Good suggestion thanks. Didn't realise that inverter could only handle power from so many panels. I've a lot to learn yetPlus 1 to as many panels as you can. Ask for an inverter that can accommodate more panels in the future. The mistake we made was getting an inverter that could only handle the power generated by 8 panels. We now want more and are faced with getting a bigger inverter
Can you expand on that a bit? I think you’d be much better off spending the solar panel money on better air tightness and insulation which will make the house more comfortable to live in, even if you don’t go for a heatpump. Although having swapped from an oil boiler to a heatpump I could not recommend it highly enough, the low slow heat is a far superior way to warm a home from a comfort perspective!I'm not mad on the idea of taking the insulation up to the point where a heat pump would be worthwhile
I'd second that, very good advice. Doing so will make a significant difference in the comfort and energy use of your home. Investing a lot up front in solar panels might save you a few quid over their lifetime, but they may end up costing you more.Can you expand on that a bit? I think you’d be much better off spending the solar panel money on better air tightness and insulation which will make the house more comfortable to live in, even if you don’t go for a heatpump.
in terms of return on investment, I'd be confident solar panels will perform a lot better than retrofitting. We've just had them fitted and I expect payback in under 10 years (possibly as low as 5 if energy prices stay high). I ran the numbers on external insulation and full retrofit and the payback was running into decades. Yes the house will be more comfortable but you'd get the same effect for less money by just turning the thermostats up.I'd second that, very good advice. Doing so will make a significant difference in the comfort and energy use of your home. Investing a lot up front in solar panels might save you a few quid over their lifetime, but they may end up costing you more.
A lot depends on the draftiness, heat retention and ventilation of the existing house.in terms of return on investment, I'd be confident solar panels will perform a lot better than retrofitting. We've just had them fitted and I expect payback in under 10 years (possibly as low as 5 if energy prices stay high). I ran the numbers on external insulation and full retrofit and the payback was running into decades. Yes the house will be more comfortable but you'd get the same effect for less money by just turning the thermostats up.
Sure, maybe I phrased my comment badly. I'm not against insulating the place really well, which I absolutely think is necessary. I just don't trust a heat pump to be able to deliver. The level of air tightness required to enable a heat pump to work efficiently is perhaps more than I want to do right now, they work best with underfloor heating which I don't want, and I feel the expertise still isn't out there in terms od the installers. There's a lot of anecdotal evidence out there of people who have got a heat pump only to regret their decision afterwards.Can you expand on that a bit? I think you’d be much better off spending the solar panel money on better air tightness and insulation which will make the house more comfortable to live in, even if you don’t go for a heatpump. Although having swapped from an oil boiler to a heatpump I could not recommend it highly enough, the low slow heat is a far superior way to warm a home from a comfort perspective!
Sorry for a simple question, but how did you 'run the numbers'? Is there a calculator somewhere?in terms of return on investment, I'd be confident solar panels will perform a lot better than retrofitting. We've just had them fitted and I expect payback in under 10 years (possibly as low as 5 if energy prices stay high). I ran the numbers on external insulation and full retrofit and the payback was running into decades. Yes the house will be more comfortable but you'd get the same effect for less money by just turning the thermostats up.
Either way, whether you decide to get solar panels doesn't really have any relevance to what you're doing with your heating system, they'll pay for themselves either way.
FWIW I think most of what you’re hearing is from people who don’t understand them or don’t like change. 60-70% of homes in Norway are heated with heatpumps, so they can deliver!Sure, maybe I phrased my comment badly. I'm not against insulating the place really well, which I absolutely think is necessary. I just don't trust a heat pump to be able to deliver. The level of air tightness required to enable a heat pump to work efficiently is perhaps more than I want to do right now, they work best with underfloor heating which I don't want, and I feel the expertise still isn't out there in terms od the installers. There's a lot of anecdotal evidence out there of people who have got a heat pump only to regret their decision afterwards.
Thanks. Appreciate the feedback. That's just what I wanted to hear. Sounds like solar is definitely the way to go.To answer your original question, yes it's definitely worth getting solar.
I got solar 4 years ago and I still think it's the best thing I ever bought.
Now that you get paid for exporting your electricity, it actually doesn't matter that you can't divert your excess solar to do the hot water. In fact I get paid more to export (20c), than it costs to import at night (10c). So even though I have a hot water diverter, I don't use it. I export my excess to the grid and I use the cheap electricity at night to heat my water.
This is a problem I have with heat pumps. Why would i get a heat pump and a boiler as well (one that is less efficient than a combi, at that)? Why not just get a combi boiler? Sure it'll be 20 years before they phase out gas to any significant extent?Mcquilk, I think if you are doing a full renovation with plumbing and electrics that actually (with the heat pump grant) it will work out much better for you to get a heat pump now. But you've already said you don't want to do this, so I won't try to convince you, however let me say this. The government are going to gradually make oil and gas boilers, more and more expensive. Eventually we will all be on heat pumps.
Now is the perfect time for you to future proof your home, so that when you do eventually get a heat pump, it'll be much quicker and much cheaper. To that end, you should insist that all the main plumbing runs should be on 32mm pipe. You should size all the radiators so that they will work well with a heat pump. And finally, with a heat pump you do need a hot water tank, so consider going with a system boiler with a new tank, instead of a combi boiler.
Those upgrades are more than half the cost of putting in a Heat Pump.
Might be misunderstanding you, but the heatpump would heat your radiators and domestic hot water, no boiler would be required.Why would i get a heat pump and a boiler as well (one that is less efficient than a combi, at that)?
Doubt even in 20 years they’ll be banned from use, but the carbon tax is making them more expensive every year.Sure it'll be 20 years before they phase out gas to any significant extent?
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