What We Learned Installing a Heat Pump

[@Paul-yh8km]

I got an induction cooker installed about 2 years ago. I previously had an electric cooker with a ceramic top but not induction. I checked with the electrician first to see what max amps the cooker should be then searched for a number of models. (The user manual often has the details about power consumption and amps it draws and these days the manuals are online). I wanted one with proper control knobs, not touch controls. Settled for a Zanussi. It has an algorithm to manage the induction hob to make sure it doesn't exceed the max amps, so it basically does what a human would do but avoids tripping the breaker. Never actually used all 4 hob positions though, so the algorithm has never kicked in. BTW a year later my brother got rid of their gas cooker and got a Zanussi electric cooker with an induction hob installed.

[@LocoHomeRetrofit]

Useful recommendation, thanks!

[@normanboyes4983]

Good run down on an involved subject. The helicopter view of the systems that are reporting by Open Energy Monitoring Systems is that heat pumps are still being ‘oversized’ as evidenced by robust data. This is especially interesting when you consider this is a self selecting group which encompasses performance motivated designers/installers/homeowners (or the geekiest/nerdiest of professionals and consumers) - yet still oversized heat pumps. Of course there are some good reasons for that not least regeneration times for hot water cylinders but also the lack of small heat pumps for low heat loss properties.

[@LocoHomeRetrofit]

Hi Norman, for sure. It seems like even the best designers are still learning. Even with the geekiest consumers, installers still have the challenge of balancing achieving peak efficiency with household peace of mind and MCS certification...

[@Lewis_Standing]

Wonderful video and review of the benefits of a heat pump. Great myth busting. Even my father in law with an EV keeps telling me you cant have a ASHP unless you have insulation 😉

[@LocoHomeRetrofit]

It's very prevalent myth even among experts...

[@darrenadams2640]

Oversizing your HP by 50% is a bad idea as it will simply increase cycling and reduce efficiency as a smaller HP with be able to modulate lower. And this will have partly contributed to that very high £17K HP cost. But well done for both understanding and getting to grips with weather compensation, and experimenting with the heat curve to get it right. And I could not agree more about keeping things simple, particularly not having a buffer when they are in most cases just lowering efficiency and wasting money. Note that shutting off rooms when not used will cause the COP to be lower and the remaining rooms will struggle to reach the design temperature, though you will still probably save due to the overall house heat loss being a bit lower (it depends!) This is because the internal walls will obviously be very leaky (no internal insulation) and hence the rooms that continue to be heated will have higher heat loss to the unheated rooms and will probably be higher loss than their radiators can cope with. See Heat Geek for the mathematical details!

[@ricardopelc-wesoly3483]

A very thorough detailed run down. Why did you not insulate the front and rear of building as you probably could of got away with a 7kW heat pump instead of the oversize one.

[@LocoHomeRetrofit]

Hi Richard, Carmen from Loco Home Retrofit here. I can't speak for Paul, but I suspect it's because internal wall insulation would be too disruptive