Air Source Heat Pump

[Mikes]

Received the attached flyer the other day from an 'expert' company pushing heat pumps. I've blanked their details in case you were all keen to rush and order an installation from them. The bit that really sealed the deal for me was the 'Environmentally Friendly' statement where they state that they 'don't use fossil fuels' . This unfortunately is the sort of fiction that some companies make to sell their wares. Also misleading as they are pushing air to air heat pumps as they can provide cooling. Systems that can provide cooling are not considered green or renewable.
Every time there is a green energy push, the unscrupulous jump on the bandwagon as they view it as a cash cow.
There was an item on the radio the other week where a house owner had bought a solar pv installation for their house. They rightly used an approved installer so that there would be no problem with their electric supplier accepting the feed-in tariff. Unfortunately the installer was still purporting to be an approved installer but had actually been thrown out of the association for bad practice. The home owner was then left with an installation that was worthless as they could not get a feed-in tariff accepted. There only apparent option was to have it junked and installed by another contractor even though the system was actually working. Have to be so careful when parting with your money!

 

[not done it yet]

There only apparent option was to have it junked and installed by another contractor

Likely just needs certificating - unless the installer made a mess of it.

True that air-to-air heat pumps are not considered as acceptable for the government subsidies. I think it is likely a technicality - possibly due to the cooling option - but an ASHP is no different on the collection side, whatever medium it uses on the other side?

Whoever that company, you mentioned, might be, I would be selecting a more honest one (if I were in that market) - and checking out any claims very thoroughly before purchase.

 

[Mikes]

Likely just needs certificating - unless the installer made a mess of it.

True that air-to-air heat pumps are not considered as acceptable for the government subsidies. I think it is likely a technicality - possibly due to the cooling option - but an ASHP is no different on the collection side, whatever medium it uses on the other side?

Whoever that company, you mentioned, might be, I would be selecting a more honest one (if I were in that market) - and checking out any claims very thoroughly before purchase.

Apparently it was not acceptable to the electricity supply company and the poor purchaser really was stuck with a system that although functioning was not giving him a feed-in tariff return. He thought that he had done his due diligence by using what appeared to be an approved registered contractor. With hindsight, a phone call to the association might have saved him a lot of grief but it is probably not something you would think of as necessary (until now). An expensive lesson learned for him but a good warning to others.

 

[reb78]

Apparently it was not acceptable to the electricity supply company and the poor purchaser really was stuck with a system that although functioning was not giving him a feed-in tariff return. He thought that he had done his due diligence by using what appeared to be an approved registered contractor. With hindsight, a phone call to the association might have saved him a lot of grief but it is probably not something you would think of as necessary (until now). An expensive lesson learned for him but a good warning to others.

I really want to install solar. I have acres of roof space on the house and sheds but stories like this just put me off. The market seems solely made up of cowboy installers! How do you pick a good company??

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

The market seems solely made up of cowboy installers!

Chancers are everywhere unfortunately

I usually look on companies house...not fool proof but gives you a very good idea I think.

 

[Gareth J]

I really want to install solar. I have acres of roof space on the house and sheds but stories like this just put me off. The market seems solely made up of cowboy installers! How do you pick a good company??

Do it yourself?

You can even, if you get a helpful MCS installer, DIY them pay them to sign it off. MCS is now worth it again as electric companies are paying ~10-20p per exported unit. Octopus is trialling accepting non MCS registered installs now too I believe.

 

[DAPPH]

I really want to install solar. I have acres of roof space on the house and sheds but stories like this just put me off. The market seems solely made up of cowboy installers! How do you pick a good company??

What's wrong with constructing your own stand alone and charging up batteries then inverting it for 240 volts when needed in the home workshop on red dedicated switched wall sockets ( like my stand by genny wiring ) Talk with Fizzy to learn what he proposes in his place in Portugal .
I'm pals with a 10 acre small holder , he's out in the sticks they are entirely dependent on solar charged batteries and have a small back up diesel genny for low light days . Getting an electricity board supply was quoted at nearly £26 K

 

[Gareth J]

I really want to install solar. I have acres of roof space on the house and sheds but stories like this just put me off. The market seems solely made up of cowboy installers! How do you pick a good company??

Solar PV Installations

We have been installing Solar PV since 2006, our commercial experience has covered every aspect of Solar PV projects, from the initial enquiry through to design, planning, grid connection, installation, commissioning and ongoing O&M.

www.naturalgen.co.uk

I used this company for two projects ~10-12 yes ago, had contact for a good while afterwards with servicing and they were always good to deal with. Still in business anyway, which is a good sign! MoleEnergy should also operate in your area and have a good reputation.

Good installers will focus on European inverters and high end panels, to limit problems. Comes at a cost.

 

[Red'n'Black]

I really want to install solar. I have acres of roof space on the house and sheds but stories like this just put me off. The market seems solely made up of cowboy installers! How do you pick a good company??

I can't offer any advice, other than don't use the company that came cold-calling on my Gran. In southwest Scotland, where it's overcast for much of the year.

They easiest pitch of the roof to get at from the road was across the top of the garage, so that's where they installed it. In other words, facing North.

Don't know if it would have ever paid for itself but she popped her clogs a few years later so we never found out. My Dad, who's normally an enthusiast for this stuff, was fuming when he found out but it was all legally watertight so there was nothing he could do.

Be careful out there...