they sent the installer to another job because “Mitsubishi have sent the wrong flow meters”.  I repeat I could smell the BS but in any event there was no thought to informing me of non attendance on Friday and today and a disregard of his promise to return my call.  So two days that I could have been elsewhere instead of waiting in for them.  Angry?  You bet I am.  

@Morgan, sorry to hear you're having these issues. As I said before, my installers (the same company for those who don't know) were in and out in two days from zero to a fully working system with 14 radiators.  No problems since either.  It sounds like they are having staffing/scheduling problems but that's for them to sort out. 

I hope you get it sorted;keep us updated.  Is the ASHP actually up and running or is it waiting for the final 2 rads to be fitted?

K

@kev-m waiting for the final two rads.