Location of plant room

lownhard

Was thinking about the idea of putting a plant room in the attic of a two storey house. There should be good access to the attic.

1000 litre thermal store (mains pressure), gas boiler, ufh manifolds for both floors, euipment for solar thermal, expanision vessels etc. Potentially looking to connect a stove with back boiler from ground floor.

Will be a warm roof construction with adequate height for the tank.

Are the potential drawbacks to this, as opposed to putting the plant on the ground or first floor?

I am aware that the joists will have to be sized to support the tank but I am wondering are there any other potential problems?

Thanks

fclauson

Is this a new build or a renovation ?

If so I question solar thermal - the pay back is not there - if you do the maths a HP plus PV has a better return on investment over 15years

Plus connecting a stove from the ground floor - it will be a very long run up and back down again - is it really worth it

lownhard

fclauson wrote: »

Is this a new build or a renovation ?

If so I question solar thermal - the pay back is not there - if you do the maths a HP plus PV has a better return on investment over 15years

Plus connecting a stove from the ground floor - it will be a very long run up and back down again - is it really worth it

New build.

Depends what price you pay for solar thermal I guess. A friend went direct to a china. Got a few quotes and then went with the company who seemed to know what they were talking about. Got over 30m2 worth of flat plates for 4k all in with shipping, insurance, customs etc. Installed a couple of years and working well. He had the same amount previously installed from an Irish supplier that cost him many multiples of this. Poor plumbing destroyed the lot. Anyway, I'd be looking for a good bit less than this. I've priced it an it is much cheaper than here including solar controller, pump, piping, roof fixings.

Also build will be in a natural gas area so would be mad to to use that vs a HP.

fclauson

Good one - natural gas was not an option - nearest pipe 40 miles away!!

Wally Runs

We have the plant room in the basement or half height basement in fact. There is a long run for the solar but within the product specs, we cannot hear the pump for the water (showers etc) so a quiet house.

However, I wish I had put the display panel (or duplicate) for the HW/Solar tank in the kitchen rather than in the basement beside the tank. Same I guess would go for the attic.

lownhard

Wally Runs wrote: »

We have the plant room in the basement or half height basement in fact. There is a long run for the solar but within the product specs, we cannot hear the pump for the water (showers etc) so a quiet house.

However, I wish I had put the display panel (or duplicate) for the HW/Solar tank in the kitchen rather than in the basement beside the tank. Same I guess would go for the attic.

Great tip about the controls/monitors...cheers