@rob_cirrus_energy Thanks for so much info. although much of it was beyond me.

I stopped the system working by reducing the temp. on small white portable thing, ESi on front, to 5C. This is the only thermostat I can find apart from radbots.

About the water - it is untreated well water so perhaps some contamination. Not happy about relatively low temp., old range used to boil it! Also ridiculously high pressure from hot water taps, splatters everywhere but cold water pressure reduced, washing machine no longer functions, the error is inadequate water supply.

It is so good to hear other views on the matter.

Posted by: @dwynwen

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@jamespa Thanks for reply, didn't know what to expect.

I did want to warn about Eco4 but also accept that I should have asked a lot more questions.

However, it is the ASHP system that worries me, scares me, so afraid of possible electricity costs.

All I know is that it is a Samsung split system, no idea about output.

Radiators fitted with what I assume are TRVs - labelled radbot1.

There is a large cylinder, Kodiak made by Joule, a small illuminated panel on the front reading 

set 50.0, current 40.6. No idea what this means, be pleased if you could tell me.

Kodiak was installed because water supply is untreated from a well. C rated, 78 w, 189 L.

House was insulated in December with ECO4 scheme.

The house is single room width, all rooms in a line with a lean-to covered by a cat slide roof, no previous central heating, ancient solid fuel range  and wood burner only.

Don't know what I am doing wrong. One day radiators are warm, next day cold although flame icon shows on gadget and I can hear it running. 

Be grateful for any info., thanks.

 

Ok see my answer above re the readings.

A heat pump is in terms of its function just like a boiler.  It heats water which circulates in your radiators to heat you room, or through your hot water tank to make hot water.  However it has the magic property that for every unit of electricity you pay for and put in, you get 3-4 units of heat out.  This marvel is achieved by extracting heat from the outside air (even when it's cold), which is why the air coming out the front of the outside unit is cold.

However it needs to be operated very differently to a boiler if it to work efficiently (or at all).  Fundamentally it needs to be on most of the time with all or most of the radiators emitting heat and the temperature of the water circulating in the system as low as it can be, consistent with heating your house sufficiently, typically in the region of 45C-35C.  This does mean that radiators will not necessarily feel particularly warm, especially if its mild outside.  That doesn't mean they aren't heating the house, so long as they are warmer than the house they will still heat it up.  If the house is warm don't worry about the radiators, that's just the system operating as it should!

That said the radbots (and any controls external to the unit are likely to cripple efficency (thus increasing running cost, perhaps very significantly) and can even stop it working properly, particularly when the temperature is two or three degrees either side of zero.  Ironically they probably also make it less comfortable.  The radbots in particular are a red flag.

If you want to pursue this further you have two principal options

1) seek advice here on (a) how to fix any specific problems (apart from general concerns are there specific problems you have) and (b) how to optimise the system for best comfort and cost.

2) complain to the installer or whoever administered the grant about any specific problems and lack of handover information.

It's your choice which you do.  The first will likely ultimately give you a much better understanding of the system, but will take at least 2 and maybe 4 weeks.  At times it might be slightly scary if you need to change any 'installer level' settings.

 The second won't improve your understanding of the system and may draw a blank in terms of response, but you shouldn't have any scary moments (instead you will likely get some frustrating ones).

If you do want advice here then please post

Description of any specific problems you gave

Photos of the internal and external installation including any controls (whether portable or fixed)

A description of the occupancy pattern of the house and how you previously heated it in terms of timings etc

A photo of the front page of any instructions or other information you were left with.

Sorry to ask for this data but it's really difficult to make tailored suggestions without information about the system and how you use it/ previously heated.

Also please read this post https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/forums/postid/40413

Much of what is said will also apply you so it's worth starting to understand it.

I hope that helps and I understand fully if you prefer to follow (2) above rather than seeking advice here.

Posted by: @dwynwen

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@rob_cirrus_energy Thanks for so much info. although much of it was beyond me.

I stopped the system working by reducing the temp. on small white portable thing, ESi on front, to 5C. This is the only thermostat I can find apart from radbots.

About the water - it is untreated well water so perhaps some contamination. Not happy about relatively low temp., old range used to boil it! Also ridiculously high pressure from hot water taps, splatters everywhere but cold water pressure reduced, washing machine no longer functions, the error is inadequate water supply.

It is so good to hear other views on the matter.

