Electric combi boilers / solar panels / eco heating solutions

Has anyone got an electric combi?

Cheers. Suspect it probably isn't worth it which is annoying as whether or not we do the loft is fairly vague.

About to enter this thread in a big way.
Had out surgery out for a heat pump yesterday and that should be installed before Christmas.

Also about to put a deposit down on 14 solar panels and a 7kWh battery to be installed in the new year.

Super excited for both. Updates to come soon hopefully.

Nope, but hoping to replace an oil combi with something else after this winter. Keeping a close eye on this lot - https://www.tepeo.com/ - who are supposed to be coming out with an electric combi in 2024. Feels like it will suit us much better than a heat pump for retrofitting and running cost reasons with cheap overnight electric. Doesn’t have the efficiency benefits of a heat pump, but I really want something that doesn’t need a hot water tank.

Nice, we’ve only got space on our stupidly shaped roof for 5 panels, so hasn’t seems cost effective for now. If you haven’t already, have a look at the various smart electric tariffs from Octopus energy. They’ve got great options for battery/heat pump. Happy to give a referral if you’d like one.

Thanks. Heat pump install is through octopus so I think we get a special tariff but definitely happy to take a referral if it’s mutually beneficial.

We’re on a decent tariff until march anyway at 19p per kWh at any time of the day so we’ll probably stick with that until then.

Sounds a nice idea but until renewable electricity is priced on par with gas now people fitting those are in for a shock.
Electricity needs to be nationalised and priced so that surplus goes into renewable infrastructure and not shareholders pockets.
As somebody who did what they can insulation wise on an all electric shoddy 80’s build with dormer rooves with smart storage heaters/ triple glazing/ 270mm insulation in the loft etc the costs of economy 7 are now stratospheric even for the ‘cheap’ nighttime electricity and nothing like the prices for electric car charging or the average agile daytime prices.

I have internally insulted our 1960’s flat (65mm Kingspan) and the secondary glazing goes in next week (low-E glass and thermal blinds)
Bigger pipes and rads all in readiness for a no gas future but I’m not looking forward to the electricity bills even at pre last years increases.

If you’re not already an octopus energy customer then their referral gives both referrer and referred accounts £50 credit.
Mine is https://share.octopus.energy/best-koala-672

Do you know which heatpump the are installing? I did the online quote last week and was offering me the daikon rather than there new model. Was also slightly put off by how cheap it was, quoted 1600 versus 6500 quote from heatgeeks who I am very confident would do a far better install and support but 5k is a big difference

We can’t get mains gas. Our oil combi uses around 900l per year, which cost £600 earlier in the year. Add on £120 for boiler servicing is total £720.

900l oil is about 7750kWh of heat assuming 80% efficiency. If we got that from a tepeo electric combi at 87% efficiency (from their website), that would be nearly 9000kWh electric. At 7.5p current overnight price of Intelligent Octopus, that would be £675 + no servicing costs.

Unless I’ve missed something, which is entirely possible, at my current electric prices a Tepeo combi seems worth considering - granted the thing hasn’t been released yet, but like I said, I’m keeping an eye on them because I want to replace the oil burner asap.

They did have it on the quote but I can’t access it now it’s gone to final pricing. Will update when I get the costs.

Is that just for hot water? In the sticks here with oil for water / heating and we go through north of £2000 a year in oil.

When Rishi announced the delay to phase out of gas someone on the news said that a new generation of heat pumps will heat to the same temps as a gas boiler.

I'm just pondering what to replace the oil boiler with. Not a lot of roof space for solar on our 30's money pit

“ At 7.5p current overnight price of Intelligent Octopus”

15.8p (nighttime) on E7 Octopus the new tariff they are offering is a similar price saving £4 per month and 100% renewables.
Maybe I should change my point to “make E7 nighttime rates the same as other tariffs not “Electric boilers using cheap rate electricity are expensive”.

That’s heating and hot water, we’re in Dorset with two of us in the house both wfh, don’t use much hot water through choice. Central heating at 19.

