Starting out on my heat pump journey

[Yuff]

Therein lies my point.
Everyone’s system is different.
Some will have lots of solar/lots of batteries or both.
Long and slow is not always the best solution.
Our solar probably provided 80 kWh in January whereas our daily use was 160 kWh
We exported an average 20kwh a day in January and there were some bitterly cold days. On those days the heating was on 24/7 but the rest of the time exporting for two 4hr blocks hardly makes any difference.
It also depends what the user’s goal is, mine is the most cost effective system possible others may well be to use as little electric as possible…..

[Joeboy]

Therein lies my point.
Everyone’s system is different.
Some will have lots of solar/lots of batteries or both.
Long and slow is not always the best solution.
Our solar probably provided 80 kWh in January whereas our daily use was 160 kWh
We exported an average 20kwh a day in January and there were some bitterly cold days. On those days the heating was on 24/7 but the rest of the time exporting for two 4hr blocks hardly makes any difference.
It also depends what the user’s goal is, mine is the most cost effective system possible others may well be to use as little electric as possible…..

Geographical location plays a massive part too. Low & slow seems to win out amongst most HP runners, whereas a lot of the folk out there looking for help to lower their bills are still operating as if CH systems. If you are managing two 4hr discharge to grid slots per day in or around January with little drop in indoor temp...

In the 6.5 or so weeks we've been running the HP we have used 1,500kWh less in Dec & Jan than the previous Dec &Jan when we were running the SH's. We have also used 75% less logs.

[Yuff]

Therein lies my point.
Everyone’s system is different.
Some will have lots of solar/lots of batteries or both.
Long and slow is not always the best solution.
Our solar probably provided 80 kWh in January whereas our daily use was 160 kWh
We exported an average 20kwh a day in January and there were some bitterly cold days. On those days the heating was on 24/7 but the rest of the time exporting for two 4hr blocks hardly makes any difference.
It also depends what the user’s goal is, mine is the most cost effective system possible others may well be to use as little electric as possible…..

Geographical location plays a massive part too. Low & slow seems to win out amongst most HP runners, whereas a lot of the folk out there looking for help to lower their bills are still operating as if CH systems. If you are managing two 4hr discharge to grid slots per day in or around January with little drop in indoor temp...

In the 6.5 or so weeks we've been running the HP we have used 1,500kWh less in Dec & Jan than the previous Dec &Jan when we were running the SH's. We have also used 75% less logs.

When it’s a bit milder it’s one block 4-6 hours from 10.30 -4.30 depends a lot on the temp outside( it’s not as cold here as Inverurie, know a decent squash player from there) and another just before bedtime as it would be too hot upstairs

[Ronski]

Managed to miss all these posts somehow.

We have 15.5kWp of panels, but they point in multiple directions, and not at the optimum pitches either.

January:

• We generated 292kWh
  We imported 966 kWh
  We exported 485 kWh

We have 29kWh of storage, I always fully charge overnight on IOG, come the evening from 19:30 I gradually export whats left in the batteries down to 15% SOC, about 30 minutes later I start charging again, the batteries are gradually charged until they reach full about half an hour before the end of the off peak period. This is all automatic, including calculations of what rate to discharge/charge at.

Going onto IOG has made things a little more complicated, but I can sort that, getting a heat pump will obviously use a lot more power, and will be another learning curve, but I'll aim for low and slow. I suspect in the midst of winter 29kWh of storage won't last between 05:30 to 23:30, but we'll see how things go.

Back to the actual heat pump.

Yesterday I went to see a client of SGS Energy, they have self built a house, but had a really rough time with the builder, who was doing everything, but the relationship fell apart prior to the heating being installed (luckily for them by the sounds of it). So they were very careful choosing an installer, they were very impressed with SGS, who by the sounds of it have given an excellent service, even helping sort issues with the PV install as the builder never completed the paperwork for that.

Incidentally SGS Energy have opened an office in Aberdeenshire.

So, I've accepted the quote (£5k after BUS grant), hoping for installation early April, as that fits in better with my work schedule.

[Joeboy]

Managed to miss all these posts somehow.

We have 15.5kWp of panels, but they point in multiple directions, and not at the optimum pitches either.

January:

• We generated 292kWh
  We imported 966 kWh
  We exported 485 kWh

We have 29kWh of storage, I always fully charge overnight on IOG, come the evening from 19:30 I gradually export whats left in the batteries down to 15% SOC, about 30 minutes later I start charging again, the batteries are gradually charged until they reach full about half an hour before the end of the off peak period. This is all automatic, including calculations of what rate to discharge/charge at.

Going onto IOG has made things a little more complicated, but I can sort that, getting a heat pump will obviously use a lot more power, and will be another learning curve, but I'll aim for low and slow. I suspect in the midst of winter 29kWh of storage won't last between 05:30 to 23:30, but we'll see how things go.

Back to the actual heat pump.

Yesterday I went to see a client of SGS Energy, they have self built a house, but had a really rough time with the builder, who was doing everything, but the relationship fell apart prior to the heating being installed (luckily for them by the sounds of it). So they were very careful choosing an installer, they were very impressed with SGS, who by the sounds of it have given an excellent service, even helping sort issues with the PV install as the builder never completed the paperwork for that.

Incidentally SGS Energy have opened an office in Aberdeenshire.

So, I've accepted the quote (£5k after BUS grant), hoping for installation early April, as that fits in better with my work schedule.

Fantastic news!

[Ronski]

A little snag in the process, they want £2500 as a deposit now, then the remaining £2500 the week before work commences. Then the BUS grant will be claimed on completion.

I've no problem paying the deposit, which I'll do via credit card for the extra protection, but I'm not happy paying the rest until after completion.

Am I being unreasonable, or will the BUS grant give me enough leverage should there be any issues/snagging?

With regards to the BUS grant I believe that Ofgem will contact me for approval, prior to releasing the funds.

[Joeboy]

No you are not being unreasonable. X amount up front for their equipment costs and X amount on completion after your receive the mcs paperwork.

Although if the bus grant is paid directly to them on your approval post completion, paperwork, then you've still got a lever so maybe go with it? I'd clarify with the company.

I paid mine in three of 6k batches or so then claimed the grant back to myself. Not that different from your situation.

[Ronski]

I've spoken to them, I'll pay both payments via credit card, any issues I just don't authorise the BUS grant.

Deposit paid, installation booked for 14th April, they said they can get it done in four days, the Friday is Good Friday.

[Joeboy]

I've spoken to them, I'll pay both payments via credit card, any issues I just don't authorise the BUS grant.

Deposit paid, installation booked for 14th April, they said they can get it done in four days, the Friday is Good Friday.

Well done and congratulations!

How ye feeling?

[Ronski]

Well done and congratulations!

How ye feeling?

Excited, but also a little apprehensive. I tend to use the trades as little as possible, and do most things myself, but you can't do that with everything, and to be honest the older I get the less interested I get in doing DIY.

Told the wife when it was booked for, and she reminded me that our daughter, her boyfriend and the boyfriends dad is coming down for easter and I'd forgotten

Hopefully they get it done in the four days.