Looking for an Evohome installer in the East Midlands

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  • WiteWulf
    Automated Home Jr Member
    • Mar 2016
    • 40

    Looking for an Evohome installer in the East Midlands

    Morning all, first time poster, long time lurker!

    We're moving to a new house in the next couple of months and after a lot of research I've decided I'd like to install an Evohome system in our '30s detached property. From reading these forums it seems that getting it professionally installed is recommended so I went on the Honeywell site and used their Find An Installer tool to contact a number of companies who are Honeywell Connected Specialists. Alas, a week later and, of the five companies I selected, only one has bothered to reply and his was an apology that he's no longer operating.

    Action Plumbing in Loughborough, PHD Plumbing in Nottingham, Gap Property Services in Leicester and The Heating Expert in Burton on Trent have all failed to respond at all, rather disappointingly.

    So, can anyone here recommend an installer who will work in the Loughborough area? I'm looking to replace the current Glow Worm boiler and tank with a condensing combi boiler (possibly Opentherm capable) and Evohome controller with up to 12 radiators in up to 10 rooms. I'm not sure how many (if any) radiators currently have TRVs on, so they may also need fitting.

    Any help/guidance would be greatly appreciated.
  • WiteWulf
    Automated Home Jr Member
    • Mar 2016
    • 40

    #2
    Well, it seems that evohome installers are very hard to find around here!

    No one else from the Honeywell site has replied so I started Googling for plumbers around the area who worked with the kit. One guy from Beeston (all of 18 miles away) replied to say they didn't cover my area. I eventually got a reply from the Mclean Electrical over in Grantham who said they'd be happy to quote for the work, so we'll see how that goes.

    Comment

    • paulockenden
      Automated Home Legend
      • Apr 2015
      • 1719

      #3
      Ask them how many installs they've done. Some have taken the online test, but don't have much experience.

      P.

      Comment

      • WiteWulf
        Automated Home Jr Member
        • Mar 2016
        • 40

        #4
        Originally posted by paulockenden View Post
        Ask them how many installs they've done. Some have taken the online test, but don't have much experience.

        P.
        Cheers Paul, I get the feeling that's the case with a lot of the installers listed on the Honeywell site. Mclean Electrical seem a pretty solid bunch judging from their website and the email conversation I've had with their boss:


        Unfortunately they don't do the plumbing side of things, so I'll still be looking for another contractor to undertake the boiler replacement work. That shouldn't be such hard work, though...

        Comment

        • paulockenden
          Automated Home Legend
          • Apr 2015
          • 1719

          #5
          I'd be tempted to ask them questions that come up here regularly. e.g. "I saw a photo of one install and the relays were all over the place - very untidy. Would you be able to install mine neatly, with the relays all next to each other?" and/or "I had a look at an online forum and someone was talking about double binding - can you explain what this means?"

          P.

          Comment

          • WiteWulf
            Automated Home Jr Member
            • Mar 2016
            • 40

            #6
            Thanks again, good advice.

            Comment

            • Mavis
              Automated Home Ninja
              • Oct 2014
              • 322

              #7
              I had the same issue with my install (albeit back in August 2014) in the North East. I rang 2 that were listed on the website that were local - the first came out and talked the talk but then didn't get back to me with a quote (I did chase him but he just made an excuse about being on holiday and still didn't quote). The second tried to talk me out of the system as he thought it was too expensive and only for large houses. However we did go with the second and are pleased that we did. I don't think that he had installed any before (and don't think that he has installed any since.) He did ring the helpline at least once. He did all the installing (and had the system working) but left the final 'programming' side to me which was fine. He is now our regular heating and plumbing engineer.

              I have had no problems with my install since and am really pleased with my Evo generally - the rooms are a much better temp that they were before. The only problem we did have was that 2 radiators were not heating up fully but he came back and said that they were the two rads that he hadn't replaced the TRVs so sorted it. I am also very pleased that we did get someone to install it, even if they had no Evo experience.

              Comment

              • WiteWulf
                Automated Home Jr Member
                • Mar 2016
                • 40

                #8
                Thanks Mavis, out of curiosity: did you go with an Opentherm boiler? I'm struggling to find very much information about them in the UK and many discussions online suggesting that more efficiency is gained from the zoning than control of the boiler modulation.

                Logic seem to be the only boilers common in the UK that I can find solid evidence for supporting OT.

                Comment

                • Mavis
                  Automated Home Ninja
                  • Oct 2014
                  • 322

                  #9
                  Ermm ...

                  We didn't replace our boiler. We had bought an ex rental bungalow which was completely kitted out by B&Q about 4 years previously. There was nothing wrong with the boiler and although the Heating Engineer thought the existing boiler was cheap he didn't see any need to change it. The boiler is a Ravenheat Condenser Combi - not sure what model it is but I presume it is not an Opentherm boiler (will check tonight).

                  Comment

                  • WiteWulf
                    Automated Home Jr Member
                    • Mar 2016
                    • 40

                    #10
                    Update: finally got a convincing quote from a plumber we'd had do work for us in the past, 2 RED up in Chesterfield. They'd recently taken on a member of staff who had experience with the evohome equipment and offered testimonials from his previous customers. The boiler went in yesterday, we went with a Worcester Bosch Greenstar 34Cdi Classic without opentherm on their advice as the efficiency gains seem hard to prove and the added complexity was a worry. The evohome gear is all going in today and being configured so I'll hopefully be able to play with it all tonight!

