Hello! Like so many, I am looking to enter the minefield of finding a competent heat pump installer. I have booked Szymon from Urban Plumbers to undertake a survey alongside my energy supplier Octopus. I am told it is critical that the system is designed correctly at the beginning and that Szymon is one of the best. Can anyone confirm from their experience and recommend Urban Plumbers.

@mkz I havent used urban plumbers but Ive seen plenty of his youtube videos and from that I would conclude you are in safe hands 🙂

@mkz, I’ve chatted to Szymon a few times and he has a very pragmatic, sensible approach, and he has built a good reputation which is important, so from that perspective you’d be good hands, but with heat pumps there are no guarantees. 

It’s good you’re getting Octopus out too, and I’d also recommend getting a quote from OVO, which is also a useful sanity check on system sizing and cost: 

https://solar-and-heating.ovo.com/heat-pump-survey/estimate/select-address?utm_source=renewable_heating_hub&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=estimate_journey_hp&utm_id=renewable_heating_hub

@editor thank you for your suggestion, I immediately went onto your link and completed the initial details only to find OVO aren't installing in my area at the moment. I am in Buckinghamshire, do you have any other suggestions please?

@bontwoody Thank you! The horror stories are so scary it's almost putting me off making the change.

@mkz, yes I have other installers... can you please send me an email with your "requirements" which I will then use to connect you with the installers. Please send to editor@renewableheatinghub.co.uk

Hi Everyone,

Just starting to dip my toes into getting a heat pump, but I could use some advice. After retrofitting my house with EWI and triple glazing, I'm looking for a good installer that services the Bristol area.

I requested quotes from a couple of companies with high reviews, but they specified out some massive systems despite them being overkill for the loss I have been measuring (more than 2x), so I was somewhat put off as they obviously didn't even read my message or questions.

I was thinking of heatgeeks, but I'm not sure how else to source a competent installer and I'd like to have some options.

Anyone got any recommendations?

Thanks, and sorry if this breaks any rules.

Simon.

@simonb welcome to the forums. You’re doing the right thing by asking. I see you’re in Bristol. I’ll connect you tomorrow with two or three companies. Please send me an email with your postcode and details (as specified in the first post of this thread)

Sounds like you made a good call on the heat loss versus sizing.

Posted by: @simonb

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I requested quotes from a couple of companies with high reviews, but they specified out some massive systems despite them being overkill for the loss I have been measuring (more than 2x), so I was somewhat put off as they obviously didn't even read my message or questions.

Welcome to the forums, you are asking the right questions.

I had exactly the same experience, 2x+ oversizing (16kW 'surveyed' vs 7kW measured).  The things they got wrong were:

• ignoring fabric upgrades they couldn't see (even though I made a point of telling them about them); some installers simply refuse to consider any fabric upgrades that they cant verify.
• double counting room to room losses (so in the total they counted losses from rooms to other rooms, but didn't count gains by rooms from other rooms)
• overestimating ACH (2-3 vs 0.5-0.75)

I shopped around until I found a couple of installers who would take notice of the measurements and fabric upgrades, would quote a reasonable price, didn't want to fit an unnecessary buffer or do unnecessary pipework upgrades.

We are delighted with the system, it is by a very wide margin the most comfortable the house has ever been.  Last year it was about 20% cheaper to run than gas, this year it will be about the same because relative prices have shifted; next year it may revert to being cheaper given the changes in where levies are allocated from April.  Anyway its in the same range for a much more comfortable (and greener) experience.

@editor Thank you so much! Apologies if I've missed something. Where do I find your email? I checked your profile and can see all your socials but not your email address.

@simonb, please send to editor@renewableheatinghub.co.uk

Posted by: @jamespa

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I had exactly the same experience, 2x+ oversizing (16kW 'surveyed' vs 7kW measured).

I just don’t understand how this is still happening and this problem is not going away. Our local heating engineer (who will be working on our system soon) stopped by for a quick chat and coffee yesterday.

He’s just won a new ground source heat pump project on a large new build nearing completion, 450sqm with a heat loss around 13. The homeowner, he says, is disengaged and not asking any questions, and the proposal they nearly accepted was for a cascade system with 2 x 12kW units.