joe90

I have just found that Octopus supply lecky (in our area) on E7 and the day rate is cheaper than I am paying currently for single rate ( so I am changing and putting timers on the ASHP)

Our plant room is downstairs, it’s more like a plant cupboard in the cloakroom, with a washing machine etc (all the crap) and it’s right next to the ASHP on the outside so very short pipe runs. Glad we did it this way.

Found a short term solution (well so far!) set pressure at about .4bar and it only rises to roughly 2bar when running. Perhaps this is why it appeared to run ok up till now. I have ordered an expansion tank and will fit it this week.

Thanks guys, none of the plumbing schematics I had included an expansion vessel on the ASHP loop but they also did not include a buffer tank ?

We have an ASHP heating a buffer tank for UFH and via a diverter valve an unvented DHW tank, it’s all been working ok but recently I noticed the pressure in the ASHP pipe work dropped to zero, topped it up a few times but then disappears. I also noticed that when the ASHP was running the pressure rose. It’s 1bar normally. A plumber friend thinks that it’s rising to 3bar and the relief valve is blowing. He also noticed that we have no expansion tank on the ASHP loop, there is one on the cold onto the DHW tank and another on the UFH loop. The question is should I also put an expansion tank on the ASHP loop as well as the others?

Interesting thread, I am about to change supplier to Octopus (but will now look at bulb as well), Octopus will change my standard meter to E7 with no charge and their day rate is cheaper than my current single rate, also they offer E10 (but call it E7 but giveyou 10hours cheap rate???).

I am the same as @ProDave 5Kw ASHP fir all heating and DHW for a 240 sm house, I am going E7 to use lecky at night which will be enough to last the next day. My ASHP was brand new on Ebay for £850 delivered, fitted it myself with help from a plumber.

Yes I looked into this, we had four applications (2 free goes) and over2 years of grief and waiting. You can only claim compensation if the council are proved to have not followed protocol (although our appeal officer said the planners were not following their own policies!!!).

Our planning specified total height (they have a thing about roof heights round here) and when we altered the roof design slightly found ourselves about 150mm above where we wanted, builder pointed out reducing the roof slope by a couple of degrees got over this, also they pointed out the planners had no way of measuring the total finished height anyway (no gables) and he had never been questioned about finished roof height in all his years building around here ?

Well done @oldkettle, you’ve joined the club of those winning at appeal ?

@JSHarris I hope you will be invoicing S.A. for all your input on solving this issue ?

Yes VAT can be claimed back fir a new build but most of our large expenditure was zero rated as VAT because it was a new build, therefore you don’t have to stump up fir VAT then claim it back. Cash flow.?

I know, the cylinder you recommended for me is huge, with dual immersions, proper job?.

From a Luddite perspective, having to overspecify by a large margin or add your own timer is not the sort of answer you would expect from a company making what should be such a good product . I am glad I stuck with an unvented cylinder (but I have no PV.)

I agree, the product should be “fit for purpose” . I suppose @JSHarris sort of agreed to be a “tester” for them originally by giving feedback on performance but his original unit appears to have worked far better than the new one. I would be looking to get my money back if it were me (not to say the problem can’t be sorted out eventually).

My 240 m new build plus large workshop came in at £260 ish and I am yet to clain VAT back (lots of bills were zero VAT due to being a new build). I project managedand did lots of little things, Windows, kitchen, bathrooms etc. Don’t get me started on Architects!!!!, make yourselves a wish list, post the plans here and you will get loads of good advise then get an architectural technician (draughts person) to draw proper plans for planning and building control. This forum will be your biggest asset .

And a flock of geese, noisy little buggers and they cannot be bribed like a guard dog. we have not even installed a burglar alarm, my garage has a fake alarm box with flashing LED. Perhaps we are just lucky to have very little crime down here?.

I agree, I have bought loads of cheapies in the past but never looked back after buying dewalt.

Well being a Luddite I went with a hot water cylinder (recommended and purchased thro our friendly welsh plumber) probably because the sun amp was very new and I did not want to be a guienny pig!. I know @JSHarris had over heating probs from his cylinder but my missus is complaining our airing cupboard is not warm enough and frankly storing DHW at 47’ I can feel very little heat loss from it at all. P.S. we don’t have PV.

That seems very likely considering what you have said so far, ain’t hindsight a wonderful thing?

If you can cut it then you could see the amount of flow if any then make a judgement on where the blockage is, up or down.

I had a free go when I applied for planning for a loft conversion and was refused. I was told at the time that as long as the free go is broadly the same thing as the original then it counts. However I would never take a planners word for anything in the future having dealt with some total bar stewRds down my way, get in in writing first.

Our floor laid by our builder was egger board and glued only with d4 (no screws), the board is so waterproof it was laid as the walls got to first floor and the build continued in very wet weather with no protection. After the plastering the protective layer was peeled off and all “crap”came off with it and not damaged at all by the wet during the build.

I have used 40 odd tons of road plannings which I got near me for £4 per ton!I need another 20tons and guess what, they are surfacing the road outside our build and they will let me have them fir nothing if they can put some plant in my drive overnight ?(they have just had a load of plant nicked recently). They are great and if rollered well give a very solid base.

Bit Like @JSHarris I use a length of ply and some clamps. I have written all over it so I don’t mistake it fir an offcut?