16.04.2026 Heat pump installation.

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  Thursday 16th 44F/6.7C [7.00]  Overcast. Early rain clearing to a cloudy morning. 66F/19C in the room.  I kept the stove going until it reached 70F/21C last night. It seems to help. 49F/9.4C in the greenhouse.

 Up at 5.30 after a fairly sleepless night. Lower back still aching badly. No chance of a walk in this state! 

 Expecting the heat pump installers. I have been tidying and moving the furniture back from the work site. Lifted the TV off its bracket and placed it on my bed. Moved all the cables. Moved all my plants and the recycling bins outside. Their initial inspection took place at 7.15. So I am assuming a similar time for their arrival this morning.

 10.30 An update: Their first fitter had called in sick. They shuffled their customers around and arranged for a second fitter to call. Two young chaps just arrived. They chose to use a single layer of the large, paving labs. 60x30x10cm. Four, round rubber, isolation feet. Rather than using long, rubber blocks.

 13.30 Finished lunch. The lads were eating in the van. The installation work has restarted. Making very good progress. An amazing range of interesting and expensive tools required. Anyone contemplating cheating and installing one themselves has a vast expenditure ahead of them. 

 It is illegal for untrained and unqualified persons to install a heat pump. I can see why. It was satisfying watching the practiced movements of the installer. I have a large range of abilities in practical matters. With very little overlap with what I saw today. 

  My back is still very painful. I am hobbling about like an old man!

 14.00 Sunny periods.  Greenhouse door opened to the house. Now I can heat the house with the greenhouse and cool it with the heat pump. 

 14.40 Job done. Tested thoroughly. The customer was advised about maintenance and filter cleaning. I was shown the remote control functions. It all works. Tested from hot to cold. They even lifted my TV back onto the wall bracket. It nearly killed me to move it this morning. Very pleasant, helpful and competent young men. They sought my input on every decision where it mattered. Siting, cable runs, spacing, etc. I am a very happy bunny. 

 Once the room has been brought up to the set temperature it all goes very, very quiet. Set to Auto and 20C/68F on the remote. 21C was too warm. Two long blades pivot silently on tiny stepper motors. To direct the airflow.

 I have been experimenting with open internal doors. To see if the heat pump can push air right around the loop. I have to keep turning down the temperature on the remote. The thermometers are still reading 2-3 degrees above the setting on the remote. I have it at 19C and thermometers are showing 22C. Now it is blowing cold air! Endless fun ahead as I familiarise myself.

 Dinner was something simple. A salmon pasty and chips. I washed up while it cooked.

 

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