-rick-

and I'm not stopping... This is stuff you have actucally bought and checked is 13mm? I ask, because the photo shows a pipe with insulation that looks thinner than the inner diameter of the tube. 16mm tube, 12mm inner diameter. Edit: Basically the photo looks identical to the ones advertising pipes with 7mm

Agree, not how I look at it but I think most people think about touch points, so expensive fixtures and fittings that feel luxury (eg solid metal rather than plastic and name brand 'premium' appliances, etc.

My reading was lots of insulation on top of the duct, none below. I assume there would be free air in the duct also. Edit: and the MLCP stuff I was looking at was 7mm insulation. Not sure I saw any when I was looking with 13mm. Link please?

I think what they are getting at is that plastic pipes have some minimal insulative value compared to copper pipes. Nick was talking in another thread how condensation doesn't tend to form on uninsulated plastic pipes. But that by no means they are insulated. If you are putting these pipes on an uninsulated ground bearing slab then putting some decent insulation on them seems very sensible to me. Someone here warned me off the pre-insulated MLCP pipes as the insulation isn't very thick. So fine for some uses but not if you want a lot of insulation.

I read your post as suggesting a solution to @Dunc I can see that happening over a long period of time and I'd guess the glazing industry has data on this. But I very much doubt it's relevant on the timescales discussed in this thread.

That's not replacing the argon + seal. So even if it clears the view the window is still performing far worse than designed.

How many of you are living there now? Is this a case where they are designing to be plenty for a fully occupied house but most houses are occupied a fair bit below their theoretical maximum. I'd guess flats are often occupied much closer to their theorectical maximum given house sharing and property costs in cities. So maybe there have been some problems in those types of properties leading to a rethink.

As always depends on your situation. Short runs from the manifold? Especially if run with smaller diameter pipe (10mm copper, hep2o plastic, etc), don't need HRC. If you have long runs, especially of 15mm+ pipe then HRC may make sense. I can't find it right now but there was an online calculator/diagram that someone posted before that would neatly show how quickly a tap would take to warm up given length of pipe + pipe diameter. Maybe most of your sinks are close to the manifold so won't need HRC but one is a long way away and for that one you want a HRC (connected to PIR in the room so it only runs when someone is near the tap).

I don't know how your browse activity on here but if like me you use the activity view then switching it to the condensed version makes it a little better if you want to ignore things (or even just not see every update).

Congratulations. This has been a masterclass in successful self building by managing contractors! More important than that is the contractor selection, project management, etc, and I think it's you (with assist from Mrs P) that has done that so you can feel great satisfaction with how this project has gone. I'm guessing (maybe you said before) your background is in project management and if not it's an even greater achievement. When you have time and if you have the energy I and I'm sure many others on here would appreciate it if you could share as much as you can on your process for managing this project. What your average day looked like, tips and tricks, preparation, etc. I think this could be really useful for those of us with less project management experience!

£70 a month (£840 per year) no, as I've said before I think there is a decent improvement to be had for not ridiculous money. As I've said my mums uninsulated house with an inefficient gas setup and various other problems costs about £2000 per year to keep at around 20 during the day but they let it get cold overnight). I do think it's possible for zoot to be much more comfortable for an affordable amount extra per year, at least as a trial. If zoot has money to consider ripping up his concrete floor and replacing it he has the money to try this. Maybe he doesn't have it to run long term but having the information about what it takes to warm the house can direct him to the most cost effective improvements to lower those bills. Right now it's finger in the air guesswork. I've not given up yet but I do understand where you are coming from. I hope zoot will agree to try it for a period of time. If it works then we can have a conversation about whats next. But fundamentally zoot doesn't believe this stuff and words on a screen aren't going to change his mind. Being warm in his house might.

It's a lot of money to do that. Zoot hasn't been hugely clear on his financial constraints but given he got his heatpump installed through a low income support scheme I think it's reasonable to assume an AGA is off the table. Zoot did have a woodburner, that has also failed to heat his place. I tend to think the heatpump can work and would be cheaper to run than an aga but only if used in a very specific way and one that zoot is very resistant to doing.

It's been asked for repeatedly. There should be two of them. One from the original install and one from the monobloc replacement. Unfortunately a lot of things get missed in this thread. There is so much going on I can understand why.

Phew, far too much technical jargon there. I'm struggling to keep up! 😜

No sounds very much like your body reacting to the very bad environment of your cottage. Unless you weren't spending any time at all in the cottage (you say you were in and out) then it's likely your cottage. I wouldn't be surprised if your health is degraded even now living as you do. You've just got used to it. It's one of the reasons I'm putting so much effort into trying to persuade you to warm your place up. Having a warm home will extend your life and help you be happier. With your home as it is you are one unlucky infection away from ending up in hosptial or worse.