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Hello All, My wife an I have secured our ot of land and have attended a number of building shows and its a minefield of options. The key decisions we are looking at are 1. Building methods - looks like brick and block are a thing of the past. Should we look at ICF or timber frame with SIPPS?? 2. Our foundations could be complex due to soft soil, clay and tree roots. Is piling still top dog or has anyone used ESP foundations? 3. Is the air source heat pump good or not??? So many conflicting opinions. If not? What's the alternative?? Would appreciate some thoughts on the above? ISOTEX_brochure_V3.pdf EPS_brochure_V_2019.pdf

Has anyone got any experience on esp products please

Hi everyone I’d welcome your thoughts please, especially on heating. Wanted to reach out to you all as I’m finding it’s tough to get unbiased advice and personal experience. We’re just about to start a renovation and extension project to a bungalow. The existing building is a time capsule from 1979 with a stunning avocado bathroom suite so we need to do the works: heating, ventilation, electrics, skimming, new flooring etc. So we have a blank canvas. We’re trying to work out the classic air source heat pump vs gas, and UFH vs radiators conundrum. The existing property is 60m2 with a concrete floor (the very fashionable original self-adhesive tiles are below an equally fashionable retro carpet). Ceiling height is c.2.3m. We need to plasterboard the ceilings before skimming, so are losing a touch of height there. The extension will be 30m2. Attic insulation is going to be increased, there’s cavity wall insulation, and we’ll be putting in new windows. We’re looking at installing MVHR. The existing property’s radiators need replacing anyway and the pipes are all currently mounted on the walls, so if we went for rads here it would be a big job including all the pipework chased through the walls, etc. Even if we couldn’t afford a heat pump now, we’d want to make it as ‘heat pump ready’ for the future as possible by using low flow temp rads, etc. Because of the expense of this scenario, we wonder the actual cost difference with the alternative, which is a low-profile retrofit UFH system? I’ve been researching and awaiting quotes - I’ve heard back so far from Nu-Heat for their LowPro Max. I’m concerned with appropriateness for the existing building, cost, additional lost ceiling depth (although I’m pretty short!), and if there’s a building regs issue with presumably having no insulation with the original concrete floor. We’d like to do UFH in the 30m2 extension and have been quoted so far for Nu-Heat’s relevant system. The grant from April closes the financial gap between a heat pump and a new gas boiler, as if we went for old school gas there would be extra costs to replace the ancient combi as well as moving the gas supply (crazy money!), required to accommodate the new floor plan. So as there would be a relatively minor jump in cost to a heat pump, we’re wondering if the time is right now? And if so, how this would influence the choice of UFH vs rads in the existing part of the house? Would really appreciate your ideas, observations and experience. Big thanks

Hello, After 30 years of burning anthracite in an 1970s vintage central heating system we've decided to decarbonise. We already pay a small fortune to Octopus Energy for guaranteed renewably generated electricity as well as producing some Solar PV. We're looking at air source heat pumps. We're looking at the MCS route, accredited installer, EPC, Professional Heat Loss report & RHI. Signed on here to get unbiased advice. I don't trust the "free surveys" by salesmen. I think that the manufacturers that they recommend are probably the ones which give them the greatest mark-up. Will post in "other heating systems" with specific questions. The Grey Sage

Good Evening, I am building a new outbuilding in my back garden. I am trying to figure out what the best electric heating solution (CH + HW) would be and I would like to ask you for your opinions here. The outbuilding will contain an office, a gym and a small bathroom with a steam shower unit and a sink as per the plan below. It will be used throughout the year on a pretty much daily basis. I initially thought about using electric heating mats for my UFH and a small boiler for my hot water needs but now I think there may be a better, more cost effective solution. I have seen a number of threads talking about ASHP, Ampec flow boilers and Willis heaters. It made me think about fitting a wet underfloor heating system and using one of the solutions but honestly speaking I am not sure what would be best as my knowledge and experience is limited. I would be very grateful for any advice. Martin

