Home Energy Scheme & Heating Control Upgrade..

libertas

Hello. I am posting this in the BER section as I would imagine many of you are involved with SEI on this scheme.

Have two queries which I hope someone can help me with.

1. According to the sei website, it only applies to houses built before 2006. I moved into my house in '06 - although it was finished before xmas '05 - wasnt finalised because of a dispute with the builder. How strictly controlled is this - do I still qualify? What sort of proof do they look for?
2. The option i'm interested in is the heating control upgrade only. Mine is a typical semiD with oil fired central heating, a firepac 70/90 standalone external burner and just the simple old analog timer.
Usually, would this upgrade to zone controlled system and a few TRV's be possible within the max. grant amount of €500?

Thanks in advance for any assistance anyone can provide..

Chimpster

I have no evidence of this but to me SEI will probably use the MPRN connection date to regulate the grant.

IF your house was connected to the ESB before Jan 2006 you should qualify.

Anybody have any more info on this?

SilverBER

I think you are spot on there, Chimpster, unless there is an installation date on the windows or something that you can hang onto for arguments sake. I'm not convinced on these upgrades, I doubt if they will improve anything really. I've been to a few houses and, especially on older people, most of them have a manual lever to change zones and they are really happy to stay with that system because of the complexity in setting the time controls. I think it would better behove the SEI to increase the grant for the boiler upgrade and reduce it for the heating controls.

libertas

Thanks folks. I think your right - its the MPRN. Reason I say that is becuase I have just seen an advert for a plumbing and heating suppliers who have a promotion on for this scheme - and they say to bring an ESB bill on the day.

@SilverBER: I think in my case I would get the benefit of it - provided zone control actually works well with an oil burner/rads setup in the first place(?). Reason being is that in the couple of months leading up to the winter and the couple of months coming out of it, its hard to guage when its heating is needed and when its not. Could be wasting a couple of hours worth each time before noticing.

Do you think €500 will cover it? Also, any thoughts on what sort of controls I should be insisting on - or are the all much of a muchness?

SilverBER

Depending on the controls we have fitted them under the HES scheme for around €600 as an average depending on the controls you want. Most people don't go for the before and after BER but I always suggest it because it is a good starting point and there is a grant available for it. The controls do work well with the oil burner, at least they have on any we have done so far but I'm still not convinced.

libertas

Should have a couple of prices next week. As wiring might be an issue, was wondering what people thought of wireless TRV's communicating back with one central controller. Are these types of systems proven, reliable and not so expensive?

libertas

Right. Heres the scenario. One stat to be installed in stud wall thats directly in front of hot press upstairs. One stat to be installed in same spot as where the analog timer is now and a cylinder stat to be installed.

I'm no sparks but as far as heating control upgrades go, this is as easy as it gets. No trvs required (there are already three zones - with upstairs on seperate valved circuit and downstairs on seperate valved circuit - and the water/cylinder regarded as a 3rd zone). Just need the stats installed - right next to existing wiring.

€

850

- and I'm nowhere near Dublin.

I rang a bunch of people - ended up with 3 who were 'to call monday'. Ended up with one who called Tuesday. Recession? What recession!

SilverBER

That's a rip off alright. I think it should be less than half that.

eoghan.geraghty

I wouldn't fit a stat on the stud wall in front of the hot press, the higher temperature in the hot press would affect the stat.