Can Screwfix tempt buyers

[Gone West]

In their latest catalogue through the door, it looks like they're hoping ASHPs become more popular. Don't know how their prices compare with other suppliers.

 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/lg-therma-v-r32-s-series-5kw-air-source-heat-pump-kit-150ltr/626kh

 

 

[ProDave]

"suitable for use in most homes" is a bold statement for a 5kW ASHP.

[SteamyTea]

Is it a good price?

 

At least with Screwfix they have a good returns policy.

 

[JohnMo]

Not too bad price wise, the kit is pretty much complete with everything you need, except pipe and cables.  They offer a good range of sizes of cylinder and ASHP.

[Gone West]

1 hour ago, SteamyTea said:

At least with Screwfix they have a good returns policy.

That's true normally, but this says they won't accept returns if the packaging has been opened.

[SteamyTea]

31 minutes ago, Gone West said:

packaging has been opened.

Do they sell a tape dispenser, think there is a Rymans near my Screwfix.

[Kelvin]

43 minutes ago, Gone West said:

That's true normally, but this says they won't accept returns if the packaging has been opened.

My local one is happy to take stuff even if I’ve opened it which surprised me. They also make me a cup if tea if I there when they open 😂 

[Beelbeebub]

I think, if you order online, you are covered by the distance selling regs. 14 day no quibble right to cancel and return even if packaging is opened (you do have to pay for carriage) 

 

You have the right to handle the goods as you would in a shop, though not to use them beyond what you would in a shop. 

 

So you could wear some shoes and walk around inside a bit, or put some gloves on. But you can't wear the clothes out for a night or use the gloves for some gardening. 

 

For a HP I would argue you can get it out of the box, look at the connectors, go through the manuals maybe offer it to it's location. 

 

But you can't actually start to fit it, fill it up or run it. 

 

If you do, your refund right woukd be based on it being faulty or not as described. 

 

 

Edited October 4, 2023 by Beelbeebub

[andyscotland]

Interesting that the listing mentions that their partner Unitherm Heating Systems can provide MCS certification for grants etc.

 

Looking at Unitherm's site it looks like that's a remote design & paperwork service based on you supplying photos of the install etc. No mention of the fee, or to what extent/how they require the person doing the work to demonstrate competence. But potentially with a friendly spark/plumber might provide a route to getting grants without being tied to having the whole thing done by an MCS installer...

[JamesPa]

9 hours ago, andyscotland said:

Interesting that the listing mentions that their partner Unitherm Heating Systems can provide MCS certification for grants etc.

 

Looking at Unitherm's site it looks like that's a remote design & paperwork service based on you supplying photos of the install etc. No mention of the fee, or to what extent/how they require the person doing the work to demonstrate competence. But potentially with a friendly spark/plumber might provide a route to getting grants without being tied to having the whole thing done by an MCS installer...

Something like this, where the design is done by someone who specialises in design and the plumbing/electrics are done your local tradesmen, is the way forward. Imho. 

 

We need to scale up rapidly to 1.4M heat pumps per year (that being the number of gas boiler retrofits each year in the UK).  The only workforce of sufficient scale is the workforce of plumbers and electricians we already have.

 

Of course we need to get MCS out of the loop too, at least in their current form, but the design element will inevitably remain.  The design people could also have specialist tools/software to do system sizing properly (ie by measurement) instead of the GIGO  pseudo-science we currently are forced to employ.

Edited October 8, 2023 by JamesPa

[DanDee]

2 hours ago, JamesPa said:

Something like this, where the design is done by someone who specialises in design and the plumbing/electrics are done your local tradesmen, is the way forward. Imho. 

 

We need to scale up rapidly to 1.4M heat pumps per year (that being the number of gas boiler retrofits each year in the UK).  The only workforce of sufficient scale is the workforce of plumbers and electricians we already have.

 

Of course we need to get MCS out of the loop too, at least in their current form, but the design element will inevitably remain.  The design people could also have specialist tools/software to do system sizing properly (ie by measurement) instead of the GIGO  pseudo-science we currently are forced to employ.

 

[TerryE]

13 hours ago, andyscotland said:

Interesting that the listing mentions that their partner Unitherm Heating Systems can provide MCS certification for grants etc.

 

Looking at Unitherm's site it looks like that's a remote design & paperwork service based on you supplying photos of the install etc. No mention of the fee, or to what extent/how they require the person doing the work to demonstrate competence. But potentially with a friendly spark/plumber might provide a route to getting grants without being tied to having the whole thing done by an MCS installer...

 

@andyscotland that's a really interesting link, so now bookmarked.  If we do decide to install an ASHP as per my recent How an MBC WarmSlab Has Actually Performed based on 6 Years Data post, we would go for a bufferless Panasonic which is well matched to our low energy house.  Most standard installers won't touch this, because they don't understand how passive-class houses work.  Our problem isn't complying with the BRegs re noise etc., it is getting MCS design sign-off, if we want to do this under "permitted development".  Thanks.

 

Edited October 8, 2023 by TerryE

[andyscotland]

@TerryE be interested to hear how you get on if you do explore it. ASHP is on my list for the future (just living in hope our existing gas back boiler will survive till the current projects on my list are complete & my wife has recovered enough to let me start a new one 🤣)

[sharpener]

I see Screwfix's latest mailshot is plugging "autobalancing" TRVs from Drayton (£34.99) and "self-balancing" TRVs from Danfoss (£24.99 inc lockshield).

 

They seem to have some kind of mechanical pre-settable constant flow controller element https://www.free-instruction-manuals.com/pdf/pa_2912219.pdf.

 

Anyone know how they work from a physics/engineering pov?

[JamesPa]

24 minutes ago, sharpener said:

I see Screwfix's latest mailshot is plugging "autobalancing" TRVs from Drayton (£34.99) and "self-balancing" TRVs from Danfoss (£24.99 inc lockshield).

 

They seem to have some kind of mechanical pre-settable constant flow controller element https://www.free-instruction-manuals.com/pdf/pa_2912219.pdf.

 

Anyone know how they work from a physics/engineering pov?

I can't recount it but you can sort of work it out from the cross section on on of the websites, I can't remember which one.  There are a variety of constant flow/constant pressure/pressure limiting plumbing devices working on similar principles, basically a bypass acting against a spring or similar, the compression on the spring adjusting the flow/pressure.

 

I can't quite convince myself these are what we need however as they depend on rads being correctly sized, which they certainly aren't.  I think heat geek are correct in their view that balancing for same room temperature is the right approach.