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I'm wondering what people's experiences are of heat pump heating that can be installed without an F Gas certificate.
So thinking something that is either all in one, like one of these Powrmatic Vision 3.6 DW Maxi Air Conditioner & Heat Pump
Or something that is a self contained compressor unit to sit outside that is air to water and then this is plumbed into a radiator circuit. This option seem quite hard to find information / options on but in general COP 'ratings' seem to be higher than the above unit
why do you want to install yourself when you can get a grant probably from an installer who is MCS registered?
Is the grant still something that represents a good deal - I thought it was changed a few years ago.
£7500
And hopefully the design to give you an efficient system. Unless you know how to heat loss and pipe size etc….
Any monobloc Heat Pumps can be fitted without F-gas. The refrigerant circuit is a sealed unit, and usually, is not repaired, it is just replaced as one unit. They can be repaired, but finding someone with the qualification, the right gases to recharge it, and will work on HPs, at a price less that a new unit is rather difficult to find.
I would have looked at DIY but then I realised I wouldn't have got the 7.5 gs
We repair the fridge section, we have 4 qualified F Gas engineers, 3 of which have just completed the Hydro Carbon qualification.
Granted compressor repair can be expensive, but still cheaper than a new unit, especially on the larger units we also work on.
Can you get a heat pump grant for a garden room / out building / office / gym though?
We had an 8kW pump installed, whole house replumbed (from microbore) added 13 radiators and a large 210 water tank installed and it cost £16k. With the grant we paid half. Our previous gas boiler was very old (>50yrs!) and given its location, the fact that we had extended the house and that regulations had changed in the interim it would have cost us circa £6k for a new boiler alone. The grant was a game changer for us. We have Solar and a battery and our house is warm and costing us less to heat.
Can you get a heat pump grant for a garden room / out building / office / gym though?
No. The grants are for homes. If that's your requirement, I would guess you want an air to air heat pump - no radiators involved, just blows air in. These also work as air conditioners too by flipping a switch. If you look at something like this:
https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/iqool9plus-v2/electriq-iqool9plusv2-air-conditioner
I imagine that just bolts on to a wall and blows through a suitable vent.
EDIT oh, read the blurb - it's two units, and they are both pre-gassed and they click together.
There are monoblock ones too:
https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/iqool-smart12hp/electriq-iqoolsmart12hp-air-conditioner
Can you get a heat pump grant for a garden room / out building / office / gym though?
Wouldn't bother, save it for a full system. I had a Mitsubishi split unit fitted to the bedroom (built into the loft so it got uncomfortably hot in the summer) and it was only £1,200 fully installed including a complicated pipe run. Cool in summer, warm in winter, and it just sips at electricity.
@flaperon that sounds like what I’m looking for but heating too. Who did that? Although don’t think you are in my neck of the woods.
Molgrips - the second one is what i was looking at. I was wondering if anybody had any real world views on them. My guess is that a potential problem is that as the condenser unit is in the house it doesn’t get a fresh supply of air and so uses more energy on fans with the risk that incoming and out going air mix and so less efficient
I used this company (personal recommendation from my neighbour and I'm also very happy with the work):
Only thing I'd do differently is order a set of rubber anti vibration pads to go between the outside unit and the wall mount, as at certain speeds the compressor causes a resonance inside the wall cavity. But 99% of the time you don't hear it.
Thanks Flaperon
Sadly I’m not sure they’ll travel to south of London for a small job.
My guess is that a potential problem is that as the condenser unit is in the house it doesn’t get a fresh supply of air
Looking at the pictures there are ducts to the outside. I don't think it would work if the evaporator and condenser were in the same room?
I think on some further research one of these type things is what i need with heating functionality.
https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/iqool9plus-v2/electriq-iqool9plusv2-air-conditioner
However, I can't seem to find anybody to supply and fit one or fit one I've supplied! There seems to be an implication that it can be DIY installed as it comes precharged and like a gas bottle, the gas seal only opens when the pipes are screwed together, but even so this isn't allowed due to the risk of gas leakage. For the R290 propane filled systems I wonder if that is really necessary but realise rules is rules.
So any recommendations on installers in Surrey. Or someone who could plug the hoses in if the two ends are insitu.
R290 is more dangerous and has strict regulations regarding proximity to drains etc.
Not sure if you can just DIY as most fridge fittings are flared I believe.
Thanks @bear - I don't plan to DIY hence trying to find an f-gas fitter!
I’ll ask around as we know some heat pump guys in Surrey I believe