Posted this in Chat then found out that we have a Property section!
Nc for this - very obscure question to ask and hope the power (no pun!) of MN can help!
Very close to signing on the dotted line to buy a house off plan, however it has a bit of an odd heating system and having done a bit of research am a bit concerned.
It's going to have an air source heat pump for central heating and water (no gas at all) and the manufacturer and model is the Daikin Altherma Low Temperature Split system. It has a unit outside which looks like an aircon unit and a cylinder thing inside.
It's meant to be v efficient and green etc but there seems to be a few issues mentioned.
Concerns are -
- The garden is very small and apparently the outside units can be noisy. The unit is 5m away from the back of the house so you're right next to it when sat in the garden etc. Also if it blows cold air at you then you'd be close enough to always be in a draft in the garden.
- Apparently the indoor unit can be noisy too as there's hydraulics inside. Have seen a thread where someone complains that it's noisy enough to stop them sleeping.
- There's no alternative system which a few heating engineers have said is a good idea to have.
- Apparently they're very efficient but only up to a point - the system may not be powerful enough to heat a big space when it's very cold outside.
- Because they're so new, lots of engineers aren't very familiar with them so more of a pain if there is a problem.
Obviously the house isn't built yet so we can't actually be in the house and see what it's like which I suppose is a risk of buying off plan but of anyone is - or knows any - heating engineers or has one of these systems themselves then your advice would be much appreciated!