Re: OT - Does anyone have any experience with Ice Energy heatpumps

["russ_olivant" <russolivant@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,
I've not contributed to this forum for a long long time....

I have a GeoBoiler heat pump, they commissioned it and then basically
disap=
peared of the face of the earth...

In the 10 years I've had it, it's failed about 5 times.

3 or 4 times we've had minor leaks resulting in low pressure - these have
b=
een down to poor soldering. The more major time, the primary heat
exchanger=
sprung a refrigerant leak.

We've also had the controller fail - a Mitsubishi Alpha - luckily when
Geob=
oiler disappeared, I bought a spare Alpha controller, and downloaded the
co=
ntrol software from the installed controller, so when the controller
failed=
, I simple plugged the new one in :-)

Now after 10 years, the scroll compressor was sounding a little rough, so
t=
his summer we took the opportunity to replace it with a 3phase scroll
compr=
essor - cost around =A3500.

I'd say now, that we (and our friendly air conditioning engineer) are very
=
familiar with the GeoBoiler, and quite happy to fix any issue our selves.

At the beginning I thought the heat pump was a bad purchase - but
comparing=
our bills (electricity versus other's elec + gas/oil,  we pay significantl=
y less that other houses of similar sizes), I'm happy with our purchase.

When we were originally looking at heat pumps, I did have a few chats with
=
Ice Energy, but in the end went with Geoboiler, as they were significantly
=
cheaper, and could supply a unit without integrated hot water tanks.

More recently when the scroll compressor was on it's way out, I again
looke=
d at Ice Energy, and their heat pumps are very impressive - but also very
e=
xpensive!!

Russ


--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Neil Ball" <neilball@...> wrote:
>
> I have a Nibe heat pump which is around 3 years old and apart from
some
> sensors failing have had no issues with it to date. I also see a lot
of h=
eat
> pump installations in my day job with various issues. In most cases
the
> reliability is good, although the mechanical parts are as likely to
fail =
as
> in any other kind of system. What I come across a lot is system
failures =
due
> to problems outside of the heat pump unit - shut down on loss of
pressure
> due to minor leaks for example.
>=20
>=20=20
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> 5 failures seems a lot, are they all the same problem or for different
> issues? Does your unit not have any immersion heater backup? My unit
has
> this although this only provides 6kW of heat input which would not
cope i=
n
> the coldest weather. This would keep me going if the ground loop
system
> failed or I lost the compressor. If the main controls on the unit fail
th=
at
> would leave me with nothing though so there is always a potential for
a f=
ull
> system failure.
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> What you do highlight is that the main suppliers do not have the
service
> infrastructure in place to deal with problems as quickly as most would
li=
ke,
> but again I also see similar problems with some of the more
sophisticated
> boiler systems that have hit the market and can only be supported by a
sm=
all
> number of specialised service technicians.
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> Neil B.
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> From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
> Gary Tall
> Sent: 20 February 2011 11:07
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: [ukha_d] OT - Does anyone have any experience with Ice Energy
> heatpumps
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> I have one, been running 3 years and its failed this weekend for the
fift=
h
> time leaving us with no hot water, no heat and they are currently
telling=
me
> it will be 7-10 days before they can get someone to me.
>=20
> Buying a GSHP is undoubtedly the worst thing I've ever spent money on
and
> the attitude of this company stinks as its in still in warranty. I'm
> interesting in seeing whether this is pretty normal for GSHP's and
> suppliers.
>=20
> Regards
>=20
> Gary
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> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>




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