Heat networks


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Heat network maintenance: what about private leaseholders?


Steve Morris, head of maintenance at Insite Energy highlights a worrying gap in maintenance and operation provision in heat networks


G


ood maintenance is crucial to keeping heat network costs down. If meters, pipework, plant room equipment or heat interface units


(HIUs) are in poor condition, underperformance and wastage can occur, with expensive consequences. In most housing developments with heat networks, the housing provider or managing agent bears the responsibility for servicing and repairing the entire network, including the HIUs, which transfer heat from the communal part of the system into the individual dwellings. Usually, a maintenance programme is put in place to ensure annual or biennial HIU servicing visits. It’s particularly important to do this if there isn’t a remote network monitoring system in place to identify any issues. However, in a significant minority of situations,


for example in the case of private leaseholders, the responsibility of having HIUs serviced or repaired falls to the individual residents, either immediately or following the end of a warranty period. All too often this means servicing doesn’t happen with sufficient regularity. Many leaseholders wait until a problem arises before calling out an engineer. This is particularly true at the current time when the cost of living is squeezing household budgets.


Unaware


Given that an issue with one HIU can affect the efficiency of an entire heat network, this situation is highly problematic. Without regular services, faults can continue undetected for a long time, potentially impairing performance, and damaging equipment. In one notable example recently unearthed at a client’s site, actuators were being knocked off the valve, costing the entire network £6,000 per year in wasted energy when using a unit rate of 15p/kWh. Sometimes leaseholders who are already paying


service charges, are unaware that the upkeep of their HIU may not be included within this. In some cases, they don’t even realise they have a HIU, believing it to be a regular combi-boiler, unaware of the differences between the two. Even the well-informed may not know who to


contact to get their HIU attended to, as engineers with the right training and experience can be hard to find. Heat networks are still emerging in the UK, only account for 2-3% of the UK’s residential heat demand, and heat network maintenance differs greatly from regular boiler maintenance – it’s not as simple as phoning your local Gas Safe registered plumber.


In the 14 years we’ve been working in the heat network sector, we’ve encountered a worryingly


30 February 2024


Left: Steve Morris, head of maintenance at Insite Energy


large number of situations where unqualified engineers have attempted to work on heat network equipment and done more harm than good. Only professionals with a sound understanding of the CIBSE CP1 Heat Network Code of Practice (2020) should work on a HIU. We also know from talking to SAV Systems, a manufacturer and supplier of HIUs with whom we work closely, that there’s a genuine demand from heat network residents for a consumer focused HIU servicing and repair service that they can call on.


New solution


In February 2024, Insite Energy is launching a new HIU servicing and repairs offering directly for residential customers. Although we’ve successfully worked with residents for many years, until now we have always done so on behalf of our developer, housing association, managing agent and landlord


clients. Now we’re offering the same highly rated, multi-award-winning level of service directly to anyone with an HIU in their home, regardless of make or model. And we will not only look at a customer’s HIU but will also always make sure their energy meter is fully operational and communicating across whatever metering network it’s linked to. Our standard service covers all the necessary equipment checks, adjustments and cleaning. We also offer an equally competitive advanced service that includes underfloor heating system and radiator checks, as well as minor HIU repairs, if required.


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