Evening all. We have moved to the next stage of the now extended OVO sustainable heat trial (I.e. government funded heat pump trial), and have the preliminary system design for our year 2000 detached four bedroom in Kent 130sqm, triple glazing installed two weeks ago. The report shows calculated heat loss is c4.3kw. Don’t know how this compares to others but we have 300mm loft insulation and the triple glazing has significantly reduced air leakage and feels so much warmer than the battered twenty year old double which was replaced. The new doors In particular are much better. New ASHP system is a 7kw Daikin monoblock with a 250 litre Daikin cylinder. Four radiators are proposed to be replaced two of which are in the main bathroom and en suite - the former I am going to resist due to tiling upset. I raised concern with the heat pump firm, who appear to be very experienced with ASHP, over our downstairs rads being served by 10mm plastic microbore, but after the heat loss surveyor called into the office when on site they was happy that our reasonably modern home should cope. I however note that we have not had a buffer tank specified which is my main concern given reading on this forum. I am minded to go ahead without pushing the buffer tank issue, and if short cycling is a problem for the period of the one year trial potentially adding a buffer tank later. Is this a possibility or a complete headache if adding later? I assume it is a case of T ‘ing into the radiators circuit so can be “reasonably” simply added later. Can a buffer go in the loft above the cyclinder location? Assuming I build it into an insulated cupboard? As you can imagine the offer of a free heat pump system is very tempting even if it does mean there is the potential need for future upgrades to get the best out of it, hopefully not at excessive cost... thoughts appreciated

Very grateful for any advice. it’s a new build property with a vaillant air source heat pump. the domestic hot water is set to a temperature of 60 degrees for which the air source heat pump manages around 45 degrees and then an immersion heater kicks in to get this to around 60. My question is how frequently should the immersion be used to obtain the 60. is this best daily or less frequent. 45 degrees is more than adequate for showers etc but appreciate the bacteria issue of not heating to 60. I’m wondering if it is acceptable to heat the water to 45 degrees 6 days a week and then have the immersion on for day 7. Many thanks

Hi all, Hope you are all alright this crazy year. Very happy I've found this forum. After many years of saving, and looking for more flats than we would ever think we would see, my and my fiance have finally found a flat we could both agree on... Not the easiest of things! The flat we've bought is electric only and the heating is done by electric heaters. The hot water comes from an Elson Coral E which holds 150L. We are looking into putting in underfloor heating to replace the electric heaters. Do you know if an underfloor heating system could even be connected to the Elson Coral E? Since there is outdoor space we would like to, at a later stage, add an Air Source Heat Pump to the system. Is there anything we should consider when choosing the model, type, or brand of underfloor heating so it will integrate well with an ASHP? Any gotchas when it comes to this? Also, the interior space for a new cylinder is quite limited. I read on one ASHP fitters website that they require a full height cabinet. Do you think this could be an issue when converting to an ASHP and a suitable cylinder? These are the dimensions of the Elson Coral E, but as you can see on the picture, there is room for something taller. Width: 560mm Depth: 730mm Height: 820mm I've also attached a close up on the spec sticker of the Elson if that could be useful. Many thanks, Gustaf

Hi I've recently purchased a 1bed "colony" house in Edinburgh. For those unfamiliar with colony houses, these were homes built throughout Victorian Edinburgh and were designed as homes for the skilled working class, more details about them here if you are interested. Mine is a 1 bed ground floor, 45sqm altogether, with a small front and back garden. It's currently fitted with electric storage heating that I am hoping to remove and replace with a small air source heat pump and install underfloor heating throughout. I found this forum through my ASHP researching and have found it really useful so far. I also want to change the internal layout, so the largest rooms are for the kitchen and living room. I wish to move the bathroom to the opposite side of the house and turn the current kitchen (small, narrow) to a very small double bedroom! This requires a couple of walls knocking down and rebuilt. I won't have the keys to the property until late November so works can't start yet but I'm trying to do as much research before then. Thanks all, looking forward to asking lots of questions as I have them...!