Air Source Heat Pump

[Onoff]

Tape the letter box up and make an external box instead

The boiler is in an otherwise unheated room with 4" block walls and single glazed wooden windows. I might as well be setting fire to £5 notes. The heat losses here are unimaginable.

 

[Welderpaul]

OK, so thanks for the replies folks.

How do i fix things when the temps get to zero? A suplementary heating system?

 

[Onoff]

OK, so thanks for the replies folks.

How do i fix things when the temps get to zero? A suplementary heating system?

Can you improve your insulation and or air tightness?

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

Do your neighbours have similarly built and heated houses, are they suffering the same issues?

As for a fix, a couple of cheap fan heaters would be quick and easy.

 

[Welderpaul]

Can you improve your insulation and or air tightness?

No, its a brand new house, nothing obviously amiss.

 

[Onoff]

It really is simple physics. Either increase the heat in the house to account for the losses or modify the building fabric to reduce the losses.

 

[Onoff]

No, its a brand new house, nothing obviously amiss.

A FLIR camera might help pinpoint cold spots. Sadly, mass builder houses can be dire.

 

[Welderpaul]

Its a one-off house, so not built by a mass house builder. Build quality is very good, with perhaps the exception of the heating system

I was more pondering how I might incorporate an additional heating system (no gas), fan heaters not really ideal in the long run.

 

[James1979]

Its a one-off house, so not built by a mass house builder. Build quality is very good, with perhaps the exception of the heating system

I was more pondering how I might incorporate an additional heating system (no gas), fan heaters not really ideal.

Wood burner? I’m not sure where you are and if it’s allowed?

We’ve just put one in. In the kitchen and it makes a difference.

 

[Welderpaul]

Wood burner? I’m not sure where you are and if it’s allowed?

We’ve just put one in. In the kitchen and it makes a difference.

Yeah, possibly. Can a wood burner be integrated with an existing heating system?

 

[James1979]

Yeah, possibly. Can a wood burner be integrated with an existing heating system?

I’ve no idea really as I’m not a heat-ist but I’ve seen a few with back boilers on so they can be integrated to something. Maybe.

This bloke is helpful

Www.stovefitterswarehouse.co.uk

Doesn’t mind you calling for advice

 

[Onoff]

Get yourself onto here:

BuildHub.org.uk

UK Self Build forum and web community with blogs and advice about building, extending or renovating your home along with DIY & energy efficiency discussion

forum.buildhub.org.uk

 

[addjunkie]

Yeah, possibly. Can a wood burner be integrated with an existing heating system?

Yes but its a bit messy. Your existing system is a closed pressurised system, a back boiler in the wood burner needs to be a vented system incase it over boils. There are a few different ways to do it properly. And a few to cowboy it. I have it, and if starting from scratch Id not bother again. As we cant use the fire in a power cut which is a pain. Also controls are a tad tricky. In that a heating system runs at a different temperature to a back boiler set up. So you end up a bit master and slave

 

[Mikes]

I wouldn't suggest using a wood burner which can produce high temperature hot water and is generally difficult to control on a thermostat. Two reasons for this. 1st is the heat pump is refrigerant based and must not experience water temperatures of probably 50 - 55 C max and secondly you have underfloor heating which has generally a similar maximum flow temperature beyond which you can cause harm to the pipe. Since it is currently supplied from a heat pump source, it probably does not have the benefit of a temperature limiting shut-off valve as it would not be necessary. A small direct electric boiler added as a second stage to your heating system is the easiest solution to top up when low ambient temperatures reduce the heat pump and is easily controlled and will not cause problems.

 

[JimmyS]

I wouldn't bother integrating a wood burner into the system. Just fit in the house to take the load off the heat pump. Integrating is likely to be a major PITA.

 

[dyno-tron]

And how much power was it taking to do that?

Slightly under 2kw, about 1.9 iirc.

 

[addjunkie]

I wouldn't suggest using a wood burner which can produce high temperature hot water and is generally difficult to control on a thermostat. Two reasons for this. 1st is the heat pump is refrigerant based and must not experience water temperatures of probably 50 - 55 C max and secondly you have underfloor heating which has generally a similar maximum flow temperature beyond which you can cause harm to the pipe. Since it is currently supplied from a heat pump source, it probably does not have the benefit of a temperature limiting shut-off valve as it would not be necessary. A small direct electric boiler added as a second stage to your heating system is the easiest solution to top up when low ambient temperatures reduce the heat pump and is easily controlled and will not cause problems.

Only issue is electric boilers are quite pricey to run, and not that good, but as a topup, an option. Youd the have to decide on supporting heating only or the hot water, in which case use immersion. They are available in sort of 40 degrees or 65 if my memory serves me correctly

 

[Wildefalcon]

A stand alone wood stove can make a big difference. That and heavy curtains across exterior doors, unless they have a storm porch. We've closed off the rooms that aren't used, accepted that the house will be cold and wear layers of clothing.

We're able to avoid running the boiler most days by using two small stoves in the rooms we're working in.

It is a lot of work, though, as they have to be lit first thing and kept going all day to warm the fabric of the house.

I'm in a badly built Edwardian stone house, under floor voids, no insulation, but double glazed sash windows. Designed for cheap local coal. So a disaster for heat pumps.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Methane will dissipate (rise), not collect low down - it is less dense than air (8 v 14 on a comparative basis).

That being the case, it'd rise to the occupants of the floor above as I don't suppose for a moment that medieval floorboards were well sealed. Q.E.D.

Mine was a frivolous comment and hardly worth the discussion.

 

[DAPPH]

Its a one-off house, so not built by a mass house builder. Build quality is very good, with perhaps the exception of the heating system

I was more pondering how I might incorporate an additional heating system (no gas), fan heaters not really ideal in the long run.

A couple of the £100 plus mini diesel 4 kw heaters to blast out hot air when you need it m you can use extra heat resisting pipes to pipe the heater air to so many areas .
Check out Skotl's interesting and very informative install thread a bit further back and check out some of the links for heat resisting pipe work

0.5 litres per heater per hour or so mid range heat , The don't take a lot of time or make mess to install them. Most local fuel delivery companies can / do supply heating oil in 45 gallon barrels if you ask them .


Just got a notification, the one I purchased off eBay supposed to be here 19 Dec , seller told me a few min ago it is out of stock, but three days ago I've already had a notification it has been dispatched and collected via Evri and is out for delivery

I think / hope it is because I contacted the seller asking what height the fuel pump could draw fuel up to & not reading English just hit the normal Chinese " No stock " reply button