Best air to water heat pump

Mack05

Would ye have anymore names of good companies who supply A2W?
Thanks.

OfflerCrocGod

fclauson wrote: »

The great thing about a heat pump is there is no servicing !!

Yes - a couple of filters to clean - and check the pressure release value - and top up the water pressure as required

I live in a new build and we've been told it has to be serviced at a cost of ~€200 a year...

fclauson

OfflerCrocGod wrote: »

I live in a new build and we've been told it has to be serviced at a cost of ~€200 a year...

Do you service you fridge ?

I would love to know what they spend 200 on - can you get a schedule of work from them

OfflerCrocGod

fclauson wrote: »

Do you service you fridge ?

I would love to know what they spend 200 on - can you get a schedule of work from them

OK but what about the boiler/heating system?

samdeluxjones

Fridge ain't cooling your whole house and if it was you would have to replace pump and get the gas changed on the regular I'd reckon.

So how often should a heat pump be serviced?

fclauson

Really not sure what you are asking here

my fridge probably runs more hrs / day that my HP

the HP has a design life of 20 years (not sure about the fridge)

I cannot see what items would need a "service" - there are sensors for pressure & flow rate on the HP (non on the fridge) and a control panel to tell me if any alarms have occurred. The only moving part is the compressor and circ. pump.

which bit do you think needs servicing ?

samdeluxjones

i dunno, I'm brand new to heat pumps.

I do like the fact that they are monitored remotely, mine by installer and another guy I met who has a fair knowledge of them.

If they don't need to be serviced until an alarm goes off then so be it.

I hear reports that air to water compressors can be affected by salty sea air, any truth in this you know?

fclauson

I have heard the same - coastal locations can be challenging - but check with the manufacture

ivorfa

I live beside sea and have Air to water for about three years now and have no problem whatsoever with it

KCross

samdeluxjones wrote: »

I hear reports that air to water compressors can be affected by salty sea air, any truth in this you know?

ivorfa wrote: »

I live beside sea and have Air to water for about three years now and have no problem whatsoever with it

I think it would take more than 3yrs to manifest but I believe the salty air affects the outside unit due to corrosion... metal doesn't like long term exposure to salty air.

I do vaguely remember some units having some special coating or other to protect them... maybe its extra or something, not sure.

Eccentric Toast

Hi everyone could anyone with personal experience give some recommendations on Air2Water heat pumps looking to pull the trigger on one soon. Nibe seems to be the best quality I've come across. Then there is Grant Ecodan and to be honest Im just looking for solid recommendations.

stoves1

i live in a 3bed semi detached 1090sq ft, house is 50 yrs old i am getting it completely retrofitted which when finished will have a ber of A3.
insulated concrete floors are been installed, as well as external installation incl low u windows and doors.
the retrofit company has recommended a 5kw mitsubshi ecodan, to heat ufh and 4 aluminium rads upstairs as well as a 150litre hot water tank. from my research i think 5k is not enough and is a 150 litre tank sufficient? would appreciate help

Water John

Would think if they are a specialist refurb co. they know there stuff. A tidy semiD with a high level if insulation would need little heating. No point in oversizing it.
You have to go over the figs in detail with them. Ask them to show you a similar job completed.

stoves1

yes i have asked for figures, when i get them i will post for boardies analysis and comments

fclauson

My advice is to carry out a PHPP an really understand you heat demand

as an example I have a 2kw HP for 3000sqft because that's all it needs (heating has been off since April and the MHRV is still on summer by pass)

usually put HP back on end of Oct

shianto

a 2kW HP for a 3000sqft house sounds like a dream!

That said:

a) is it worthwhile carrying out a PHPP on a retrofitted house?
b) assuming it is, I don't suppose you could PM the names of people who carry one out..?

fclauson wrote: »

My advice is to carry out a PHPP an really understand you heat demand

as an example I have a 2kw HP for 3000sqft because that's all it needs (heating has been off since April and the MHRV is still on summer by pass)

usually put HP back on end of Oct

ArraMusha

I'm in a new house for over a year now, and i used to read these forums for advice, so I'll pass on my experiences.
We have a heat pump and MHRV.
It was a huge decision at the time, ie. to go oil and PV or a heatpump and I can say now that I was most amazed by the thermal efficiency of the house( insulation and air tightness) built to modern building regs. The heatpump is set to come on during nightrate, so its off during the day. In Feb or march 2018 when we had the snow, it was below zero outside all day, the kitchen temp. was 21C at 8am and never dropped a degree all day!!!
The max electricity bill for all zone heating including domestic hot water and all other electicity was €180 for two months (during that cold spell). So go with the best insulation you can afford, 200mm cavity is what I have, the best air tightness your builder (or yourself) are capable of installing, and a good quality heatpump model (with local support). Think of the 20 year overall cost..(up front capital + running cost) and enjoy the warmth 24/7.

randombar

Hi All,

Does anyone have any costs for a retrofit of one of these for a 2,500 well insulated kerosene house with radiators. Price of oil in the rise again unfortunately.

