Hagg Leys Farm

Page 17 of 67

The ground source heat pump is still running!

February 24, 2014 /

After a rather “bumpy” start, I am glad to report that the ground source heat pump is still running!  It is providing all of the heating and hot water in the house since the 12th Feb.  This is much to our relief.

We still have some way to go in terms of getting all the room thermostats operational – the ones in the new extension have yet to be powered up.  We also have builders/decorators on site and it is difficult to keep the windows and doors closed all of the time.  So it is very likely that we will see some more improvements over the coming months.

Even so, the internal temperature seems to be doing well (even without the log burners going!).  However, it has yet to be fully tested in the real Yorkshire weather.  Today, it is a rather barmy 10C.

The ground source heat pump was repaired on the 12th Feb. You can see quite clearly the impact that this has had on the internal temperature of the house. The temperature gauge is in the downstairs bedroom were the temperature is set to 18C. It was also on the internal window cill where the sun (yes, it does happen occasionally in Yorkshire!) gets to it!

The ground source heat pump was repaired on the 12th Feb. You can see quite clearly the impact that this has had on the internal temperature of the house. The temperature gauge is in the downstairs bedroom were the temperature is set to 18C. It was also on the internal window cill where the sun (yes, it does happen occasionally in Yorkshire!) gets to it!

Now where is that hole again?

February 24, 2014 /

There were a number of pipes installed in the kitchen floor.  These were for various services such as water, drainage etc.  It only occurred to us a few weeks ago that one of the holes – for the extractor fan – had disappeared when the floor was screeded.

The extractor pipe was fairly obvious and we had covered the top with black plastic (to ensure that no debris went down the hole).  However, the chap putting down the screed seemed to think that this should have been cemented over!

A quick look at the plan and we found the measurements for the location of the pipe.  Unfortunately, it took a couple of goes to relocate it.

How do we find it?  We played Absolute 80’s down one end of the pipe and listened for it on the kitchen floor!  Yes, really.

The hole for the extractor fan should have been 375mm from the wall. It looks as if it was a little out, but thanks to Absolute 80's we found it!

The hole for the extractor fan should have been 375mm from the wall. It looks as if it was a little out, but thanks to Absolute 80s Radio we found it!

Old water connection terminated

February 24, 2014 /

The existing water connection was in a neighbour’s field about 200m from our property.  A single water meter fed all three of the original cottages.  The water meter was located here because in the 1980’s when it was installed, this was as far as the water main reachedre is

The problem with this location is that it is on someone else’s property and we are responsible for the pipework from the meter to our house (even if someone else digs it up).

So we decided to have a new water connection.  Cost? About £600.  When I applied for the new connection, I assumed that this would include disconnecting the old connection.  I was wrong.  When I asked, it was going to cost around £1,000 to remove the old connection.  That is more than the new connection itself!  A large part of the disconnection cost is due to the traffic signals that are required on the road while the works are completed.

We told Yorkshire Water that they could leave the old connection there.  We then had our plumber cap off the old pipework.  This would stop anyone from accidentally turning the water supply back on.

Last week, I talked to Yorkshire Water about the old meter and it turns out that there is no charge for the old meter – it will be associated with our account, but this is no cost associated with it.  Result!  On this basis, I don’t know why I would have paid to have it removed.  It isn’t inconveniencing me – in fact, it is on someone else’s land.

The old water meter (left above) is situated down a manhole about 200m from our property. It is actually located in someone else's field. We are responsible for the pipework from the water meter to our house.

The old water meter (left above) is situated down a manhole about 200m from our property. It is actually located in someone else’s field. We are responsible for the pipework from the water meter to our house.

We have now cut the water pipe and capped it off. This just leaves about 300mm of pipe from the water meter to the cap. This will prevent any problems should someone accidentally turn the supply back on.

We have now cut the water pipe and capped it off. This just leaves about 300mm of pipe from the water meter to the cap. This will prevent any problems should someone accidentally turn the supply back on.

 

Suspended wire lighting

February 22, 2014 /

We have just installed suspended wire lighting in the kitchen.  The ceiling is really too high to attach anything to the beams, so using a suspended wire system seemed like the obvious choice.

