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1

General Discussion Area / Re: Biomass boilers

« on: 07 December 2025, 23:20:40 »

There was a programme on a few nights ago and two families who had these air source heat pumps were complaining about how inefficient they were compared to the gas boilers they had previously, the air source pumps were struggling to provide enough warmth and were costing an absolute fortune to run.

An all-too-common story in this country. People slinging in the wrong sized units, usually without determining the requirements of the other elements of the system properly. The problem is that gas boilers are easy when it comes this, you just sling in one that's a bit bigger than it needs to be, and bobs-your-uncle. Sure it runs slightly inefficiently, but no one ever really notices.

With heat pumps it makes a big difference. The technology is proven to be effective, if deployed correctly, we just don't really have the knack here yet. Or the housing stock in many cases.

2

General Discussion Area / Re: Biomass boilers

« on: 07 December 2025, 21:48:09 »

Only one experience, neighbor had one (bearing in mind this was 10+ yrs ago). It was a right PITA. It was fed by wood pellets, so needed a massive hopper with a screw arrangement to pull them into the boiler. It was dead fussy on pellet size or it got jammed up. Dead fussy on pellet water content (too high and it gave out break all heat) so you either had to time your deliveries perfectly or use an electric drier to keep the water content down in your pellet store.

In your shoes I'd fit a new oil boiler, if one was required. Or a heat pump if your house is a)well insulated and b) you can find someone who *actually* knows what they're doing to do the heat loss calcs and the install.

3

General Discussion Area / Re: What has P*ssed you off today?

« on: 05 December 2025, 15:54:25 »

I've found that for a lot of components for diy/other projects, if you take issue with eBay and Amazon, its hell's own job to actually get them. These days even a lot of the "proper" online businesses use Amazon fulfilment which means you may as well order direct and get the same dodgy service for (usually) a lower price.

4

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 03 December 2025, 11:27:19 »

Honestly I doubt it, I suspect it's all about the money. Also, my lardy EV is only about 50kg heavier than a diesel x5. Which isn't really a material amount at those kind of weights.

5

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 03 December 2025, 10:41:42 »

And ShitFit will know how to get extra out of said corporate.  For example, claiming this tyre was unrepairable, so have to fit a new one.  They probably make a few more quid on the tyre than they do on a puncture repair.

Funny you should say that, when I eveballed it, it certainly looked repairable, but apparently it was not  . The lease company certainly make them work for it though, the manager probably spent more time on the iPad, taking photos and poking menus than the other bloke did to change the tyre.

Got to hand it to them though, they had the correct one in stock, and looking around the place they carry more tyres on the shelves than probably every other tyre place round here put together. Again, I wonder if this is something to do with their corporate gig...

6

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 30 November 2025, 23:01:35 »

Obviously, your lease company don't mind being ripped off.

Or, they get a cracking deal so Kwik Fit have to make the margin by gouging joe public...

While sitting in the waiting room I heard some prices that nearly made me choke. It seems somewhere between £250 and £300 is the number of choice. Pair of discs for [some golf] £270, battery on [an Peugeot] £280.

7

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 30 November 2025, 15:53:11 »

Are you allowed to say that on here? 

 

You make a good point Ronny, to be fair to this particular lot they seem ok. Also, being on lease I don't have a choice which chain does the work.

8

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 30 November 2025, 15:45:19 »

Took it to Kwik fit to cure the hissing noise coming from the NSR tyre.

Thought it might be repairable to look at it, but apparently the hole was too big. So she's getting a new tyre. £323 had I walked in off the street. Thankfully the lease company's paying 

9

General Discussion Area / Re: Budget.

« on: 28 November 2025, 11:37:50 »

CPI is 3.6%, cash ISAs paying over 4% are easy to find.

Very true, but a) people have to be on board with chopping and changing to get the best deals, and b) over the past 5yrs those savers will have lost a shed load of spending power as its been well over 10% at points.

10

General Discussion Area / Re: Budget.

« on: 27 November 2025, 11:35:21 »

Better off spending any cash in ISAs now, can't see any point in being the richest guy in the cemetery.

Not to mention that if its in a cash ISA its likely not anywhere near keeping up with inflation, so its buying power will probably be shrinking quite dramatically with each year that goes by. 

11

General Discussion Area / Re: Boiler boffins.

« on: 26 November 2025, 23:31:30 »

Didn't even occur to me. Would this work?

YouTube seems to think so.

https://youtu.be/uBZ7NIEEvck?si=RsJt0OTwc-akTvJI

It might be useful to know what the values should be. But given the age of boiler, I suspect it won't be that precise.

 

12

General Discussion Area / Re: Boiler boffins.

« on: 24 November 2025, 18:30:04 »

If it's not igniting at all it's not the photocell. More likely the ht transformer, fuel solenoid or pump.

Thanks Kevin. I replaced the pump about 5 years ago. I don't want to replace any 'suspect' parts in the hope I may get lucky. It could cost me a fortune.

Pretty sure you could pull the photocell and test it with a torch and a multimeter. 

13

General Discussion Area / Re: Boiler boffins.

« on: 23 November 2025, 22:24:14 »

Our houses are not insulated to any kind of degree to those in Norway. You need to keep any heat which is generated, not pass it through your roof, windows and walls.

I agree 100%, I'd never advocate for one in an older house, but in the new build house Lizzie mentioned, a heat pump, correctly sized and setup should be more than up to the job.

14

General Discussion Area / Re: Boiler boffins.

« on: 23 November 2025, 21:58:56 »

I think our Lord should get rid of that dirty old boiler, replace it with an Air Source Heat Pump and save the planet! 

Not while I still have breath in my body.....

They don't seem to work very well from what I hear.

I think you may be right Opti.

One of my friends very recently moved into a brand new house which has been fitted with one of these new fangled heat pumps.  Over the last week it has become very cold down here, but she tells me the heating will only get to a certain level and no more, with her bedrooms remaining quite cold!   Another friend of mine is a master builder, and is very well qualified in the plumbing, and electrical, fields.  He says that the heat pumps have a limit on how much heat they actually push out, which is no where near as high as it is with an gas central heating system.

What the hell is going on I think?!!  Why are heat pumps being so enthusiastically promoted if they have limits for houses in our climate?!

And yet 60% of homes in Norway have them, and year ok year they don't all freeze to death...

I think it's far more likely that we in the UK don't have the expertise to size, install and configure them correctly (yet).

15

General Discussion Area / Re: 3D Printer Chat

« on: 22 November 2025, 18:42:57 »

I use tinkerCAD. One of the more basic programs (aimed at educational settings I think) but it definitely does the job of me.