Gone West

A central vacuum system was one of those things we saw when visiting a self build show. We quickly discounted it and now are very pleased as technology has moved on and a Dyson stick is all we need.

We had the asbestos removed professionally and the electricity disconnected, other than those we did everything ourselves. I detailed the process in my blog.

Not true. Wendy doesn't like islands in a kitchen so we designed a kitchen without one.

No, not to my eyes. If it's the actual room layout, then I prefer the first picture. It's very subjective, I don't like staircases in the living space and functionally it looks like there are potential thermal bridging issues with the roof windows in the second picture.

Welcome to the forum. We've just completed our first self build and am approaching seventy and we definitely won't be doing another one.

Good to hear from you again @SteamyTea, thought you had gone for good .

Would it be possible to fit something on the inside of the ventilation unit where the intake duct enters.

If there is a way to fit a fine insect screen, which is easily accessible for cleaning, it might help reduce the larger crud on the filter. There does seem to be a lot of what look like weed seeds trapped on the filter.

Do you know if you have insect screens in the air intake to the F7 filter.

I have a TF PH and I use electric towel rails in the bathrooms, supplemented with warm air heating from an EASHP through the ventilation system, to heat the house. If my house was at the higher end of PH heating requirement I would rather use skirting radiators than UFH.

Does your system give alerts at irregular intervals or do you set a date for the alert for example in 3 or 4 or 6 months time. My first filter change was at 3 months and since them I clean them at 3 months and change them at 6 months so I have set my alert to 3 months. My filters are G4 and F7 and I buy mine in bulk from Filtershop. I tried Jason Envirocare but they were only marginally cheaper than Total Home Environment. https://www.wtw-filtershop.nl/c-1862769/combi-185/

Yup, Wendy is happy that she knows how everything works. We have a straightforward heating, DHW, ventilation system with nothing bespoke. It was one of Wendy's must haves, agreed before we started on the build.

We didn't have a written contract with our scaffolders. We had a fixed charge open ended arrangement which turned out to be fifteen months for £2560 which included three alterations. This was back in 2010/2011 though.

Knauf Supafil Frame insulation is blown in behind a membrane. It's the system I would have used if not Icynene. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le1MDxtEej0

Yes we fitted one on our bath because it was in the regs. but the BCO wasn't interested.

IIRC it's 1.1kW for space heating when it's very cold outside, but it's not a large house. I don't know what I use for DHW.

Can't you get the prices off their website?

As others have said, go for the largest that will fit. I fitted a 600mm long by 250mm diameter attenuator as that was the longest I could squeeze in on the supply side and it's silent.

@Eileen An excellent blog, great photographs. I guess you are very proud.

If it's been working without serious problems for years I would keep it. I know it's not environmentally friendly but a lot cheaper. As Peter says just replace the pipes with plastic, fit a new inspection chamber and manhole covers then you could probably forget about it again.

Thirty odd years ago I had an 18" McCulloch and boy am I glad I don't have to cut wood anymore. I am so grateful I never injured myself.

Do you know if it is a true cess pit or septic tank and what happens to the stuff that drains out of it?

@Eileen It is stunning, well done.

Take a picture of the plaque and use it as your avatar .

Congratulations .