 

 

 

@rob_cirrus_energy has given some excellent advice albeit for a different system.  The same principles will apply to you but the specifics will be different.  It's important however to make changes in a controlled way and several have to be combined to get the right result.  See a later post for some info needed to advise further.

Re the tap pressures these are, or should be, adjustable.  The washing machine being too low is a bit of a mystery, although I can think of at least one plausible explanation.  Without seeing it it's difficult to describe the way to fix, could you get your installer back to fix these specific faults?

@jaynieq Hello. This is the first time I have ever commented online. I don't usually  "do" social media but I was so upset by my ignorance and my failure to stand up to a bully.

I rarely succumb to doom and gloom, quite practical usually. However, when I agreed to Eco4 I had just been discharged from hospital with a confirmed diagnosis that I had a chronic condition, probably a feeble excuse.

When the scheme was explained to me I wasn't really concentrating, genuinely believed insulation was going on the outside of the house so why were they  telling me all I had to do was decorating when job finished. Why would I need to? I had watched a house being wrapped up so thought that would happen here. It went downhill from there, my fault, I should have asked more questions. It didn't even register that I hadn't  received a contract or a work schedule.

Waiting to see what remedial work will be done, will keep you posted.

@editor thank you so much. 
When I started this thread I was very careful not to appear ungrateful for what I’d been awarded. I’m aware that many on this forum will have invested heavily in the new technology. And many are literally putting their cash where their mouth is… to reduce carbon footprint, whatever the financial cost. For that reason I didn’t say too much about the awful experience that was the installation process. I can completely agree with @dwynwen and share much of their sadness and frustration. 

Your plan to start separate thread on the Eco4 process will be very much welcomed!

@jamespa Thanks so much.

At present I am still very bewildered by it all, not had central heating before.

And confused. Remember reading somewhere that TRVs were required by regulations. Don't have the confidence or knowledge to confront installers so will return for tuition and more advice. 

@dwynwen I completely mirror your experience. 
In my mind, because I felt my ignorance of the technology prevented me from asking intelligent questions, and my medical condition sapping my physical and emotional strength, I went into ‘little woman mode’ and watched the whole thing fall down around my ears. I was trusting the ‘professionals’ to do the job I was promised - a mistake I will never repeat. 
Take heart that there are some wonderful souls here who really want to help. I’m sure that with their help, we can learn and get to grips with this. 

Posted by: @dwynwen

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. Remember reading somewhere that TRVs were required by regulations

They are, unless to fit them would make the system less efficient/effective.  Unfortunately installers love to fit them even when the latter applies.

Dont worry, you can put the heads on Ebay if you succeed in making  them redundant.

For what it's worth about 15 percent of my rads are on operational trvs (for specific reasons), the rest have trvs but they are turned up to max and the heads unscrewed almost completely so there is no chance they do anything.

@jamespa What is a Vaillant arotherm? Where do I find it? There is a large cylinder labelled Kodiak (which I thought was a bear) and a smaller unit with a screen made by Joule.

Will start experimenting tomorrow morning with portable thermostat settings.

@rob_cirrus_energy thank you so much.

I’ve been out of action for a week but am back on track now and will start the week by removing the dreaded rad bots! 

Posted by: @dwynwen

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@jamespa What is a Vaillant arotherm? Where do I find it? There is a large cylinder labelled Kodiak (which I thought was a bear) and a smaller unit with a screen made by Joule.

Will start experimenting tomorrow morning with portable thermostat settings.

You don't have an arotherm (Vaillant is another make of heat pump), you have a Samsung, or that's what you told us.  Different beast, same principles.

Turning up the portable thermostat alone probably won't help, your house will get too hot.  You need to read my earlier post and respond with some more data before you do anything in resp9nse to my suggestions (you are of course free to do what you like off your own bat !).   Sorry but this is a process and doing only a part of it may make things worse.

@jaynieq Thanks for that, thought I was becoming a  serial complainer or finding fault for the sake of it.   A so-called friend said I should be grateful as it was "free" - they also said most of it would be unacceptable in their house! Strange how you begin to doubt yourself when stressed and feel out of your depth.

There is so much I would like to say, how bad I felt when things were unnecessarily destroyed or damaged, so little respect shown for my home. It wasn't posh but it was OK.

Supposed to be someone coming tomorrow from installers, wonder what they will say?