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The good, the bad and the not that great – my heat pump installation

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Burtis
(@burtis)
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20240926 111607
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This is a bit of the outside unit not terrible was much worse before they came back to fix it as it was absolutely hideous. 

They had to do those top angles because of a joist in the floor where they drilled the holes but it makes it much worse and could have probably entered the building somewhere else


   
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Burtis
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I have basically reached the end of my friendliness and patients and will have to go through the relevant bodies to try and get this all sorted out to a decent standard of they don't reply to my new complaints letter.

I will update as time goes on to what happens and I won't name the company as I don't believe they are a intentionally bad company they just miss quoted this job and cut corners.

And are now refusing to do any work to remedy it as it will cost them money. 

We shall see

Thank you all for the information 


   
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Transparent
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If I were in your position @burtis my first communication would be with the Councillor(s) representing my ward for the LPA. This is usually a District or Borough Council.

That's the level of local government which has the legal obligation to impose Building Regulation standards.
Their Planning Department has senior planners who are trained and authorised to issue an Enforcement Notice for work which doesn't comply.

The Councillors are probably unaware that they have a mechanism in place which sends out Building Regulations Compliance Certificates for work which doesn't comply and may also not comply with Health and Safety legislation.

MCS has decided that installers for which it provides Accreditation may self-certify their own work.
Their strategy provides no source of revenue to LPAs with which to fund any level of inspection.

Councils should be objecting to what MCS has implemented without their consent.
There is a Local Government Association through whom they have a voice to make that complaint to Central Government.

 

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(@elton)
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A couple of questions:

1. Are you in a bungalow?

2. Are you sure the noise is from the ceiling and not from the outside unit vibrating and its mounting against the wall?

Your external unit is quite small.... but....

- it seems to be mounted RIGHT on the end of that bracket which is odd and will really lever its weight into the three tiny plastic nubs against the brick.

- Those nubs against brick have zero anti vibration properties. I have one on front of me now (from the CBR bracket) - they are hard plastic and will transfer 100% of vibration into the brick.

- the unit doesn't look like it is sitting on properly rated grommets (and I know the ones supplied with the CBR bracket are not properly rated AV grommets, they are simply hard, thin rubber washers. Again i'm looking at them in front of me now - they are next to useless.

Building regs part L and MCS require proper anti vibration mitigation and i'd say it doesn't have it. The CBR bracket is widely used, with those fittings. And it shouldn't be. Doesn't cause issues everywhere (and it might not be a/the issue in your case) but it simply doesn't provide adequate (and compliant) vibration mitigation for many models.

 


   
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Burtis
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@elton

You are correct in saying it has little to no anti vibration mounts just some small rubbers I will flag this with them also. 

It bracket wasn't my first choice the company said we are coming in 3 days have you made a concrete base. 

I said no I had no idea I had to sort they went with the wall mount as it was a quicker solution. 

And no not a Bungalow mid terrace house


   
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Burtis
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@transparent 

Thank you again I'm going through MCS which will pass on anything that isn't correct to the relevant body and building standards is one of them so we shall see what happens. 

I have to wait 14 days from today before i make a complaint but I have messaged the company with a formal complaint letter


   
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Mars
 Mars
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@burtis please let me know what transpires with MCS as I have a meeting with them in a few weeks time.

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Burtis
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@editor 

I will do no problem, depending on the response I get from the installer. 


   
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Transparent
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A few more points:

1: I'm pretty convinced that the vibration sounds are coming from the circulating pump in the attic.
It's not independently supported.
Vibration is transferred to the buffer tank cylinder.
That cylinder is sitting on the tie-beam across the ceiling joists.

It's effectively turned the ceiling into a drum! 😲 

 

2: As has been discussed elsewhere on this Forum, complaints to MCS can result in the Installer being sanctioned or struck off.

It's unlikely that your system gets fixed, however.

 

3: Referring to this photo:

image

a: I've placed an arrow pointing to a seam that doesn't appear to be sealed.
Using mastic makes it extremely difficult to seal around the back of a join.
The preferred method uses an insulation tape to overlap the join.

armaflex class 0 bk sm

 

b: That doesn't look like External (UV resistant) insulation to me.
It would normally have a smooth surface to aid run-off,
and will be marked as "UV-proof", "solar insulation" or a Product Code, usually printed on the surface.

External insulation will be closed-cell elastomeric construction.

SolarPipe
UV insulation

 

c: Those pipes should pass through the wall within an outer sleeve which carries the weight of the wall, freely allowing expansion/contraction.
They must also be insulated for the entire depth of the wall.

This post was modified 5 months ago by Transparent

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Burtis
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@transparent 

Thanks again. 

Yes I agree that the noise is being transferred to that tie beam I have put my ear to all the woodwork in the loft and you can hear it everywhere. 

I also believe that like the other guy said the anti vibration mounts on the wall bracket are not sufficient enough. 

The external insulation is good though it's called primary Pro and is UV rated and waterproof for outdoor use I have checked this 😅

It's all sealed but it's very wonky so looks bad but does actually keep out the moisture I think.


   
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Transparent
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OK @burtis - another photo

image

1: What do you know about the red & black single-insulated wires which feed through the 20mm corrugated conduit, and then exit just before they go through a rubber grommet?

2: How is the flexible pipe-insulation sealed as those pipes enter the rear of the heat exchanger unit?

 

image

3: The key to getting adequate water flow is to have adequately-sized pipe and avoid tight bends.
Fast changes of direction reduce the flow (Newton's 1st Law of Motion).
This looks suspiciously like two sharp right-angled bends in quick succession. 🤨 

This post was modified 5 months ago by Transparent

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Burtis
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@transparent 

1. I don't know anything about the electrical side of the system but It hads turned pink in the sun. 

2. The Flexi sections are taped one end then nothing on the other end

3. Again yes there are multiple bends and 90s before the pipes even enter the house same again on the return. 


   
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