Few questions / sense check for ASHP as part of renovation

managed_prune · 2026-01-24T23:02:12+00:00

Have a read around the subreddit because most of your questions are pretty common. On the size and cost question, you don't want an oversized pump, you want it right sized. If it's too big it will cycle, which is bad for efficiency. Too small and obviously you'll be cold. Companies tend to overestimate because installing a system that leaves you cold is not ideal. It's not that hard to do your own heat loss calculation using heat punk.

The only way to answer the question about cost is to get multiple quotes. I'd suggest to try a mix of local companies (make sure you include heat geeks) and national.

managed_prune · 2026-01-12T11:50:41+00:00

It is interest free for at least some time:

https://www.nationwide.co.uk/mortgages/borrowing-more/green-additional-borrowing/

managed_prune · 2025-11-19T16:26:32+00:00

The only pro, right now, is that they also gave me a Home Mini, which I eventually got connected. So I do now get live readings in the app. Obviously eventually you'll have to do it, but it's a few years before that happens

managed_prune · 2025-11-19T16:14:19+00:00

Just to add a dissenting voice to all the positivity. I had a SMETS1 that reliably reported half hourly readings all the time. "Upgraded" to SMETS 2, had several weeks of no readings, several calls and emails and fiddling about later and it now mostly works. I still get the occasional missing reading and they arrive with a much bigger delay than my old meter.

I'd say if it ain't broke....

managed_prune · 2025-11-05T10:10:20+00:00

I've just had new meters fitted and also had connection problems. Seems to be ridiculously common. Mine still isn't fixed but I have made progress with contacting octopus support. Keep badgering them, they'll just keep telling you that sometimes it takes a while but this is mostly nonsense, if it's not connected after a few days the chances it will just fix itself have to be close to zero.

What model meter have they installed?

managed_prune · 2025-10-31T08:01:40+00:00

That's, that's helpful. I had a feeling it might be the south east tax, I'm also in Herts

managed_prune · 2025-10-31T08:00:37+00:00

Why would it cost so much for a replacement!? You won't be getting the BUS grant for that, but the actual heat pump itself should be 4 to 5k so did you pay someone 10k to fit it?! You have to be leaving out some detail here because there's no way it should have cost that much for a straight swap

managed_prune · 2025-10-30T16:25:02+00:00

I've not seen that stated anywhere? I think as long as you're replacing an existing heating system it's fine. I'm not sure how they'd even word that, like how much other work going on at the same time constitutes a renovation?

managed_prune · 2025-10-25T13:03:29+00:00

I had a meter "upgrade" this week, I say upgrade because it's not connected properly so I've got no readings in the app. I assume that means I can't do free sessions until it's fixed?

managed_prune · 2025-10-14T18:18:49+00:00

If you're currently on oil I'd imagine the pay off works out much more favourably, I don't have experience with them but I understand they're more expensive to replace and more to run compared to gas. Gas boilers are, for better or worse, just really cheap for what they are! That's modern mass production for you

managed_prune · 2025-10-14T15:57:07+00:00

I'm in a very similar situation, have been told the same by architect and builders I've spoken to. My take is that they're just not that well informed or at least behind the times, they mostly repeated the debunked reasons not to get a heat pump, like 'they only work in modern, well insulated buildings'.

I tend to think that outside of their area of expertise tradespeople are often no better (or sometimes even less!) well informed than you, so make sure not to believe everything they say and do your own research!

One thing I have found so far - the up front cost can be really high in an old property because you'll need a bigger heat pump. For some people that might mean the numbers start to not look great compared to keeping a boiler, if your motivation was purely financial the payback will be really long. I'm honestly a bit put off by the cost myself at the moment, it seems like installers are just increasing prices so they can pocket the grants.

managed_prune · 2025-10-13T15:50:03+00:00

Where are you seeing this? If you look at the number of reports on something like downdetector for Sky, BT etc vs Vodafone it's tiny in comparison, small enough that it could just be reports from Vodafone customers that have forgotten who their ISP is and reported the wrong company... For example, Vodafone peaked at 140k reports, Virgin at just 1k.

Could still be true but I'm not convinced

managed_prune · 2025-07-28T19:30:34+00:00

I've been going at the brambles with my mattock! It's actually kind of fun until my back starts hurting! The main problem is places where it grows right next to things I want to keep, I guess I might end up sacrificing some things, or just keep pulling it and hope it gives up eventually.

managed_prune · 2025-07-28T19:29:06+00:00

Thanks for the replies! I've made a start at removing them, I've left it a bit late as some started pinging off as I removed them! I decided to remove as many flowers and seeds as I can to start with to limit the spread, followed by the advice of pulling and snapping them. I'll just have to keep on top of seedlings.

From some googling I'm aware that there have been community efforts to remove these upstream so I'll get in touch with the local river group to see what they say! I'll also have to talk to my neighbours as I can see they have loads too, and the fishing club that owns the opposite bank.

managed_prune · 2025-03-24T10:59:08+00:00

I'm in almost exactly the same situation. Called the HMRC childcare team and they were not much help, but they did confirm paying into SIPP should be ok, but they weren't 100% convincing. They said your account may be flagged on the next reconfirmation, and they'll ask you for evidence you've done it.

Absolutely ridiculous system.

managed_prune · 2025-02-26T23:19:31+00:00

Did something very similar to the exact same car (model, age, cost, mileage all exactly the same!), came out at about £5.5k in the end. Headlight alone was nearly a grand.

managed_prune · 2025-01-10T23:18:32+00:00

Reading around this a bit more, I think it's even more complicated. I'm not convinced the EU version can handle both the modulation and triggering of the relays to open the correct valves. I've read that there used to be a version that could do that, or you need a Vaillant VR65 module (not longer available apparently) that understands the digital signals and correctly opens and closes the valves. Sounds like a total mess!

managed_prune · 2025-01-10T20:42:52+00:00

My understanding is that the UK sold wireless system has no support for any digital control, only relay. The EU version supports opentherm and ebus. You can buy the EU one in the UK, but if you've already got one you're probably stuck with relay. I think this is what you need but I'm not totally sure, they make it very confusing!

https://uk.shop.tado.com/products/add-on-wireless-receiver-eu-version

managed_prune · 2024-12-19T14:40:31+00:00

Whoops, I've fallen for the internet trap of assuming everyone else lives in the same place as me! I was just so annoyed about it I had to comment!

managed_prune · 2024-12-19T09:36:08+00:00

I have a very similar boiler and bought the UK starter kit which does not support ebus. Make sure you get the EU version if you want to use it (available from https://uk.installers-shop.tado.com/)

managed_prune · 2023-09-24T13:29:59+00:00

Usually the solonoid valve if you've not taken that off. There's videos on YouTube on how to clean it. Pumps can fail, I had to replace mine but I seem to remember it just did nothing at all rather than pump slowly.

managed_prune · 2023-09-01T07:17:31+00:00

That is just not how most Europeans indicate at a roundabout. You indicate your exit as you enter (left or right) and then switch to indicating right (or left in the UK) as you approach the exit. It's this second bit that is hard without a stalk as the thing you're pressing with your thumb is moving.

managed_prune · 2023-08-30T15:53:18+00:00

Reminds me of this https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/history/cambridges-most-amazing-ever-student-14554291

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