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Any members here using an air source heat pump?

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Laverda Dave:
A mate installed one when he built a home extension. He was told by the engineer to locate it down the side of the house where its size and ugliness wouldn't be seen. He had to move it after a few weeks incurring more expense to the rear of the house following complaints from the neighbour due to the endless noise it made. He has to supplement the heating with electric heaters when it’s cold.

Sesman:
I’m afraid noise is an issue the ASHP promoters are completely ignoring- deliberately. Low frequency noise is an issue even at relatively low levels of dBA; the sound can carry a long way. The accumulative noise from multiple units can be quite alarming! However, if you are one of those folks living next to a busy main road or motorway you are not likely to notice it. Of more concern is the noise generated in outer urban and country settings. The noise also increases as the units age.

Bloggs:
Hi Ted,

I have an air source heat pump running the heating and hot water in the house. We significantly rebuilt the house 2019/20 including roof off. Downstairs has underfloor heating installed with insulation under the circuit piping and upstairs oversized rads to suit low temp heating system. House was insulated as well as you could retaining the existing walls and floor slab, i.e. 150mm of insulation board in roof.
No gas in village so either oil or electric. Air source is an efficient way of using electricity for heating water, but it does have limitations. Higher the temperature required the harder the heat pump must work. The lower the outside air temp the less efficient the heat pump is.
The heat pump fan does generate noise and needs to be in a suitable location. You can’t box it in as it needs air flow! It also condenses water from the atmosphere on cold days so that need somewhere to go.
We managed to get a government grant to cover the additional costs of the heat pump over an oil boiler. That scheme is now closed.
So for a new build with good insulation and a low temp heating (underfloor heating) it works well. To retrofit and existing house with a conventional heating system it is a problem (and a cost) to get the required water temperature to mimic the boiler.

So if you just want a simple replacement the I would keep the gas boiler.

I will say we love the underfloor heating, so does the cat! It can struggle if you get long period of sub zero outside temp. That’s why we have another forbidden item, a wood burner.

The other major point to make is that the sells / installers are at the same stage as double glazing was 30 years ago, full of cowboys. Be very wary, we got stung with up front payments and the supplier going bust.

Michael

Nurse Julie:
150+ year old house, no gas in village so use oil, no quarterly standing charge for that 😁😁. Bosch Worcester boiler must be well over 30 years old, fitted by previous owner. It's a super efficient system for heating and hot water. Graham services the boiler once a year and fits a new jet. Also have 2 log burners, it's never cold in this old house.

McCabe-Thiele (Ted):
My parents house was oil fired central heating, as my Dad worked in the car trade he was able to buy fuel oil at trade prices via Esso who sold the company Petrol for the forecourt.

For many years it was very economical as it used to be a cheap option in Rural Areas. I suspect that back in 1966 he odd tanker load went on the company books. lol

I can't remember the make of boiler except it was a huge industrial model that was boxed off in the corner of the car port. When It first  fired up you could hear it for a few seconds when it ignited.   It never broke down except on year when the House Martins built a nest on the frost stat in the car port!

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