@wesleyp1874 My apologies for gatecrashing your thread.

Could you let me know what your rates are on the NextPumped tariff? I have been trying, unsuccessfully, so far to get a quote for them for this tariff. I realise you are probably in a different part of the country so rates may be different but it would give an idea of how much the off-peaks and peak vary from the standard variable rate.

Admin: if my question isn't allowed in this thread, please delete my post.  Thank you.

@lizzie No problems lizzie, Peak is 36.62p/kwh, Off peak is 17.76p/kwh Super Off Peak is 13.63p/kwh.  North East here, hope that helps

Some good material to keep me occupied there thanks!  I don't see any form of filter fitted on my system!

Posted by: @wesleyp1874

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@lizzie No problems lizzie, Peak is 36.62p/kwh, Off peak is 17.76p/kwh Super Off Peak is 13.63p/kwh.  North East here, hope that helps

I can't add any technical advice but really hope your problems are resolved. We also had some installation issues and an installer who went out of business. We did get help from our manufacturer (Nibe) and a different installer. Reading threads on this forum helped us to understand how to run the system more efficiently and saved us around 1000 kwh per year and have a super warm house. Best wishes. Lizzie.

Posted by: @wesleyp1874

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Some good material to keep me occupied there thanks!  I don't see any form of filter fitted on my system!

Take it one step at a time.  If you can get the dhw and heating to the point where they are satisfactory using the pointers I have given that's a great start, ask for help if you need it and note down what you change so you can change it back if needed.

Once the system is performing it's function we can then see how to tackle the installation issues (and which ones to ignore); the filter is the one that concerns me most. 

Well I have levelled out all the thermostat settings to 21deg C apart from the peak time between 4 and 7pm, where i have set it at 19deg C.  All seems ok so far with very little change in daily electrical consumption.  As for EnergySmart..tried phoning them a few times on all the various numbers I have for them,  Straight to an engaged tone or mobile number not available.  No answer to an email sent last week either.  I think I had better get a price to get a filter fitted.

@wesleyp1874 if you are on Facebook there is a Grant unofficial page where you can get some great Grant Aerona 3 advice, I have the same unit that was installed with the non smart controls @allyfish has posted some great videos on there on how to use the controller.

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  No answer to an email sent last week either.  I think I had better get a price to get a filter fitted

Glad the heating is changed.  Monitor and tweak if necessary.

I think that getting a filter fitted would be wise TBH.  Take a look at the Grant manual in case it says anything specific about filters.  Obviously it needs to go in the return after all pipework has converged.  My valiant has 2 filters, the standard mag filter like the one grant illustrate and a separate fine mesh filter about 40cm dia and 50cm long  I know some heat pumps have the latter inside the casing, mine is external.  It's the latter that seems to get bunged up on my system.

Fitting filters is a standard plumber job because the same filters also appear on boilers for the exact same reason.  It needs to be accessible and have a shut off valve either side so you can clean it.

I will post some comments on the other faults you mention in the next couple of days.

Let us know how the heating goes with the new settings (although it's a bit late in season for definitive tests).  Are you going to do anything about the hot water or just leave as is?

Down the line once you are happy with the performance and have dealt with the filter it may well be possible to find a grant engineer to service it if you want.  They are much more likely to take on a system that the homeowner is happy with than one they are complaining about, for obvious reasons.

@grantmethestrength Thanks..Think I have found that forum and just requested to join it

@wesleyp1874 I promised a commentary on the non-functional problems and my view of their severity, so here goes

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When I tried to get a service done, some of the problems pointed out were an incorrect positioning of the heat pump, too close to an exterior wall,  It wasnt mounted on a solid surface, just on gravel.  Poor exterior insulation and none at all where pipes went through an exterior wall.  Incorrectly fitted controls.  No system filtration.  System running on microbore pipework when I was told originally it would be changed.  Radiators were changed but we are lucky to get to 30deg C radiator temp.  No proper commissioning or handover carried out.  We were never given an MCS Cert for the installation, I have just had to obtain that seperately. 

incorrect positioning of the heat pump, too close to an exterior wall

How far is it and how many sides are open.  This is fundamentally about getting sufficient air through to the fan.  Insufficient throughput will degrade performance, but fairly gracefully so if its only a bit under and there is good access for air on 3 sides it might not matter much.  The ehat pump should be connected on flexi pipes so it may be possible to edge it forward if its actually causing a problem (but see commentary below)

It wasnt mounted on a solid surface, just on gravel. 

The requirements are good drainage and a firm mounting, firm enough to stop it vibrating and also firm enough that its stable with time.  Often this is realised with two concrete blocks under the feet and gravel in between.  I can however imagine that gravel on a solid foundation would do.  My recommendation is to find out if its actually causing a problem and only do something if it is.  Two questions to ask:  (a) is it rocking/vibrating - if no then good and (b) is it level front to back (check with a spirit level)  This matters because if its out of level the fan is unbalanced putting additional wear on the bearings.

If both of these check out then I wouldn't worry excessively, I would just check the level thing occasionally

Poor exterior insulation and none at all where pipes went through an exterior wall.

Exterior insulation needs to be waterproof/closed cell and if it isnt you will lose a fair amount of heat if it gets waterlogged.  Its easily changed, esamples here https://midsummerwholesale.co.uk/buy/external-pipe-coverings, or you could try wrapping it but its quite difficult to do so without allowing water ingress.

There should indeed be insulation where pipes pass through an external wall and it should really be sleeved.  Bit of a pig to change, probably not worth the effort.

Incorrectly fitted controls. 

In a way I dont understand that comment if it came from a Grant engineer.  Grant R32 units come with (or at least came with) a bizarre add on control system designed to dumb down a perfectly good Chofu (japanese) heat pump, remove half its functionality, and make it look like a boiler.  Thats what has been fitted so a trained Grant engineer should recognise it!  It is silly, but its also what Grant themselves recommend(ed).   Dont worry about it, there are work arounds.

No system filtration.

We have discussed that

System running on microbore pipework when I was told originally it would be changed. 

As discussed if the system can be adjusted to heat your house correctly, which I think it very likely can (although we wont know for certain until next winter) not changing the microbore is for the better.  I suspect that the worst that will happen is that one or two rooms are a bit cool in which case we can consider options next winter.  I wouldn't worry too much about this

Radiators were changed but we are lucky to get to 30deg C radiator temp. 

As already discussed low is good provided the house is warm.  Expect radiators to feel luke warm at most for most of the time, never really hot, fairly warm when its really cold outside.  Thats weather compensation at work and, correctly adjusted, this will result in a much more comfortable house and lower running costs.

No proper commissioning or handover carried out. 

Bad practice, but I think you are now past that point and well on the way to fixing it.

We were never given an MCS Cert for the installation, I have just had to obtain that separately. 

You now have it

I hope that helps and hopefully its getting a bit less scary with time.  Feel free to ask further questions and please give us an update from time to time.