Guide to Implementing Electrified Heat.... - a worthwhile buy?

Hi Alan, as you're becoming an expert on ASHP could you confirm that there really is an economic benefit of these over gas or oil. ( ignoring the spurious supposed green credentials that is)

There is no financial incentive to fit a G/ASHP, in place of a gas CH system. Currently.

If gas goes up to over half the price of electric, then they will be cheaper to run, but, currently, they are not anywhere near as cheap to run as gas central heating, and install cost is at least 2 times the cost of a gas CH system. I'm currently paying 7p for gas and 26p for electric. If the gas was 14p, it may be around break even point.

At best, you can get a 4:1 benefit, i.e. you put 1kWh in, and get 4 out. That is at best. When it is below 5 degrees outside, you will not be getting that good a ratio. 

I'm getting one as my new house has no mains gas. Add in PV panels and battery back up, and the electricity used will go down enough to make it worthwhile. It'll also be very well insulated, so will need less power to heat it in the first place, and will retain that heat far better.  this is the perfect environment for a ASHP.  Poorly insulated solid brick houses are the worst, and just would not be suitable for an ASHP, though some of the fly-by-night companies getting on the bandwagon now are fitting them in these types of houses. It is only 6 months later when the homeowners get the huge electric bills that they find out they have been conned.

Most of the work is in the design. That will include a good survey of the property and calculation of its heat losses. Then the ASHP is sized, along with the radiant outputs, for the property. 

There is no financial incentive to fit a G/ASHP, in place of a gas CH system. Currently.

If gas goes up to over half the price of electric, then they will be cheaper to run, but, currently, they are not anywhere near as cheap to run as gas central heating, and install cost is at least 2 times the cost of a gas CH system. I'm currently paying 7p for gas and 26p for electric. If the gas was 14p, it may be around break even point.

At best, you can get a 4:1 benefit, i.e. you put 1kWh in, and get 4 out. That is at best. When it is below 5 degrees outside, you will not be getting that good a ratio. 

I'm getting one as my new house has no mains gas. Add in PV panels and battery back up, and the electricity used will go down enough to make it worthwhile. It'll also be very well insulated, so will need less power to heat it in the first place, and will retain that heat far better.  this is the perfect environment for a ASHP.  Poorly insulated solid brick houses are the worst, and just would not be suitable for an ASHP, though some of the fly-by-night companies getting on the bandwagon now are fitting them in these types of houses. It is only 6 months later when the homeowners get the huge electric bills that they find out they have been conned.

Most of the work is in the design. That will include a good survey of the property and calculation of its heat losses. Then the ASHP is sized, along with the radiant outputs, for the property.