I can't help with your principal question but as a matter of curiosity do they have a reason to suspect a problem.

Posted by: @stuchi

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They haven't got access to their heat loss survey, so i don't know if they would a new one as the HP was installed as part of a large extension being added, so any H/L calculations was done at the design stage.

Better if possible to get real data on delivered heat (and thus loss) loss from the heat pump!  That's real data rather than supposition.

@jamespa yes it was costing them a lot to run in the last few years and basic stuff like using the HP to heat the hot water is not being done (instead it's done by immersion). They don't really know how to control it, and it's certainly not as easy as my Vaillant Arotherm HP.

They might need a new HL survey done if it assists changes that need to be made..... but that's really if the engineer who attends needs it to identify an underlying issue. if they can come and either confirm it's basically setup correctly, or can make adjustments to make it run more efficiently from the real-world data in the system that would be best.

In fairness all heating has cost a lot to run in recent years because global energy prices have gone up a lot, UK houses are, for the most part, poorly built because of short-termism and, until the UK insulates itself from most of the rest of the world by converting to renewables (and insulates its houses properly!), there is nothing at all we can do about that.

That said heating dhw on the immersion is crazy.  I had a bath yesterday in the knowledge that it was costing me just 3p/kWh to heat the water (8p nighttime tarrif divided by say 2.5 for COP), as opposed to 31p/kWh had I been heating it on an immersion at a random time of day.   For us it doesnt make so much difference because our DHW use is small, but I am aware that some households' DHW use is rather larger.

It does sound like some very basic adjustments could be made to improve matters, possibly quite significantly.  Hopefully someone will come forward with a recommendation.

If not is there any chance you can persuade your friend to share details of their system and their house here?  If you can I have no doubt that the collective intelligence will be helpful, probably more helpful than some so called experts - which is absolutely not to negate many people in the industry who do know their game and are good at it.  If possible its far better that people understand their own system than always having to rely on others who m ay not be available - its better to tech people to fish than it is to give them fish! 

Posted by: @stuchi

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Hi All,

a friend had a Nibe F2040-12 12Kw heatpump installed at their property about 7 years ago and are looking to have someone come in and look at it's setup and do a service on the unit (other than their installer).

They have existing solar and just had a 20Kw battery installed, and are looking for someone to check over the HP and hot water system, so that it's setup and working as efficiently as possible for the house (and if any other changes need to be possibly made).

They haven't got access to their heat loss survey, so i don't know if they would a new one as the HP was installed as part of a large extension being added, so any H/L calculations was done at the design stage.

 

Thanks in advance,

Regards, Stu......

Have you looked at the Nibe website? They list their approved installers.

https://www.nibe.eu/en-gb/homeowners/help-with-my-heat-pump/approved-repair-and-maintenance-partners

If their original installer is listed, then there are alternatives in Cambridgeshire. 

Running the system on weather compensation and keeping it running at the lowest flow temperatures to heat the house is the most efficient way. After our initial year of running our Nibe F2040-8 a bit like a boiler and changing to letting weather compensation do its thing we saved over 1000kwh. 

Do they have a user manual? It can be downloaded from here: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/3323373/Nibe-Smo-20.html

Hope this helps. 

@lizzie 

Thanks for this, had thought about the Nibe website, but wanted to see if anyone had recommendations first b4 defaulting back to that.

The 'think' it's setup for weather com, but not sure as hasn't got that info, or know how to get it from the control systems. If it was a Vaillant then i could have a look, but it's a bit better having a professional that knows the Nibe systems rather than me tinkering with it 😉.

Cheers 😀 

Sorry, I can't give any recommendations as we're in South-West Scotland! Our installer was initially good and helpful but his company folded and we now have to rely on a company 40 miles away (for which we pay mileage on the round trip).

I have just looked at the manual I gave a link too and I don't think it will be of help as it is different from ours which is of similar vintage to your friends, so I'm assuming it is for a more up to date control panel.

The SMO 20's menus are not exactly intuitive and it's difficult enough learning your own system without tackling someone else's.

I hope your friends can find a friendly, competent, NIBE knowledgeable heating engineer.

Posted by: @lizzie

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I hope your friends can find a friendly, competent, NIBE knowledgeable heating engineer.

If they can't don't give up.

Heat pumps are, in reality, all very similar so second option is to find a heat pump engineer who isn't a nibe specialist but has sufficient understanding to carry across.  The guy who did mine will repair and look at all sorts of makes of heat pumps.  Wrong location but he won't be unique.