Gary

air

GaryCocs wrote: »

Hi All,

Does anyone have any costs for a retrofit of one of these for a 2,500 well insulated kerosene house with radiators. Price of oil in the rise again unfortunately.

Gary

There's an SEAI grant available for it at the moment, a friend is getting one in this week under it and the cost is about 7k after the grant IIRC. That was with a Cork based installer coincidentally. You may need to replace radiators (with bigger ones) and address air tightness etc to qualify for the grant.

randombar

air wrote: »

There's an SEAI grant available for it at the moment, a friend is getting one in this week under it and the cost is about 7k after the grant IIRC. That was with a Cork based installer coincidentally. You may need to replace radiators (with bigger ones) and address air tightness etc to qualify for the grant.

Nice one. Did a few sums on another thread.

Heat and hot water demand at the moment: 8000kWh/year ~ €750

Heat pump cost for same: 8000kWh*€0.16/3=€427

€323 saving a year.

21 year return on investment. :eek:

Obviously havent taken the price increases for oil into account, hard to figure that one out though as the costs have gone down as well as up.

I have been trying to find historic electricity prices, does anyone know where I could find them?

air

The SEAI publish a fairly comprehensive fuel price comparison pdf each year, they may have them archived somewhere for download.
Failing that the CER website would be a good place to look.
Aside from the potential cost benefits, a heat pump would eliminate any risk of fuel oil theft or leakage. It also lets you get rid of the tank and eliminates fuel deliveries.
Obviously one of the biggest downsides is lack of heating in a power outage!

Latro

air wrote: »

Obviously one of the biggest downsides is lack of heating in a power outage!

Same as with oil,gas or even backboiler stove.

air

Latro wrote: »

Same as with oil,gas or even backboiler stove.

True, but a lot easier/cheaper to run any of those in an outage than a heat pump

Latro

air wrote: »

True, but a lot easier/cheaper to run any of those in an outage than a heat pump

I don't have a generator and I suspect that you don't have one either same as 99% of home owners.

air

Getting totally OT, but you suspect wrong. I have at least 4 different fully independent ways I could keep my CH going in an outage.
It would be almost trivial to keep a CH circulation pump and oil or gas boiler going in an outage with a 12V battery and inverter for anyone with a bit of know how.
A heat pump is realistically going to require a very large generator or the grid.
I'm very much pro heat pumps regardless, for the record.

Mack05

Hi all ‘still’ Looking to invest in a Air to Water unit and have been recommended to go for the Thermodynamic Solar Panels with the Air to Water unit,
Has anyone any advice, recommendations or prices on these systems?
Thanks.

Water John

Be sure to fit MHRV, cost €5K approx. A friend of mine put it in, even didn't put an extractor on the cooker, not sure I would do that, but the healthy fresh air feel is worth the money. That and the A2W with a split dual heating system is what I would use. Wouldn't bother with panels.

Mack05

Water John wrote: »

Be sure to fit MHRV, cost €5K approx. A friend of mine put it in, even didn't put an extractor on the cooker, not sure I would do that, but the healthy fresh air feel is worth the money. That and the A2W with a split dual heating system is what I would use. Wouldn't bother with panels.

Built the house in 2006 with holicore so I don’t think the MHRV is an option,
Was told the Thermodynamic Solar Panels would be cheaper to run during the summer for Hot Water, instead of using the Air to Water as the Heating is not needed because the house is so well insulated.

Water John

The saving on hot water from solar panels is in the order of €170/year. The capital cost don't justify them. They in fact don't have a lifetime payback.

Borderbuster

ArraMusha wrote: »

I'm in a new house for over a year now, and i used to read these forums for advice, so I'll pass on my experiences.
We have a heat pump and MHRV.
It was a huge decision at the time, ie. to go oil and PV or a heatpump and I can say now that I was most amazed by the thermal efficiency of the house( insulation and air tightness) built to modern building regs. The heatpump is set to come on during nightrate, so its off during the day. In Feb or march 2018 when we had the snow, it was below zero outside all day, the kitchen temp. was 21C at 8am and never dropped a degree all day!!!
The max electricity bill for all zone heating including domestic hot water and all other electicity was €180 for two months (during that cold spell). So go with the best insulation you can afford, 200mm cavity is what I have, the best air tightness your builder (or yourself) are capable of installing, and a good quality heatpump model (with local support). Think of the 20 year overall cost..(up front capital + running cost) and enjoy the warmth 24/7.

Hi Arramusha, great honest assessment. im at the exact same stage as you were at, initially. Is the heat pump still going well?
what model did you go for?
whats your average esb bill?

my head is wrecked as to go for a air-source heat pump or solar & oil. My house is currently being built. Im at the slab stage so I need to make up my mind in the next few months.
Its spec'd for ber A3 rating. 200 mm cavity, beads filled. getting air tightness test etc.
its going to be a modern house, but im still of the mindset 'what no oil??, no radiators??'
heads wrecked.
Advise would be appreciated. Ive been to viewing houses with the system already in, but the 2 houses I have viewed - they were associated with the installer so a bit biased.

House in North Monaghan.

thanks