patp

Thanks all. We would leave it out and install at a later date but I think there might be problems in the future if we wanted to sell? Solicitor is bound to ask for a certificate Not planning to sell but you never know.

Well, I sent the BC an email and got a reply that instructed me that under no circumstances were we to install it ourselves! We must have a qualified installer to install and issue a certificate. Husband is a bit miffed and wants to abandon the project until build is finished and got the certificate. He could then do a post build install. Of course, if we sell we may have to supply a certificate?!

We bought a Heta wood burner second hand in excellent, unused condition. We now want to install it. Husband (heating engineer) has done this before but not under the watchful eye of Building Inspector. Is he allowed to install it and the flue etc or do we have to find a "qualified" person to do it?

Talking to the guys installing our drains and sewers we got on to discussing heat pumps. It then occurred to me that there was a long trench with, eventually, pipes full of warm water running from the new bungalow to the junction with the road. It is, in our case, a distance of about 50 or 60 metres. Would it be possible to use these sewer and drain pipe runs to heat underground heating pipes? Then I started to think about all the sewer pipes that crisscross our land that could be used as a source of heat. OH and I discussed turbines in the sewer system but decided that would be a step too far given all the stuff people flush down BUT what about a turbine on the "clean" side of sewage treatment plants, just where it enters the river/sea? Someone somewhere has thought about putting turbines into their incoming water supply apparently.

Is this "legal"? During one long phone call one of them did say to "get your plumber to access the water supply". Husband is the plumber but has been retired for many years. No water meters in his day. As above he is very law abiding so will not tamper with the water meter if it is forbidden.

They told us it would deliver a "trickle" until we are ready to go on the meter. Hubby has checked the valve and it has a blanking plug on it.

Yes, but husband is the most law abiding soul on the planet. He would not dream of "tapping in" to a supply unless it was legal to do so.

These utilities seriously need a kick up the backside! It is us who are financing their incompetence.

Surely it would be better to have a road closure running in parallel with another one? Not wait for a road to open and then close it again? I am sure a similar thing happened near us recently. Locals were furious that having just got the road open it gets closed again! We do not need the road to be closed or anything other than for them to turn on the valve or whatever it is they do.

A, builder, neighbour has just sent me this https://www.anglianwater.co.uk/siteassets/developers/temporary_building_supplies.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2ZzuZB2_7jAOZiKcmvtAeci4pWShcsc4_vioW7HSbtB0zBhFSX0k1PSRU Now I know the terminology I can quote it to them.

That is, roughly, the term I have used but the telephone operators keep saying that the whole project has to be completed before they will turn on any water other than the trickle that they have already supplied.

Thanks @Bonner. Do you remember the terminology used to get that supply installed? The people I talk to have no idea what I am talking about! I got put through to metering in the end which I am sure is not the right department.

It seems to be a standard practice. They give you a "trickle" to facilitate the build I presume?

No he is due next Thursday. We have had so much trouble with other utilities that I am trying to get ahead of the game as I don't want him to suck in his breath and walk away! The guy on the other end of the phone had never heard of such a thing

Is there a form of language that I need to learn to get Anglian Water to understand me? We want a supply of water to the new bungalow so that we can test the underfloor heating. They have supplied us with a "trickle" from a stop cock. I rang them and asked if we could have a proper supply and, after hours of discussion they said that our plumber could access the water supply pipe and create a "stand pipe". He (husband) has done this but a phone call to them to ask them to come out and turn the trickle into a decent flow so that we can fill the underfloor heating pipes throughout the bungalow. They do not seem to understand what it is that we want. All I keep getting told is that they will turn it on when every tap and toilet is fully installed and it is a sealed unit so that they can "test" it. I did, eventually, persuade them to send an engineer because we are moving the caravan to the site and it needs a water supply so that we can live in it. I don't want him to come and go away again because there was a mix up.

Welcome @Ric88. We are in the Breckland area and are nearing the end of our self build. We project manage ours and can confirm the stress of it all. Are you going to be living in a house while you build? I do know of a potential plot in this area. The owner is supposed to be building it himself but I know that he is extremely busy with his main business. He sold three other plots to self builders but retained this one to erect and sell on/rent out himself (not to live in as he has already done his). Not sure if he could be persuaded to sell it as a plot or not but I could enquire?

No reply to email so I phoned and spoke to a very nice Joseph Unlike us he did have somewhere to live but was very sympathetic. I told him that we are in our seventies and that Chris has been diagnosed with cancer. The house was sold and we were being forced to live in a caravan. He was very sympathetic and treated us an "emergency". An engineer was despatched the very next day but brought a single phase meter. He organised for a three phase meter to come the next day which it did and is all fitted and working! The electricians were very good and came the same day to finish off some bits and pieces so that we now have lights! Sockets also work but not the heat pump yet. That is Chris's job and he has been otherwise engaged lately.

I think that ASHP's should always be paired with Solar (or wind/water). I cannot understand the Government pushing ASHP's without subsidising solar panels alongside them.

UK Power Networks have done their bit and we have 3 phase live to the cabinet. I have emailed them as they ask you to do that rather than phone. If no reply then I will phone them.

Octopus have given us a date. It is a bit confusing as it came via a "welcome to Octopus" letter telling us about their charges but at the end it said the supply would start on 24th December. I assume this means that the meter will be installed that day or before? I hope they make some kind of appointment ( @Wumpus ? ) to fit the meter as we are not living on site now and should, really, be staying miles away at our daughter's for Christmas.

@Wumpus Did you, first have to open a supply account with them? That is what has happened today when I phoned them. For future reference - UK Power are here laying the connection from the pole to the cabinet. We mentioned the hassle of getting a meter installed and they commented that they think the fitting of meters will be something that they will do in future.

Thanks @Wumpus. I will give them a try!

UK Power has just laid the three phase cable to our box. I phoned around to get a meter for it. Started with Eon, our current supplier, to be told they do not do them any more! The helpful lady told me that most energy suppliers are the same. She had hear that Scottish Power and British Gas were the only ones continuing to supply meters! I phoned both. British Gas seem to have blocked the option for "meter supply" on their menu. Scottish Power tell me that it will take 10 days to process the application. I need to be aware that the workers have a two week holiday coming up and that they have a eight to ten week wait for supplying a 3 phase meter! We have to move out of our house as the buyers are threatening to pull out if they do not get in before Christmas. No power to the new bungalow so we will have to move into our fifth wheel caravan. We have the choice of going to a camp site or hiring a genny and staying on our own site. We could use the bungalow for a laundry while we stay in the "garden" aka building site. The genny needs to be up to running our 3 phase heat pump and looks it will cost about £175 per week! A campsite is about £150 and there are no laundry facilities. Any thoughts?

Our electrician has mentioned Social Energy as a company that, although not supplying electricity now, does supply batteries that are cheaper than Tesla and their export tariff is - up to 20p. It looks like they are staying in business for this side of things.

I have heard good things about Octopus customer service and, as an aging numpty, it might be important to me to have a supplier that answers the phone! ?