Russdl

Is that a picture of an H-Block in the Maze Prison?

I got sent this picture and the only comment was: “Well, f*ck”

As we got over the crest, which it sounds like you are just about to do. The stress I felt was unbearable, as we started demolishing the bungalow to begin the build I wonder what on earth I was doing (I had zero build experience). The stress increased as it became apparent that I didn’t know so very many things. I kept a close eye on the budget until it became apparent that we were going to go over budget then I stopped watching so closely, I couldn’t turn the clock back and it had to get finished. Now, 3 years after moving in I can recall how bad I was feeling during the build, it was painful but the pain has gone. I’m chuffed to bits with the end product, survived the budget overspend and rue the numerous errors made to get here. We now get on with enjoying life in a low energy home. It was most definitely worth the not insignificant effort.

@PNAmble that’s understandable, it would be useful information when you’re not expecting a power outage.

Everything kept going as though nothing had happened, equally when the power was restored there was no indication that it had been restored except for looking at the app and seeing that grid electricity was back in the mix again.

We had a planned power outage today for about 5 hours, reasonably sunny so it had no effect on our day to day activities. When the ‘outage’ happened about 20 mins later than planned my good lady reported a reassuring ‘clunk’ from the Gateway and everything continued as normal. One thing I thought was odd was that I didn’t receive any notification on the GivEnergy app that we were disconnected from the mains which I thought would have happened. Does anyone know if the app should create an alert for a power cut? I can’t find anything in the settings.

Ours is 36 degrees and feels right. As @Originaltwist says, Sketchup is brilliant for this, you can endlessly play around until you’ve got what you like and what fits comfortably in the space available. I’ve probably got 50+ iterations of this staircase including 3d renders whilst I played around and finalised the design. I should have added, we have a second staircase going up to the loft, that one is 42 degrees (and not compliant due to a bit of a balls up by the architect - long story) anyway that staircase feels steep.

Agree with the above. Something does not sound right. We’re in Wiltshire, not that far from East Somerset. We had one meeting with a PHPP consultant who was based in West Wiltshire (even closer to East Somerset…) He did not know his arse from his elbow and made some very very basic mistakes in his first iteration of the PHPP. We quickly moved on and completed the PHPP ourselves. I hope you’re not using that individual.

@Bancroft All good points , I feel suitably humbled 😄. My son would love to have access to just such a facility whilst he gets up and running.

I would be inclined to agree, that sounds like a great idea. (apart from letting them use your tools 😱).

Following with interest. My son is looking for a workshop space to enable him to go it alone and start his own carpentry business. He’s struggling to find anywhere but a garage wasn’t on his shopping list so maybe that would be a good starting point.

It seems like what your saying is that he’s penetrated the membrane at several points and installed spacers to ensure debris and water is trapped at those points of penetration in order to guarantee that the roof fails sooner rather than later. Is that about right?

Agreed, but it seems that is the preference of some. I just wondered what effect it would have on the MVHR if you’re extracting more air than it’s supplying for a protracted period, sure no house is completely airtight so the leaks will balance any under pressure created which I suspect would be insignificant.

That’s a good point @Post and beam I wonder what the MVHR does when the extract air + cooking extraction is in excess of the supply air. It can’t know that you’re extracting more than it’s supplying can it?

Based on our experience that would be unnecessary. You could always retrofit later if you felt the need but I’d be surprised if you did.

Just the external blinds and I took their word for it, largely due to a healthy dose of naivety, but it all seems to have panned out ok. We went for the ‘premium solar - 80% UV block’. In the picture below the window on the left has the blind down, the sliding door on the right has the blind up.

Good point, the MVHR measures external temperature as well, so as you say the weather station is not required… …unless you’re a bit obsessed like me!

We have something else to add to the mix now. Our battery is in a small room in the warm roof alongside the MVHR and it warms that room up as it charges/discharges, quite significantly, what used to be the coldest room in the house is now the warmest and it seems to be working as a pre heater for the MVHR, currently it’s 20.3 degrees outside but the MVHR supply temperature is 21.8 degrees, the summer bypass is open. We haven’t had a long enough hot spell this year for the extra unwanted heat to cause any issue's and the previously described procedures keep everything hunky dory. I wonder what the effect will be in winter, a 1.5 degree increase in supply temperature just because the battery is doing its thing may be very welcome.

Recommend by most manufacturers I think.

As expected, other opinions did come along shortly. We are very happy with our recirculating downdraft hob in our airtight/well insulated house.

😱 Recirculate. Keep that warmth inside! (other opinions will be along shortly)

If we’re ‘boiling to reduce’ then a wooden spoon under the saucepan lid allows the steam to escape and helps to direct the steam towards the downdraught extractor. I suspect everyone on here who has a downdraft extractor has experienced an overhead extractor in the past, we certainly have and we would not go back to one.

They don’t do that. They do that. That doesn’t happen. They work well and you don’t headbutt them when you stir your broth.

I used Google as well, but didn’t quite define my search as well as you obviously did. Thanks also for the ‘how to search’ lesson - I shall endeavour to remember that👍🏻👍🏻

Indeed that is the one, why couldn’t I find it! Thanks 👍🏻