[Sticky] Rate your air source heat pump installer

Our 14kw Mitsubishi Ecodan ASHP and 500l cylinder was installed by Artizan Heating/Lifestyle in 2019.

I dealt directly with the Owner Michael who did the installation himself along with one or two other staff members. They quoted £13,600 and that included removing our old oil boiler and oil tank. They also assisted with getting us setup for the RHI payments.

They also supplied and fitted our log burner at the same time.

We have only had one issue with the system a month or two after installation where it kept shutting down and giving an error code. Michael quickly came out and replaced the faulty part foc and we haven't had an issue since. 

I'd recommend Sugplumb of Aboyne Aberdeenshire who installed our Samsung Heat Pump and associated solar cylinder. they'ver always been very helpful with advice since the installation.

We have been very impressed with the level of ongoing support we have received from Global Energy Systems. They have always taken our comments onboard and have never been dismissive, and recently carried out work to make our system more efficient and effective. We've detailed the full scope of work here:

We've had a pretty good experience with Global Energy Systems when it comes to them trying to help us optimise our system and address potential faults, but I have to say that I have been very impressed with recent feedback from various users about the level of support they are getting from Grant and there are two examples right here on Renewable Heating Hub. 

First, Grant UK posted a large response to Mike's review and have been in touch to try and answer questions pertaining to his system: https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/grant-aerona-3

And they've been very helpful when it comes to Sue's Grant system: https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/the-importance-of-correctly-installing-an-air-source-heat-pump

This is more than I can say about several other brands.

I recommend Ecobubl. 

www.ecobubl.co.uk

They are based in Warminster, but came out of their area to Worcestershire to design and install my Daikin ASHP and Mixergy hot water tank. 

Technical director is Martin Perrin. He fitted my system, assisted by Emilie. They use a sub-contacting firm of electricians. Who were tidy and competent.

Check out their YouTube channel:

https://youtube.com/channel/UCGbH03BJRsnVyuhRfrOG2bA

They are MCS accredited and train other heating engineering to fit ASHPs. As well as supporting their MCS work. 

See my installation story on this forum “Worcestershire ASHP”

Solum GB - info@solumgb.com

I highly recommend Solum Gb for ASHP installers - professional, knowledgeable and extremely efficient.

Just had a whole new heating system and LG Therma V ASHP installed.

New radiators throughout the property.

noise wise the LG Therma V is extremely quiet.

I am an end of terrace house and the neighbour has been understanding throughout the whole installation.

Bea1060

@bea1060, welcome to the forums and thanks for sharing. Please keep us updated, and we will be interested to see how the pump performs over the coming winter.

What type of rads did the installers put in?

Hi @editor thank you for your message and welcome. I certainly will look forward to sharing how we are doing over the winter with our ASHP.

The whole heating system as in pipework and radiators were upgraded in my property and the radiators used were Ultraheat compact 4 which are along the similar design lines of the stelrad radiators. that @HomeFarm have had installed.

Applicable to Scotland only, I found that the Energy Saving Trust, which provides information and grants for renewables has a Find and Installer Tool. Anyone who has taken out a grant, must submit a review as a condition of the funding, so there's quite a good collection of reviews here! https://rif.est.org.uk/ This applies to any renewable heating options, not just ASHP. 

We are from Nottingham but moved to an old Cottage in flamborough, East riding of Yorkshire last July. We are midst a full renovation but the first things we did was total rewire and ASHP install. All new pipe work and tripple rads.

The install was delayed costing us an extra 2 weeks rent, no notice of delay until the day due to start. The plumbers who replaced the pipe work were shoddy, came through a ceiling cause several leaks broke a toilet amongst other shoddiness. The ASHP installer ripped off a panel on the pump, didn't tell us, didn't even attempt to cover it up just balanced it back in place. It rained, the rain got in and the system stopped working. FDG tried to blame us or our electrician.  Vaillant came out and replaced the cover and got it working again. the bloke from Vaillant was good. I asked him about our Aerotherm + he pointed out it wasnt a plus? We were quoted an invoiced for a plus. 

FDG gave us lots of incorrect info about the green grant, we have after months had this agreed but they still haven't given us our cash back.

when the temp dropped the electric tripped, again blamed our electrician who had installed following their guidance. Said the cable needed to be bigger. a leak also started when this happened and none of this has been rectified or have they responded to our requests to come and sort it.

end of tether with them now, trading standards will soon be involved. AVOID FDG 

@ceebee sorry to hear that you have been through a tough time with FDG. If they were an installer on the GHG list then I would definitely let the Green homes grant team know. Hopefully you took pictures of the incidents caused as FDG should have taken pictures once the installation was completed. Trading standards & if FDG are on google & Twitter give appropriate feedback to warn others. I hope things are better now. Kind regards Bea 1060

@bea1060 thank you for your response. We have several outstanding issues with them, contacting GHG team is a good idea, not one i had on my list. Thank you

CeeBee,

The important thing is to take photo's and keep a record of all correspondence.

I am assuming that they are MCS certified, though I could not see any obvious mention on their website. You should be able to raise your problems with MCS and also HIES to whom they do claim to be accredited according to their website.

You could also have a word with the journalist Anna Tims, who champions peoples complaints against disreputable companies.

Best of luck resolving your problems.

@derek-m Thank you very much that is helpful.

The first complaint I have lodged is on the Which? feedback forum, they have been very good and said they will make FDG aware of our complaint. They (FDG) have now emailed my partner to say they have a new complaints team(?!) who will now deal with this, so we will see what happens now before I make further complaints. Interestingly in his first response he is still saying its partly the fault of our electrician, it really isn't 🙁

I'll keep you updated.