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JamesPa
 JamesPa
(@jamespa)
Illustrious Member Moderator
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 4475
29/06/2025 2:29 pm  

Posted by: @andycoo
↑

I’ll maybe create a separate post with all the info on our system and what ideas I have 🙂

Yes please do 

 

Posted by: @andycoo
↑

total heating season requirements based on four 1 tonne pallets of pellets and one of fuel logs (24000 kWh).

Suggesting a loss in the region of 9kW.  Very rough and ready but not 21kW.


4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.


   
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 Topher
(@topher)
Active Member Member
Joined: 8 months ago
Posts: 4
18/07/2025 2:57 pm  

@editor Hi everyone, this seems like a great resource. We are retrofitting an old concrete croft house on the Isle of Skye. Pulled the old oil system and currently insulating in preparation for ASHP and solar system, with a wood burner for really grim winter nights..

Trying to do as much as possible ourselves, and to understand what others are doing for us. 

Cheers, Topher



   
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JamesPa
 JamesPa
(@jamespa)
Illustrious Member Moderator
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 4475
18/07/2025 3:24 pm  

Welcome.  Do feel free to tell us about your project and ask any questions you have.


4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.


   
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Transparent
 Transparent
(@transparent)
Famed Member Moderator
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 3093
18/07/2025 3:36 pm  

Hi @topher - you might be interested to see this very recent discussion about the rules which apply to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme £7500 subsidy.

The wood burner should still be permitted, but your installer might not appreciate the finer points of the regulations...
... whereas you now will 😉 


Save energy... recycle electrons!


   
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 seatonian
(@seatonian)
New Member Member
Joined: 8 months ago
Posts: 4
21/07/2025 8:02 pm  

Hi,

New to renewables and the RHH forum!

As my handle may indicate, I'm located down in the South West in East Devon; just on the border of Dorset and Somerset is only a little further up the road.

Currently renovating our 1920's home so looking for lots of good info and advice.

From what I've seen so far, I've come to the right place!  😊 

 

ATB, seatonian



   
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Mars
 Mars
(@editor)
Illustrious Member Admin
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 4368
Topic starter 21/07/2025 8:28 pm  

@seatonian welcome to the forums…


Get a copy of The Ultimate Guide to Heat Pumps

Subscribe and follow our YouTube channel!


   
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Transparent
 Transparent
(@transparent)
Famed Member Moderator
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 3093
22/07/2025 9:14 am  

Hi @seatonian  - Yes, I know Seaton, and I have the National Grid maps for your area.

So if "renovating our 1920's home" includes changing the heating system and installing a heat-pump, then I have real data which can tell us what's possible.


Save energy... recycle electrons!


   
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 normpang
(@normpang)
New Member Member
Joined: 8 months ago
Posts: 2
29/07/2025 8:42 am  

morning all

Love listening to your podcast, @editor

I'm looking to replace a Vaillant Turbo Max Plus 837E, with a ASHP and possibly supplemented with solar panels. I've just bought a terraced house in North London.

The options seem overwhelming!

thanks,

Norm

 

 



   
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Mars
 Mars
(@editor)
Illustrious Member Admin
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 4368
Topic starter 29/07/2025 9:02 am  

@normpang welcome to the forums and we're really glad you enjoy our podcast and find it helpful. It can be overwhelming, and you're not alone, so when you're ready, start a new topic dedicated to your project, and let me know if you'd like me to connect you with any installers.


Get a copy of The Ultimate Guide to Heat Pumps

Subscribe and follow our YouTube channel!


   
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 normpang
(@normpang)
New Member Member
Joined: 8 months ago
Posts: 2
29/07/2025 9:05 am  

@editor fab - thanks Mars, and keep up the great work on your podcast!



   
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 jarlatheoin
(@jarlatheoin)
New Member Member
Joined: 7 months ago
Posts: 7
16/08/2025 4:17 pm  

Jarlath G currently running a self build 2000 sq ft and battling with what heating other renewable options to implement. Would be keen to talk to some people with experience of a self build in recent times to bounce some questions off. 

Some fantastic information uncovered in here already. 

Looking forward to learning from the hive mind 🙂 



   
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JamesPa
 JamesPa
(@jamespa)
Illustrious Member Moderator
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 4475
16/08/2025 5:51 pm  

Welcome to the forum, please feel free to ask any questions, there is no such thing as a 'stupid' question, we all started off life knowing nothing about anything!

I suggest you start by reading this introduction which explains some of the key characteristics of central heating systems with heat pumps.

I presume you have a SAP calculation of heat loss, but with a 200sq m new build you are probably looking at 5kW or less unless you are somewhere very cold.  This is the most important design factor.

You don't say whether you have ufh or rads.

Essentially you need a heat pump of the right capacity (not grossly oversized and of course not undersized) connected directly to a single heating zone (no buffer, llh or phe between heat pump and emitters), a diverter between heating and dhw, a UVC with a 3sq m coil and no (or almost no) external controls and in particular no 'smart' thermostats such as hive and the like. Then run on weather compensation alone or, if there is a good reason, add in a bit of room influence and/ or temperature limiting (but not controlling) in rooms subject to significant solar gain.

Personally I would either choose one of the heat pumps (mostly European branded - eg Vaillant, Ideal, possibly also nibe, viessmann and others) that have worked out a sensible interface to weather compensation and most importantly translate changes in target room temperature (eg for nighttime setback) into changes in flow temperature, or if you go for a model that doesn't have a sensible interface to WC (most of the far eastern brands and some European brands) fit either homely or havenwise in addition to provide one.

That's a vast amount packed into two paragraphs, I can unpack it and make it more specific if you tell us a bit more about the house, the rough location, what you have planned so far and also whether a grant is involved.

If you get it right with a sensible electric tariff you will end up with a system that is not only environmentally friendly, but also more comfortable in use and cheaper to run than any system your average builder will install.


This post was modified 7 months ago 4 times by JamesPa

4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.


   
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