Is an Air Source Heat Pump efficient enough in a damp bungalow for someone who has disabilities?

Hey ​@Viv1966,

I can see our community members have offered some helpful advice here. 

Just wanted to add as you mentioned that you have disabilities, ​​the Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free service for people who have extra communication, access or safety needs. Each energy supplier has their own PSR. It’s a system developed by Ofgem, the UK’s energy regulator, to make sure help’s available for those who need it.
 

How the Priority Services Register can help you

• Alternative communication – if you’re visually impaired, we can send black and white, large print, audio or braille bills and statements to you and/or a family member/carer. We can also give you a call to read out your bills and statements to you if you prefer. 
• Free Gas Safety Checks – some PSR members can get free Gas Safety Checks. Check if you're eligible for a free check:
  • Live with a child under five years old,
  • Live alone or with others and have reached state pension age, or
  • Live alone or with others and are disabled or chronically ill,
  • Live with others who have reached state pension age or are disabled, chronically ill or under 18 years old
• I’m eligible. How do I apply? Just call 0330 303 5063 (8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 2pm on Saturday) and we’ll get you booked in

• What happens at a gas safety check?
  • A Gas Safe registered engineer will come to your home to check the safety of your gas appliances and other gas fittings.
  • They’ll also examine the effectiveness of any flue, the supply of combustion air, its operating pressure and/or heat input and whether it's working safely. If the engineer spots anything that’s faulty or not safe, they’ll disconnect your gas supply before they leave
  • The Gas Safe Register replaced CORGI as the gas registration body in Great Britain and the Isle of Man on 1 April 2009.
• Notice of planned power cuts – we’ll tell you well in advance of planned power cuts. This is especially important if you have medical equipment that needs power. 
• Move your meter or Pay As You Go meter – if you find it difficult to read or reach your meter, we can move it for easier access. 
• Send an engineer to read your meter – if you can’t read your meter, we’ll send someone over to help. For your peace of mind, you can ask our OVO engineer to use a password, so you know who you’re letting in.

Hi ​@Peter E, ​@Emmanuelle_OVO  and ​@juliamc. ​@Peter E  thank you for sticking around your advice is what I need, ​@Emmanuelle_OVO  yes I am aware about the PSR list and appled to be put on there when I joined Ovo which was two or three years ago now, although I dont get notified of any forewarned power outtages though. ​@juliamc  the combi boiler we had would enable us to get hot water on demand.  We don't have hot water at present so we use  an electric shower as our boiler is defunct. We have 6 radiators.  As said previously I have a couple more questions for you all , so please stick around as ​@Peter E  says!  You have all been so helpful. Thank you so much!

​@Viv1966 there is a scheme where you can visit a home with a heat pump, https://www.visitaheatpump.com. There might be one near you depending where you are in the country. The scheme is run by Nesta https://www.nesta.org.uk

Hi ​@Viv1966 ,

there is a lot of good advice already here. I just wanted to say that after a while, assessing options, we went ahead with a heat pump install in March this year. I put a couple of diary entries together to share our experience. 

Of course we haven’t been through a winter with it yet but so far the outcome has been good. My wife needs heat and was unconvinced before my research but she’s now won over, especially as our bills (compared to last year) have reduced as well.

Hi ​@juliamc and ​@BPLightlog.  Thank you for all the info.  I will definitely be looking at that website and I will read your diary thank you. All this is so helpful to me right now.  The other thing I wanted to know is my partner has  COPD, so  do you think she should be around whilst works take place?  I imagine there will be plenty of dust ​about @PeterE, @Emmanuelle_OVO @Ben OVO.

The drilling of bricks, breeze block and plaster where these are present is a very dusty process so it would be sensible for anybody who doesn't need to be there to keep away whilst that is happening. Older houses have asbestos as well so that should also be a concern. The Artex ceilings from the 70s often contained asbestos as well.

Peter

​@Viv1966 how are you getting on with your investigations into heat pumps ?

Hi Everyone,

You may  remember me from last year i was looking for answers regarding having air source heat pump installed as my oil boiler had been condemnedby our housing association. Well we still don't have a heating system but we are looking at Storage heaters and i have been asked to arrange  with Ovo to have a new Smart Meter put in. I already have a smart meter installed just so you all know. I spoke to someone at Ovo last night and he/ she said "you just need to change your tarriff." Is this correct? I need to let my housin association know fairly sharpish so if anyone is around to let me know that would be great!!

You were all so helpful to me before which i was so grateful for i thought i would speak to you all first before speaking to an Ovo official if you  get my drift! Then i'll know what to expect.....thank you once again hope you had a great Christmas and New Year!

​hello again - I’ve been wondering how you were getting on. 

@Firedog is the expert on storage heaters. What will they do for your hot water ?

​@juliamc we now have a medium sized water heater which works very well i must add.