There are 2 pairs of wires – one along the line of the kitchen work surfaces, the other over the breakfast bar.  There are 4 lights on each.  These are 12v LED lights.  Each are 4.2W.  So we have about 17W of lighting on each pair of wires.

The cables are fixed to the wall using some oak mounting plaques that the joiner made.  The oak was left over from building the roof, so once these pieces of oak have been treated with Osmo, they will match the rest of the oak in the kitchen.

The suspended cable system is from SLV.  You will find the lamp holders here: http://www.slvlightingdirect.com/track-lighting/wire-12v-lighting-system/slv-181080-lamp-holder-adjustable-wire-12v-system-light-black.html.

This is the view from below. Most of what you see is actually the outside of the light bulb. It will be important to make sure that we have spares should we get any failures. These are 12v MR16 LED bulbs.

This is the view from below. Most of what you see is actually the outside of the light bulb. It will be important to make sure that we have spares should we get any failures. These are 12v MR16 LED bulbs.

We have yet to get these powered up (our electrician has done with archilles tendon playing football), but hopefully we will get these up and running next week.

We have yet to get these powered up (our electrician has done with archilles tendon playing football), but hopefully we will get these up and running next week.

An oak "plaque" has been screwed to the wall, then the chrome fittings are fixed to the oak. The oak was from the offcuts from the roof timbers, so by the time it has been treated with Osmo, it should all match.

An oak “plaque” has been screwed to the wall, then the chrome fittings are fixed to the oak. The oak was from the offcuts from the roof timbers, so by the time it has been treated with Osmo, it should all match.

The bulb forms 80% of the fitting (the plastic basket is actually part of the bulb). We need to make sure that we have some spares, otherwise we might end up with some non-matching bulbs. These are 12v LED bulbs that are rated for 25,000 hours, so hopefully it will be a while before we get any failures.

The bulb forms 80% of the fitting (the plastic basket is actually part of the bulb). We need to make sure that we have some spares, otherwise we might end up with some non-matching bulbs. These are 12v LED bulbs that are rated for 25,000 hours, so hopefully it will be a while before we get any failures.

DSC_1744

Controlling the rooflights

February 20, 2014 /

There are 3 sets of rooflights in the extension (in addition to the Veluxes in the bathrooms).  There is one set of rooflights in the kitchen and two sets in the lounge.  Each set has 5 panes – 2 of which open.  Because of the height of the ceilings, these need to be electrically controlled.

The 3 sets of rooflights cost around £6,000.  They came with very cheap plastic rocker switches – a bit disappointing given the cost of the windows.  We have replaced these and decided to control them using the Loxone kitchen.  This means that they can be controlled via switches in the house or remotely via an iPad/iPhone/PC.  This gives us the opportunity to automate the opening/closing of the rooflights – e.g. opening when a set temperature inside the property is reached or closing the rooflights when the burglar alarm is set.

Interestingly, the attention was for the Loxone kit to only control the lights, but since we have installed it we have found a number of other uses for it.

rooflights

Lights in the kitchen

February 20, 2014 /

The kitchen is due to be installed next week and we are just sorting out the lighting and the final bits of decorating.

We are using Collingwood MC020-S LED up/down lights.  These are only 1W each (or rather 1W up and 1W down) and cast out an amazing about of light.

The light on the furthest left needs to be adjusted (look at the shape of the light on the ceiling), but these start to show off the texture of the reclaimed stone wall.

The light on the furthest left needs to be adjusted (look at the shape of the light on the ceiling), but these start to show off the texture of the reclaimed stone wall.

This is the view into the kitchen from the opening in the hallway. There will be a row of kitchen units along this wall once the kitchen is installed.

This is the view into the kitchen from the opening in the hallway. There will be a row of kitchen units along this wall once the kitchen is installed.

These are the lights that we are using on the kitchen wall as well as the parapet wall above the staircase. The line of lights in the kitchen matches the line of lights on the parapet wall. These are Collingwood MC020S LED up/down lights.