That's an inexpensive house to run. may be a bit colder for longer here in Cumbria. Rickety old house doesn't help, needs knocking down and rebuilding lol

We also have a logburner!

We are 4 months into our solar panel journey. We’ve spent less than £10 on electricity in that time. Our gas usage is zero. All in all very pleased with the start.

I assume you have a battery? What are using for hot water? Heat pump or solar diverter?

Yes, a 6kw battery (approx) and a solar diverter which works an absolute treat.

Octopus ASHP woes:

• Apparently a structural engineer report/survey is needed to install the unvented cylinder (200L capacity + 50kg) in the airing cupboard, which currently has a 140 litre vented one. If its built for 140 litres 25 years ago, it should be able to support triple that if not more. £400 down the drain (still getting quotes, some were in the vicinity of £700+VAT)

• Noise level to adjacent property would be 1dB higher (maybe) so we'll need to apply for a planning permission, even though it was a BS back-of-the-napkin calculation by the surveyor. They'll offer simple guidance in filling several forms but that's it. More ££

• It's going on the front of the house adjacent to my office (was the "dining room", but we chose to eat in the cramped kitchen or conservatory instead) so I'm not sure of the noise levels on the other wide of the (double, cavity insulated) wall.

• Our 80A main fuse needs to be upgraded to 100A but it still won't be enough if we don't decommission our electric shower, which we obviously will anyway. But needs more funds to get the plumber out to replace the bathtub-mounted taps to add a shower thingy.

• They can't start the work without getting the supply unlooped, which we're waiting for 2 months and nothing has happened yet. More, next door has just sold so if the DNO comes and wants to dig out their front garden it will be interesting.

• The hobs are gas, so we'd also need to replace the range cooker, which is another ~£1.5k down the drain. Since it's already on a separate 32A for its multiple ovens I don't think more electrics are needed.

• Oh and we'd need to block off the chimney/flue/whatever. Which I'm fine with, but that's another cost item (and a person to deal with).

To add insult to injury they're suggesting to replace 10 radiators (!) so it's £3k after the BUS grant for us. Maybe just get a combi (when the boiler breaks in a few years) and let the next owners handle it in a few years?

Also about to put a deposit down on 14 solar panels and a 7kWh battery to be installed in the new year.

In addition to the ASHP woes above, I've talked to (and paid £500 to) Octopus about a solar survey. They reckon they can get 5 panels maximum on SW side, but the NE of the house has more potential... Not feeling it for just 5 panels (£5400 for just panels, +£3k for 5.2kWh battery) so if the NE thing doesn't work out, I won't go forward and hopefully will get my deposit back.

Jesus, that sounds shit.

We're lucky that a number of things work in our favour like being a 5yr old house, having a large garage roof that SW facing and we have wet UFH on the ground floor that's super efficient with an ASHP. We can also place it about 15m from the nearest boundary so no planning permission required.

All being well, we're going to have 12 panels and a 7kW battery installed before Christmas and the ASHP, new cylinder etc installed by May next year.

This sounds more hassle and money than you'll be saving. Get a decent new combi and some smart controls, and leave the rest to someone else to worry about.

Everyone: panels are getting so much cheaper!

Me: how much do they cost (TO GET THEM AND INSTALL THEM AND START SAVING)?

Everyone: about the same money you'd save over their serviceable lifetime!

Me: you mean as I break even I have to buy some more?

Everyone: They might not stop working. Might.

Really? They're about £200 for a 420w panel on my latest quote and have a 20 year min generation guarantee.

Pretty sure I'll see a return within 5 years with the system we've spec'd.

Yeah, they are supposed to be fair cheaper now. I was a presso the other day and it looked like the cost had just tanked. Yet, all the quotes for installation (note - installation, so time and materials and other costs like batteries) I've ever seen are so fucking marginal in terms of return / benefit. Someone is benefitting and I suspect it's not the consumer.

Would be good to see your working. You'd need to decouple it from the ASHP or include the cost of that in the calculations.

I'd be far happier assuming the warranty / guarantee on these things is worth the paper it's written on if a significant benefit was achievable early on in their lifetime.