u/cavehare — reddlx

Heating options - a2a, a2w, gas combi

On the picture you can see that my house is surrounded on 3 sides (it's a back to back terrace) which means there's no external space at the back for an external unit.

At the front, the yard is only just over a metre deep and faces onto the street. There is also very limited frontage space on the actual building, what with window/door apertures and plumbing.

Earlier in the year I had a Heatgeek survey done. While the survey was useful (my heat loss is 5.1kw), I'd hoped that this would be a route to explore different options for my unusual requirement, and unfortunately it wasn't. The only option available was a 5kw external unit mounted at 1st floor level.

That's not completely out of the question, I'm not in a conservation area, but my local council requires planning permission and does not offer any support (which means retaining a planning consultant, which really isn't cheap).

What struck me as possible was a monobloc heat pump unit indoors and vented to the outdoors rather than with an external unit, but I couldn't find anything on the market that matched that description. Those kinds of less obvious options were something I'd hoped for from Heatgeek advice.

Since then, I've planned in some renovations which include interior insulation on the remaining uninsulated section of wall (the 1st floor, which will reduce the heat loss), and replacing the existing Ideal combi boiler which is around 12 years old. This work is taking place in September so I still have time to replan options.

The recent heatwave set me wondering about A2A units (I have 4kw solar + battery), and in looking I accidentally discovered these Trianco units which are exactly what I envisaged:

https://trianco.co.uk/catalog/indoor-air-source-heat-pumps

So now I'm wondering between the following options:

a2w Trianco in place of my existing boiler
Retain my existing boiler during the renovation, leaving space to put the Trianco or similar in the same location later
Retain or replace my existing boiler and install an a2a interior monobloc in the attic room (largest bedroom, used as an office & lounge) to supplement gas heating, using any surplus solar power.

The combi is the only gas appliance in the house, the cooker is induction/electric.

Has anyone got any experience with interior heat pumps like this, or any suggestions/comments about this scenario?

Edit: Yes, I know 1st floor external unit facing the street requires planning permission (see para 4). That's what I'm talking about - it's going to add considerably to the cost to pursue planning, and the Trianco units I've linked above do not have an external unit (and neither do interior monobloc a2a units e.g. Panasonic RAC Solo)

u/cavehare — 4 days ago

▲ 26 r/HousingUK

Just a reminder to talk to your solicitors and make sure they're actually representing your interests, rather than descending into a bureaucratic black hole.

We've got searches going on at the moment, and the buyers solicitors are repeatedly demanding original guarantee documents that we don't have, for windows that were fitted over twenty years ago by Everest (who have long since gone bust). These documents have zero value to the purchaser, we don't have them anyway (selling on behalf of a family member who has dementia), but the buyers solicitor is holding things up on search items that have already been addressed.

In the last few years conveyancing has turned into an absolute shitshow. I think it's the "do it cheapest" race to the bottom.

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u/cavehare — 2 months ago

▲ 234 r/trailrunning

After a number of experiences at a race this weekend, I have a few asks of those who use poles in races:

please try to be aware of those behind you. Anyone wishing to overtake going uphill has to stay a lot further back to be clear of your poles, and so it's less obvious to you that they are waiting for an opportunity to pass.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, LET GO OF YOUR POLE BEFORE LOOKING AT YOUR WATCH! If it's not on a strap, put it in the other hand. If it is, let it dangle from your wrist. Whatever you choose, just stop swinging your pole round in a bloody great arc so everyone has to dive out of the way every time you check your pace.
please consider folding and stowing your poles before going into aid stations, or maybe just leave them outside. Aid stations are crowded, bustling places - long sharp pointy sticks are not helpful. I got hit in the head saturday night when someone leaned their poles against a table and they slid sideways into the seating space.

Poles can be really useful, I occasionally use them myself, but they need to be used with care for other competitors. Thanks for listening.

Location: UK.

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u/cavehare — 2 months ago