These are the lights that we are using on the kitchen wall as well as the parapet wall above the staircase. The line of lights in the kitchen matches the line of lights on the parapet wall. These are Collingwood MC020S LED up/down lights. You can hardly see them when they are switched off – they seem to blend into the stonework.

Light sensor

February 18, 2014 /

We now have a light sensor connected to the lighting computer.  This means that we can programme the lights so that they come on after dark and turn off during the day.

It is another relatively cost effective piece of kit from Loxone.  The main issue was climbing on the roof to fix it in position.  We have sited it on the small apex at the rear of the property (away from any street lighting or security floodlights).

It is connected to the Loxone kit using Cat5e cable.  One pair of wires is used to supply it with 24v.  Another pair of wires send back data on the light level (as a 0-10v signal).  This is then connected to one of the Loxone’s analogue inputs.

The sensor is positioned high up on the small gable end in the extension. This is away from any light from street lighting or from the security light at the front of the building.

The sensor is positioned high up on the small gable end in the extension. This is away from any light from street lighting or from the security light at the front of the building.

Inside the lux sensor. Orange and orange/white used to supply 24v and green and green/white for data. It then simply supplies a 0-10v signal to the Loxone kit based on the amount of light outside. The dip switches can be used to adjust it's sensitivity.

Inside the lux sensor. Orange and orange/white used to supply 24v and green and green/white for data. It then simply supplies a 0-10v signal to the Loxone kit based on the amount of light outside. The dip switches can be used to adjust it’s sensitivity.

 

Update on the outside of the property

February 13, 2014 /

The builders left site this week since the external shell work has now been completed.  We are now concentrating on the plastering, decorating, plumbing and electrics.

With the majority of the building work now complete, hopefully, the noisy/dusty/muddy part of the build is complete.  We still have the top soil to be put back down in the back field, but we are going to wait until the weather improves.

In between the storms today, I took some photos of the outside of the property.

This is the view of the renovated cottages and the new extension. We still have the gardens wall to finish, but this is going to have to wait until it gets a little warmer!

This is the view of the renovated cottages and the new extension. We still have the gardens wall to finish, but this is going to have to wait until it gets a little warmer!

The sunken garden has still to be finished. However, we have decided to concentrate on getting the inside of the property finished first. The wall in the garden still needs to be finished off when the weather improves.

The sunken garden has still to be finished. However, we have decided to concentrate on getting the inside of the property finished first. The wall in the garden still needs to be finished off when the weather improves.

The bi-folding doors in the new extension, and the double doors in the older part of the property, all open out onto a two level terrace. There are stones steps up to the bi-folding doors in the lounge and timber steps up to the upper terrace outside the master bedroom (the set of bi-folding doors to the right in the new extension).

The bi-folding doors in the new extension, and the double doors in the older part of the property, all open out onto a two level terrace. There are stones steps up to the bi-folding doors in the lounge and timber steps up to the upper terrace outside the master bedroom (the set of bi-folding doors to the right in the new extension).

In between the storms, we have had some sunny weather. This is the back of the building and there are only the last remanants of the builders left behind.

In between the storms, we have had some sunny weather. This is the back of the building and there are only the last remanants of the builders left behind.

Two out of the three external doors fitted

February 13, 2014 /

The second of three external doors was fitted today.  They are Suffolk oak doors from XL Joinery.  They were one of the few suppliers that had these types of doors in correct height.

It takes longer to install external doors rather than internal doors.  While we can probably fitted 2 internal doors in a day, we only get 1 external door fitted in a day.

The study (that used to be the old coal hole) now has a new exterior door. Zep is very proud of his work - he is the only Lurcher that has learnt to hang an external door!

The study (that used to be the old coal hole) now has a new exterior door. Zep is very proud of his work – he is the only Lurcher that has learnt to hang an external door!

 

The ground source heat pump is still working!!

February 13, 2014 /

As well as generating heat for the house, we also now have a full tank of hot water.

Although it is going to take a few days to get the property up to full temperature, we haven’t done too badly in the last 20 hours or so.  Below is an update on the internal temperature graph from our weather station.

Inside temperature after the ground source heat pump was turned on about 4pm yesterday afternoon.

Inside temperature after the ground source heat pump was turned on about 4pm yesterday afternoon.

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