Flooring: Lime Bedding Mortar / Grout

[a twig]

My goodness, this multi-coil, partially vented system was a thought I had as an attempt to keep our back boiler woodburner in the mix while still using a convenient modern boiler, but I cannot for the life of me find a plumber who is capable of even understanding, much less implementing, such a system.

Where did you find your plumber?

You can achieve what you are after (automatic switching between a back boiler and a gas boiler) with the H2 heating panel from here - installed one this year at my parent’s house to replace an ancient Honeywell Sundial system and it works well

H2 control system

They have incredibly extensive install documentation and phone support so even a “normal” plumber could do it

 

[a twig]

Presume you’ve seen this thread?

 

[Flyfisher]

The plumber I used was recommended by the builder who built our kitchen extension. I explained what I wanted to do and he immediately understood the issue. I think that's the only practical way to find the right people. Some won't be interested (or know how to do it) and some will have a chip on their shoulder about the customer possibly knowing more than they do. In my experience, a detailed discussion usually flushes out those who don't want to get involved, for whatever reason. And the thing is, it really doesn't matter WHY they don't want to get involved and there's no point in pushing the issue.

I think there are a number of ways of combining different heat sources within a single system. When I first started considering combining the boiler stove and gas boiler, I came across this Dunsley 'neutraliser' (https://dunsleyheat.co.uk/neutralizer.html). I think it also depends if you want to add an additional heat source to an existing system or whether, like mine, it was a totally new installation.

On a related topic, I've found that few trades people seem to be familiar with any of the various 'home automation' systems now available. I recently started using the 'Home Assistant' system to control a variety of 'smart' devices around the house, partly because it's the sort of thing that interests me but also because it does have genuinely useful possibilities. However, I'm mindful that when they finally carry me out of the house, no-one else will be able to figure out how it all works. Still, it won't worry me by then!

 

[a twig]

Interestingly I’ve found that the younger “renewables” installers are often more au fait with this stuff than traditional plumbers.

Getting a house to run on a mix of photovoltaic / solar heating / air/ground source heat pumps seems to leave them better equipped and up to speed with control systems that are more modern than than hard-wired 3 way valves controlling zones

Obviously usual caveat emptor as the renewables industry has its fair share of cowboys

 

[Lacan07]

That'll be a 7 meter deep well that the conservation officer insisted that we keep covered up with a stone gatepost. Thank goodness for the appeal system.

Lovely, how deep down is the water table?

 

[Glenn586]

Lovely, how deep down is the water table?

Towards the back end of summer we have two meters of water and five of fresh air. Towards the end of winter we have six meters of water and one of fresh air. Fortunately we live half way up a valley.