Plumber - What to ask?

Quazzie

I'm meeting my plumber this evening, and going through the system I have chosen.
So far my the highlights of what he has quoted for are:
Supply and installation of Geo-thermal heat pump.
UFH upstairs and downstairs. Approx 265SqM
Pressurised system.
usual 1st and 2nd fix.
300L tank


Is there any particulars I should be asking about or anything I should add to that list. I'm always of the opinion that I should pay a bit extra now when its easier to install than have to change things later on.

I'm clueless when it comes to plumbing so would welcome any feedback.

So far he has quoted me €21k + VAT, for all named above with me supply all fittings separate. Does this seem reasonable.

Leadership

I take it the heat pump is not ground source but an air source.

The price looks good, as a guide I was quoted between €5k > €9k for each floor for UFH alone. The air source H/P was around €8k with €3k for fitting.

EDIT: > Just seen its Geo, so yes the price looks Good

Quazzie

Leadership wrote: »

I take it the heat pump is not ground source but an air source.

The price looks good, as a guide I was quoted between €5k > €9k for each floor for UFH alone. The air source H/P was around €8k with €3k for fitting.

EDIT: > Just seen its Geo, so yes the price looks Good

Sorry I should add it is a ground source heat pump.

mrgaa1

Ask your plumber has he installed a similar setup for someone else? If he has ask him can he go and see it working as you want to know for yourself. Then when you are there you can see the worksmanship, ask the usual questions - reliability, any problems, after care - etc....
Are you grant aided by SEI? If so check the sei website for further queries

Quazzie

mrgaa1 wrote: »

Ask your plumber has he installed a similar setup for someone else? If he has ask him can he go and see it working as you want to know for yourself. Then when you are there you can see the worksmanship, ask the usual questions - reliability, any problems, after care - etc....
Are you grant aided by SEI? If so check the sei website for further queries

I've seen the system in the guy who is selling the systems house. My boss has it, my father has it installed, and my sister has recently installed it. All reckon its the best system out there.

I'm more interested along the lines of types of piping, type of tank, etc. What are the best spec to ask for? I really am clueless and have done my research on the pump and on the plumbing firm and am happy with their reliability and workmanship. What I don't know is the specifics of what type of tank to install.

sinnerboy

COP of heat pump - cert for
How did he calculate heat load
Are collector loops in price - how extensive will the dig for same be
Check - are these loops kept clear of septic tank perc pipes
How is heating controlled - stats in each room ?
How is DHW provided . What affect on COP ?
Check DHW cylinder stat is included

All soils and wastes included ?
Fitting of sanitary fittings ( which I assume - you buy ) included
Plumbing to kitchen fittings ( have you selected these yet ? )
Plumbing of consumer items (dishwasher / washing machine )

Quazzie

sinnerboy wrote: »

COP of heat pump - cert for
How did he calculate heat load
Are collector loops in price - how extensive will the dig for same be
Check - are these loops kept clear of septic tank perc pipes
How is heating controlled - stats in each room ?
How is DHW provided . What affect on COP ?
Check DHW cylinder stat is included

All soils and wastes included ?
Fitting of sanitary fittings ( which I assume - you buy ) included
Plumbing to kitchen fittings ( have you selected these yet ? )
Plumbing of consumer items (dishwasher / washing machine )

lol. I read the reply for this on my email without seeing who wrote it, and instantly knew it was you.

Great advice and exactly what I was looking for. Thanks.

Carlow52

Just wondering what other heat source you will have fro the HW and is that included or is the Geo going to do it all.

The answer will influence the choice of tank: u say 300L but how many coils and what material: copper/SS/??.

Also make sure the in tank coil capacities match the inputs and if it is having immersion elements how many and where and will u have separate switching for them.

Hopefully when u read the reply for this on your email without seeing who wrote it, you wont know instantly it was me. :D

Quazzie

Carlow52 wrote: »

Just wondering what other heat source you will have fro the HW and is that included or is the Geo going to do it all.

I'm lead to believe the geothermal will have the capabilities to do it all. I will have a fire that will be capable of a back boiler but after reading another thread on here about how hard it is to plumb a pressuriesed system and a back boiler together I don't think I'll be taking this route.

Carlow52 wrote: »

The answer will influence the choice of tank: u say 300L but how many coils and what material: copper/SS/??.

Standard copper twin coil tank is what is on the quote. Is there a more desirabel higher spec one that I can ask to be included in the quote. He initially quote me €19k+VAT but when it came to a written quote said he could only go as low as €21k+VAT so I'm hoping that gives me a bit of scope for bargaining a few extras into the quote.

Carlow52 wrote: »

Also make sure the in tank coil capacities match the inputs and if it is having immersion elements how many and where and will u have separate switching for them.

I've not a clue what any of that means but I'll make sure to stick it to him.

We only went through the drawings last night to make final decisions on location of toilets etc. I'm meeting him later in the week where I will be making sure he is including all outlets for washer/dryers, inlet for fridge etc.

Carlow52 wrote: »

Hopefully when u read the reply for this on your email without seeing who wrote it, you wont know instantly it was me. :D

It mightn't have translated well but that was actually a compliment to SB.

Carlow52

Re It mightn't have translated well but that was actually a compliment to SB.

I was trying to be funny as opposed to being smart: sorry:(

Re the cylinder coils, the one I have has a heating capacity of 25kw [i.e. loads of coils in the tank] which matches my heat source and means the tank heats from the gas in about 20 mins.

Some cylinders only have much smaller coils which means they take longer to heat and will be cheaper.

There has been much debate here re immersions in big tanks but if u just have one at the bottom u will need to heat a lot more water than u may need and it could take 4-6 hours.

If u have 2, one high up, and on a separate switch u can just heat the top.

A triple coil cylinder will allow u the option of adding solar thermal later.

Hope this helps.

Mazotasan

More curiosity than anything else but are you going for a horizontal or vertical ground collector and why? Cost/efficiency/space etc...

Started a thread on here re the location of cylinder, pump, panels etc recently...be a good time to discuss some of this with him also

Quazzie

Its a vertical ground collector simply because its the system that was chosen. We chose the manufacturer and he only uses one sytem. I suppose you could assign that to cost as the system we are using only requires a standard well from my understanding.

Mazotasan

From my understanding the vertical is more efficient also but I thought you needed 2 x wells...taking water from one into the heat pump and then a dispersal well for the water out

I just got a well bored last week for the main water supply and had to go 300ft for a supply of approx 300 gallons / hr. Be worth checking what flow rate is required to achieve optimum performance. I believe its 300-400 gallons per hr.

This whole area of well drilling seems to be very subjective and hard to budget for...my worry was if we go 200-300 feet and find no water what do you do...go deeper or change location? Either way costs keep adding up. Have you drilled yet?