ᐅ Air source heat pump is not heating, but hot water works fine
Created on: 4 Oct 2018 07:21
S
Snowside
Hello everyone,
After it initially seemed like our construction would proceed without major issues, we now face a serious problem.
We have an air-to-water heat pump from Tecalor, installed by our plumbing specialist and inspected by Tecalor about 10 weeks ago. (We have been living in the house for just over 12 weeks.) The Tecalor representative was very impressed with the heating contractor’s work and assured us that he has known him for a long time and that he always does an excellent job. He said there was hardly any need to check much because the quality of work is always that good.
Well, now that the warm season is over, we discovered on Monday that our system is not heating. We do have hot water, but the underfloor heating does absolutely nothing. The plumbing company came by on Tuesday but could not get the heating to work either. I immediately tried to arrange an appointment with Tecalor on Tuesday, but the woman on the phone told me the earliest available appointment was Monday. Considering the temperature in the bathroom was only 16°C (61°F), I found that offer quite unreasonable and told her so, but all I got was a dismissive "What am I supposed to do if all employees are busy?" Reluctantly, I accepted the appointment; what else could I do?
Of course, we are now facing the worst-case scenario: on Monday, someone from Tecalor comes and tells us the system must be replaced, but that this can only happen after several weeks, and until then we will be freezing. Fortunately, the weather is expected to warm up again next week, but that’s no solution either.
Is there anything I can do or demand? Even something like a portable heater for the bathroom, with the cost covered by the plumber or Tecalor? Or are there any other legal or contractual claims in cases like this?
This whole situation makes me even more frustrated because this is not the first time we have had minor disagreements with the plumbing company (prices for ceramics, the outdoor unit of the air-to-water heat pump placed too close to the garage, price of the maintenance contract). Why should I even take on a maintenance contract with a company that makes such serious mistakes? My trust in their work has definitely been shaken. And then I have to listen to the Tecalor employee telling me how great their work is.
I hope you understand my problem and my question. I think my frustration comes across clearly.
Best regards
After it initially seemed like our construction would proceed without major issues, we now face a serious problem.
We have an air-to-water heat pump from Tecalor, installed by our plumbing specialist and inspected by Tecalor about 10 weeks ago. (We have been living in the house for just over 12 weeks.) The Tecalor representative was very impressed with the heating contractor’s work and assured us that he has known him for a long time and that he always does an excellent job. He said there was hardly any need to check much because the quality of work is always that good.
Well, now that the warm season is over, we discovered on Monday that our system is not heating. We do have hot water, but the underfloor heating does absolutely nothing. The plumbing company came by on Tuesday but could not get the heating to work either. I immediately tried to arrange an appointment with Tecalor on Tuesday, but the woman on the phone told me the earliest available appointment was Monday. Considering the temperature in the bathroom was only 16°C (61°F), I found that offer quite unreasonable and told her so, but all I got was a dismissive "What am I supposed to do if all employees are busy?" Reluctantly, I accepted the appointment; what else could I do?
Of course, we are now facing the worst-case scenario: on Monday, someone from Tecalor comes and tells us the system must be replaced, but that this can only happen after several weeks, and until then we will be freezing. Fortunately, the weather is expected to warm up again next week, but that’s no solution either.
Is there anything I can do or demand? Even something like a portable heater for the bathroom, with the cost covered by the plumber or Tecalor? Or are there any other legal or contractual claims in cases like this?
This whole situation makes me even more frustrated because this is not the first time we have had minor disagreements with the plumbing company (prices for ceramics, the outdoor unit of the air-to-water heat pump placed too close to the garage, price of the maintenance contract). Why should I even take on a maintenance contract with a company that makes such serious mistakes? My trust in their work has definitely been shaken. And then I have to listen to the Tecalor employee telling me how great their work is.
I hope you understand my problem and my question. I think my frustration comes across clearly.
Best regards
Snowside schrieb:
Am I entitled to have someone share the additional costs? It would definitely help to know what exactly is broken. Regardless, I would hold your contractual partner responsible under warranty and announce that you will charge the additional costs. However, it is unlikely to be a very large amount.
@dab_dab First post, second sentence.
So far, none of the technicians or craftsmen who have been on site have been able to tell me what the actual issue is.
Summary:
10/01 – Problem reported to the plumbing company.
10/02 – Plumber on site, unable to fix the problem, but read the error "min overheated" and passed it on to the Tecalor technician.
10/08 – Tecalor technician visited and said the expansion valve of the outdoor unit was defective. He apparently didn’t notice that the heating system wasn’t working and only focused on the "min overheated" error. Later, over the phone, he told me that in emergency mode both hot water and heating should run. If not, I should inform the plumber again. The heating is not working even in emergency mode, and I have already informed the plumber.
Anyway, the Tecalor technician will only come back on 10/15 to install the new valve. I have serious doubts that the heating will work after that.
So far, none of the technicians or craftsmen who have been on site have been able to tell me what the actual issue is.
Summary:
10/01 – Problem reported to the plumbing company.
10/02 – Plumber on site, unable to fix the problem, but read the error "min overheated" and passed it on to the Tecalor technician.
10/08 – Tecalor technician visited and said the expansion valve of the outdoor unit was defective. He apparently didn’t notice that the heating system wasn’t working and only focused on the "min overheated" error. Later, over the phone, he told me that in emergency mode both hot water and heating should run. If not, I should inform the plumber again. The heating is not working even in emergency mode, and I have already informed the plumber.
Anyway, the Tecalor technician will only come back on 10/15 to install the new valve. I have serious doubts that the heating will work after that.
Not according to the description. I would get a third plumber who specializes in heat pumps to take a look. Or, as already mentioned, just check it yourself. Owning a property comes with responsibility, and you should understand how your heating system works. You’ll probably get help faster on the Rosa forum than from all the plumbers and technicians. While you can still rely on the responsibilities of the construction company, which you’re probably right about, that won’t make your house warm.
The system is probably running now...
The heating engineer did not bleed the system and also didn’t check it last week. He refilled the water but did not bleed it. Due to the large amount of air in the system, the expansion valve of the outdoor units was damaged over time and failed.
It can be that simple and stupid. I won’t let that plumber into my house again.
Regards
The heating engineer did not bleed the system and also didn’t check it last week. He refilled the water but did not bleed it. Due to the large amount of air in the system, the expansion valve of the outdoor units was damaged over time and failed.
It can be that simple and stupid. I won’t let that plumber into my house again.
Regards
H
HilfeHilfe16 Oct 2018 19:27Snowside schrieb:
The system seems to be running now...
The heating installer did not bleed the system and also did not check it last week. He refilled water but did not bleed the air out. Due to the large amount of air in the system, this eventually damaged the expansion valve of the outdoor units and caused it to fail.
It can be that simple and careless. I don’t want that plumber in my house anymore.
Regards Okay, and who performs your system’s annual maintenance?
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