@editor Thank you. Sound advice. One of my installers is on the Energy Saving Trust website as approved by them. I’ll check the insurance terms. The other is not on that website. The former is a small local company which I am more drawn to.  The latter is a large Scotland wide company.

@jennyross Hi

you are right it is an absolute minefield and a big step towards change.

Solum GB installed my heat pump, carried out a heat loss survey prior to installation, renewed the EPC as that has to be in date prior to the ASHP installation in order to help with your application for RHI. They made sure that I was aware that the ASHP must be maintained/serviced on an annual basis.

Solum Gb provided their own electrician, which thankfully avoided an issue that someone had on this forum when they brought in their own electricians.

Solum GB recommended the LG Therma V as it consistently works even in cold temperatures.

https://solumgb.co.uk/

It might be worth comparing Solum BG to an installer that you have in mind to see if their credentials are similar, likewise by all means give Solum GB a call Karolina the Office Manager, extremely knowledgeable and I am sure would be only to happy to help answers any queries in order to help you make an informed decision on an installer of your choice up in scotland.

Kind Regards

Bea1060

@bea1060 Thank you so much. That's all very helpful. 

You mention two issues which are causing me difficulties in terms of making a decision. In our case, the smaller local installer would sub-contract the electrical work. That is an issue for us following a fire which was caused by poor boiler installation (instructed by the previous occupiers). In trying to pin down who was responsible for the poor work the plumber blamed the electrician and the electrician blamed the plumber. 

The other issue is which ASHP? One installer told us that they would only use Grant - and gave all the reasons why; the other installer said they would only use Vaillant (the new Arotherm with R290 refrigerant) which they say is a game changer and they wouldn't trust Grant heat pumps for the same reasons the other installer wouldn't trust Vaillant. Of the other installers we have approached ASHPs recommended are: Daikin; Mitsubishi and Vaillant (again).  After-sales service is important too as you point out. I understand that Grant seem to have a good record of fixing issues post-installation (discussion elsewhere on this hub) although I am assuming that it would be the installer rather than Grant that would be the first port of call.

Recently I was invited, through a neighbourhood hub, to go and listen to the sound produced by a Vaillant at a property in a nearby town. I was suitable impressed by how quiet it was when running at full power. The installers were McInnes Group at Inverness. They had carried out the installation under the Government's Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project. The customers had therefore paid nothing for the installation but had brand new radiators throughout the house, new piping and ASHP installed under the project. This all replaced a gas boiler. At the time of writing the customers are very happy with their lot - as I think I would have been had I known about this project when it got off the ground last year.  🙂 

@jennyross I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. It is impossible to find comparisons of one ASHP against another. You can for cars, fridges or computer games. But not ASHPs. So my recommendation is to talk to as many installers as possible and challenge their views on why x make over y make. And you end up going with your view of the most competent installer and the ASHP s/he recommends. 
Grant never came onto my list. I looked at Nibe, Stiebel Eltron, LG, Samsung, Mitsubishi and Daikin. The first two were more expensive (£2k+) and said to offer better performance and reliability. But I couldn’t match the words to the data. It ended up between Mitsubishi (made in Scotland) and Daikin. I went with Daikin because my installer sang their support service was really good. But for me it was a fixed price 10 year service and warranty package that spoke volumes. 

@jennyross, it sounds like you have done your research.  We went with Mitsubishi because they are a mainstream supplier with a decent reputation and the supplier we liked recommended them.

When you say the the supplier will subcontract the electrics, what does that mean?  If it means that they will contract with an electrician and be totally responsible for their work as if they were their own employees then that's good.  If anything goes wrong the supplier sorts it out with the electrician, not you.   If it means that they introduce you to an electrician who is responsible to you then that's OK as long as you are happy project managing multiple suppliers including potentially resolving any disputes between them.  If it's some sort of vague in between arrangement then that's probably the worst of all. It sounds like you already know this and it's worth clarifying with any supplier what the arrangement is and getting it in writing.  If it were me I'd want to deal with one supplier only.  

@jennyross Hi Jenny thank you for your message. To be honest with the issue you highlighted before over the electrician sounds like the installer you chose should provide their own electrician. With regards ASHP choice there will always be for and against each model & make but chose what’s best for you and can reliably in low temperatures. 

Getting a bit annoyed by our proposed installer.  Have paid the initial deposit which was followed by the full tech' survey on 10-8-21 by Jason Phillips.  Jason is head honcho of J.L. Phillips Renewable Energy LTD ( https://jlphillips.co.uk/ ).  Since that date I seem unable to illicit any response from him or the company.    Now I'm aware, but have forgotten who, on here had the same company install their ASHP and reported that he was delighted and impressed.  If you're still here can you report back and tell me if this is simply a company trait and I needn't be concerned.

@Morgan, that's so frustrating. Are they MCS accredited? If yes, you could look at lodging a complaint with MCS.

@editor yes they’re MCS.

@morgan, it was me.  I can't complain about my original installation; it was all done on time and to budget and seems to work well. However.... They have installed part of an MMSP and I'm having trouble getting them to finish it. I haven't paid anything so I hold most of the cards but it's still frustrating. I do know through phone calls that their receptionist has left the company recently. 

I'm going to try again on Monday and if no joy I'll call in. They are not far from me.  I will let them know questions are being asked about them and report back here. 

@kev-m   I’m happy for you to name me if you end up going that route.  I do hope the company isn’t facing ‘issues’.

@morgan, I will.  I'll let you know.