How a historic lace mill was revamped with a ZEB and Sunamp complete heating solution.
About You & Your Home
I live in a 1 bed property which is part of a converted old lace mill. It is a flat which meant a heat pump wasn’t an option.
Previously we had a gas boiler, however due to complications in the building the gas was condemned which meant we had to find an alternative heating solution. We used plug in oil radiators which offered heat but at a substantially more expensive cost than the gas boiler. It became a case of using heat when cold rather than keeping the flat at a constant temperature. This has resulted in moisture and damp building up in the property.
Due to the gas being out of use I had to start looking for alternative solutions and I wanted to go for something much greener which also wouldn’t cost a fortune to run. Initially this was a heat pump but sadly just not an option for my apartment.
Why You Chose the ZEB (Heating) + Sunamp (Hot water)
I wanted to reduce my carbon footprint and do my part in tackling climate change, but I also needed a solution that was reliable, could work for my particular property and wouldn’t significantly increase my energy bills.
I first heard about ZEB through Octopus. As an Octopus customer I was looking for an alternative heating solution and then came across the ZEB on their website. It was then after speaking to tepeo that they suggested the solution of the Thermino by Sunamp as a great space saving hot water solution.
Whilst exploring greener alternatives, a heat pump was off limits due to me being in a flat. Direct electric might also have been very expensive to run hence why the ZEB sounded like a good middle ground. Likewise as the Thermino delivers hot water efficiently on demand and offers mains-pressure hot water without being big and bulky, I thought this type of integration made sense. Space was also an issue and the Sunamp alongside the ZEB took up a similar amount of space as my previous boiler, without the need for a large hot water tank.
Something that didn’t burn fossil fuels was the best possible outcome I was hoping for, as well as a heating system which allowed me to take advantage of electricity at the cheapest and greenest times.
I really wanted something that would integrate seamlessly with my existing set up at home without the need for drastic changes.
I also really appreciated the support of the tepeo team and installer (Selby Heating.)
Getting Set Up
The installation was pretty straightforward and was finished in a week. It was good seeing the guys in action and they kept me updated with progress as we went.
In terms of time, cost and disruption it was far less than expected, the whole process was completed within a week including removing the old system, flushing the radiators and installing the ZEB, Sunamp and new mains shower.
Living with the ZEB and Sunamp solution
I have the ZEB and Sunamp installed for 6 weeks now.
The ZEB has kept the bathroom and utility room nice and toasty, while the charge slowly depleted during use. The hot water from the Sunamp is costing around 50p a day and provides water for multiple showers, again much lower running costs than anticipated.
The app is great, smart, simple and intuitive. Looking forward to using it more once I actually need to heat my apartment during winter.
Your Thoughts So Far
I have hot water again in my apartment and a toasty bathroom when needed. I am confident that all money spent on the ZEB has added straight to the value of my apartment.
100% it has met my expectations and will continue to exceed these once the outside temperature drops.
Have you recommended it to anyone else?
Several people in my building have been to look at it as it is a solution very few knew about. They have commented on the warmth of the unit plus benefits of the mains shower.
And Finally…quick fire round!
If you could do anything differently, what would it be?
I should have contacted tepeo sooner, that would have been one less cold and expensive winter.
What advice would you give to someone who’s thinking about getting a ZEB + Thermino?
Speak with them and get them to give you a demonstration. I was sceptical that it would work but it really does.