We are mostly very pleased with what we have had done. However, we have encountered some problems/inconveniences, as listed below:
DOUBLE-GLAZING
SOLAR PANELS
INTERNAL WALL INSULATION
DUAL-FLUSH TOILET
RAINWATER
KITCHEN AND PORCH
DOUBLE-GLAZING
- Substantial disruption when we had the double-glazing done throughout the house over a period of 2 months but we were very pleased with the results.
SOLAR PANELS
- Although we checked the state of the roof before the panels were installed, we didn't realise the bad state of the chimney, so some panels had to be taken down for it to be repaired (including the need for scaffolding). We did, however, decide to have optimisers fitted to the panels at the same time, so now they work more efficiently than before. (Optimisers were not available when we had the panels put up.)
- it is important to make sure that plants do not climb onto the solar panels. We made the mistake of letting our wisteria climb up there. Unfortunately we can't see the roof properly from the garden, so it is very easy not to notice it. Luckily it could be removed when there was scaffolding in place for work on the gutter. We now keep a good eye on the wisteria.
INTERNAL WALL INSULATION
- Substantial disruption when each room was insulated - we usually needed a 'rest' before the next one is done. .
- Some walls had damp, which had to dealt with before the insulation was done.
- All pipes and electric cables on walls to be insulated had to be moved/relocated. But there was an opportunity for new ones to be put in during the work.
- Care must be taken in the future that down pipes or gutters don’t leak onto insulated walls and cause damp behind the insulation.
- Care needs to be taken hanging pictures on the insulated walls.
DUAL-FLUSH TOILET
- We had problems initially with the dual flush toilet overflowing [apparently a common problem and not at all obvious that it was happening]. The water is not cut off properly when the cistern is full, eventually overflowing into the toilet pan - click here for more details.
RAINWATER
- The grey water tank may not be sufficient at all times, so we sometimes need mains top-up.
- Although all the rainwater is collected and used, or dispersed on our property, we can’t avoid the ‘surface water’ charge, without an additional meter, because some of it is used to flush toilets (and so ends up in the sewers).
- The pump once stopped working and needed to be replaced. Luckily the mains top-up worked!
KITCHEN AND PORCH
- The glazed in porch acts as a greenhouse and is too hot during warmer months when the sun shines. Installing white blackout blinds has helped a bit.
- The utility room also has the boiler and hot water tank in it, so sometimes is rather too warm (a pre-existing problem exacerbated by glazing-in the porch).