                    Comment

                    • top brake
                      Automated Home Legend
                      • Feb 2015
                      • 837

                      #11
                      Originally posted by WiteWulf View Post
                      Update: finally got a convincing quote from a plumber we'd had do work for us in the past, 2 RED up in Chesterfield. They'd recently taken on a member of staff who had experience with the evohome equipment and offered testimonials from his previous customers. The boiler went in yesterday, we went with a Worcester Bosch Greenstar 34Cdi Classic without opentherm on their advice as the efficiency gains seem hard to prove and the added complexity was a worry. The evohome gear is all going in today and being configured so I'll hopefully be able to play with it all tonight!
                      cool look forward t your feedback

                      The Bosch is a good boiler and will play nicely with the evohome
                      I work for Resideo, posts are personal and my own views.

                      Comment

                      • WiteWulf
                        Automated Home Jr Member
                        • Mar 2016
                        • 40

                        #12
                        Okay, quick update: 2 RED did a great job of installing the new boiler but the wheel's came off on the evohome setup. The installers turned up at 8am on the second day and I left them to it, expecting to be called mid-afternoon to lock up the house. I turned up around 5pm and they were still trying to configure the system (on their third attempt running through the guided setup at this point). I was going on holiday the following day and I knew one of the installers was due to go out with his wife that evening so I called it a day, leaving the whole system powered off. Two of the HR92s were not bound and many of the ones that were bound were in the wrong zones. I was unimpressed that, after being assured that they had an installer familiar with the equipment, they basically sent out two other guys with his phone number. They'd also crossed the threads on one of the HR92s and damaged the bezel on the controller. In addition to this, they'd turned up with RFG100, which made me think I'd got an older controller. I checked and I do have the ATC928G3000, so no idea why they've supplied the bridge. Last but not least, the BD91 is tucked right in under the boiler on the wall, definitely not 30cm away from any metal (although RF check is good for all HR92s that are bound).

                        I explained all this in an email to Operations Manager, Ben, who was immediately very apologetic and tried to call me but I was already on a plane head to my holidays! I've since arranged for them to re-visit with the replacement parts and the installer they'd initially told me about who will hopefully configure everything correctly and I'll discuss a refund for the RFG100 (although they claim in a pack from their supplier with the rest of the gear.

                        I'll update again once everything's sorted properly, but I'm finding this a hard recommend at the moment

                        Comment

                        • The EVOHOME Shop
                          Site Sponsor
                          • Dec 2014
                          • 483

                          #13
                          Originally posted by WiteWulf View Post
                          Okay, quick update: 2 RED did a great job of installing the new boiler but the wheel's came off on the evohome setup. The installers turned up at 8am on the second day and I left them to it, expecting to be called mid-afternoon to lock up the house. I turned up around 5pm and they were still trying to configure the system (on their third attempt running through the guided setup at this point). I was going on holiday the following day and I knew one of the installers was due to go out with his wife that evening so I called it a day, leaving the whole system powered off. Two of the HR92s were not bound and many of the ones that were bound were in the wrong zones. I was unimpressed that, after being assured that they had an installer familiar with the equipment, they basically sent out two other guys with his phone number. They'd also crossed the threads on one of the HR92s and damaged the bezel on the controller. In addition to this, they'd turned up with RFG100, which made me think I'd got an older controller. I checked and I do have the ATC928G3000, so no idea why they've supplied the bridge. Last but not least, the BD91 is tucked right in under the boiler on the wall, definitely not 30cm away from any metal (although RF check is good for all HR92s that are bound).

                          I explained all this in an email to Operations Manager, Ben, who was immediately very apologetic and tried to call me but I was already on a plane head to my holidays! I've since arranged for them to re-visit with the replacement parts and the installer they'd initially told me about who will hopefully configure everything correctly and I'll discuss a refund for the RFG100 (although they claim in a pack from their supplier with the rest of the gear.

                          I'll update again once everything's sorted properly, but I'm finding this a hard recommend at the moment
                          Sorry to hear this WiteWulf. Obviously they need to change their evohome supplier. Had the items of been bought from us they would have had my full backup at the end of the phone as well as specification help at the start. It is always disappointing to hear installers getting the basics so wrong with evohome. I find evohome a really simple system to install and configure - you just need to read the manual, do the Honeywell training and have an evohome supplier that know your needs.

                          Comment

                          • HenGus
                            Automated Home Legend
                            • May 2014
                            • 1001

                            #14
                            I think that this is a make or break situation for Honeywell Evohome. Customers who go the DiY route have only themselves to blame if the installation procedures are not followed, and something goes awry.

                            Customers who pay a Honeywell Connected Specialist to do the work do so on the basis that the installer will have a level of competence way beyond that of most DiYers or jobbing plumbers. Sadly, as this forum has reported over the past 2 years, even the specialists do not always follow Honeywell's published guidelines.

                            Richard at The Evohome Shop has very kindly produced a raft of extremely helpful configuration videos: I just wonder why Honeywell hasn't done the same for their installers - pointing out some of the 'pooh' traps for the unwary; for example, when a good RF check may mean absolutely nothing with respect to misplaced BDRs and actuator comms faults etc.

                            It might be helpful if Honeywell offered Evohome customers some form of visual installation checklist based on photos sent in by the customer. This would allow Honeywell to check compliance, provide feedback to the Connected Specialist and give the customer an avenue to resolve any present/future issues.

                            Comment

                            • paulockenden
                              Automated Home Legend
                              • Apr 2015
                              • 1719

                              #15
                              I think there's a general problem (not just with Evohome - it happens across various product ranges and indeed various industries) where one person in a company gains accreditation for a system, but then other employees are sent out to do the actual work.

                              I'm not sure that there's an easy answer, either.

                              Comment

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