col s10 Posted August 23, 2008 Report Share Posted August 23, 2008 thinking about the possibillity of intergrating this into my central heating system.anyone done this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumbob Posted August 24, 2008 Report Share Posted August 24, 2008 Havent done this as yet but will be doing so in the near future. I've already put a flow and return pipes into the loft when we built the extension, and will be purchasing a kit and doing it myself. With the ever increasing price of gas it will be nice not to have to rely on it. one of my customers gets free hot water april to october on an old system so Im expecting better performance from a modern flask type panel. Also looking into air source heat pump but its still very new and expensive. Will post it up when in progress. PB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harpoonlouis Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 I have been spending a fair bit of time looking at manufacturers in China to see what the real cost of the panels is. B&Q off one panel fitted for £3500!!!!! for a poor flat panel design. No wonder few folks fit them. Unit prices need to be balanced with shipping costs but trying to get hold of a quarter container load looks interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davethesign Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 An air source pump is the way forward, we seem to have a problem in the UK with installing low cost heaitn units ( cheap gas combi boilers) and then they cost o fortune to run. Ground source are OK but what a nause to install, solar panels are a waste of time. I've done loads of research on this and with Air source you can get 5:1 efficieny, ie put 1 kW in and get 5 out. You'll need to look at how big you house is etc, these things can heat the water up to about 55 - 60 degrees If you are serious have a look at what they do on the continent, they have been installing these things for years, I think these should be compulsory for every new build. No I'm not an eco warrior but when my last gas bill arrived I realised it was time to do something. I'm still waiting on some more technical advice as to the best system to fit in my house but I'm defo going to have one of some sort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow Bear Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 No I'm not an eco warrior but when my last gas bill arrived I realised it was time to do something. I'm still waiting on some more technical advice as to the best system to fit in my house but I'm defo going to have one of some sort. Start with the Best insulation - then buy the womenfolk jumpers!! D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myzeneye Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 ooooo...touchy subject, im a heating engineer and just latley ive been thinking about how my career could come to a halt if i dont start looking at/learning about new technology..... gas, is one day, gonna be gone or at least cost a fortune ( iknow it does already)..... and im gonna be jobless unless i start looking at other sources of heating. ground source are good, but coslty and most people dont have the land required to install it.... solar is expensive too, and can be unreliable in this country all year round.... air source looks likely..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 air source does look good but to me a little too good, also not much experience over here for them so if you buy one now you'll be taking a good gamble on the savings made. Of course the continent is much warmer in places than here I have this little concern about how much heat can be gained from air at close to freezing but I'll happily be proved wrong. Ground source works on the principle the ground at a certain depth is warmer than the surface so I can see the idea but the air is very different. Of course in the summer you'll be fine, as for the first post as long as you have a twin coil hot water tank then solar is an option, I gather tubes give the best response rather than flat panels but depending on cost it can take a long time to recover your money. Personally at the moment our combi boiler on a 4 bed house uses @£20 a month to heat just the water so for me if I saved half that for instance then it really is going to be worthless. Of course I know gas will keep going up in price and one day will run out but at the moment its the cheapest even if I have to change it in 10 years time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 Air source is good When we researched it too death Heat King were the best - not quite 5:1 good, more like 3:1. If you have a large house you may struggle unless you go onto underfloor heating, otherwise ~8 radiators (normal 3 bed semi) works well. There is a wealth of experience over here, just not with using gas as it's primary energy source (rather than electric)...then it really would start paying for itself! The government also needs to alter the grants available - ground source heat pumps, solar etc etc all get up to £2500 grant, at the moment Air Source heat pumps are only £1500. Case studies and Heat King website: http://www.heatking.co.uk/case-studies.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myzeneye Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 funny enough, i got asked about this today..... the guy was considering it all...... but he had concerns on it being new and what problems would emerge in time... i couldnt comment as i simply didnt know..... what i did tell him was i could fit him a superb vaillant ecotec pro 28, sedbuk A rated condensing combi, convert and flush his old system for £1700 quid.... make the savings on your fuel bill by using "best practice" all part "L" compliant extras bla bla blah... use the savings from this to fund your next central heating overhaul in say 12-15 years time when the technology has changed and been proven.... o.k, there may not be much gas left by then i hear you say but its a step in the right direction for not alot of out lay..... these sedbuk A rated boilers now days are quite efficient and will deffinaitly get you using much less gas, thus countering the rising cost in the damn stuff !!! i understand there are much more efficient products out there, but setup costs right now are fennominal... and added to that, im not about to start doing myself out of a job untill ive gotten more involved with the newer types of systems ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 thats the best way, even the green forums are still yet to have many people actually using the technology and see results in the UK climate. Ground source has been proved, but I was enjoying hearing about a guy with a wood pellet boiler who was managing to go through 2 tonnes of pellets a month when the supplier told him 500kg at most. That sort of stuffed his sums up and was proving rather an expensive form of heating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
me and my lad Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 pretty certain my mates boyfriend does solar stuff. will see if i can grab a number for you, hes only up in wallasey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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