NIBE Fighter Boiler ProblemsBack home Our StruggleAll over the country brand new estates are appearing, some with houses that have to meet a certain level of build quality to receive funds for eco-friendly technologies from the HCA (Housing Communities Agency). Thanks to the extra government cash thousands of these homes have had heat pump boilers installed, which use electricity rather than depending on mains gas. Once built, these homes are passed to a housing association, so they can be rented or bought. According to the developers, NIBE were given building designs with instruction to design the heating systems. NIBE take these plans and design pipes, radiators and ductwork. However, if the developer hasn't provided a heat loss assessment, NIBE will still design and overlook potential problems. The manufacturer is aware that their boilers require careful choice and installation. Yet, NIBE still continued to design the systems for leaky, under-insulated and oversized properties. Because developers aren't specialised with heat pumps, they've relied on contractors and NIBE to have taken care of all the little details - big mistake. Residents paying £1000-2000 or more for their electric per year is becoming the norm - when their heating should be costing around £400-500. NIBE used to say they didn´t deal with end users hoping for it to go away, but after years of pressure building on the issue, they launched a customer support program in mid-2012. When contacted, engineers will visit, service and check the boiler at no charge. Still, if the boiler is undersized, or the house isn´t fit, it´s all pointless - again, NIBE aren't paid to care about heat loss. Although housing associations aren´t responsible for the poor installation, some have made the right decision and acted fast. 100s of Fighters have been replaced with better air/ground source and gas. But unfortunately, most deny there is a problem, they blame the residents and complaints have lasted years. Also shooting themselves in the foot, as they´ve forked out £10,000s in compensated bills. If the NIBE Fighter boiler didn´t have the "backup" immersion, the unit would create NO heat at all in cold weather. The only heat source left in your home would be the TV and your own body heat. Remember, the boiler´s heat pump doubles energy in warm air already in the property. If there´s no warm air, the heat pump fails. Compared to ground source or air source heat pumps, there is always a source of heat in the ground or in the air. This exhaust heat pump relies on warmth in indoor air, which will run out if there isn´t another heat source. The joke is, the NIBE Fighter blows all of this warm air outside eventually. Swedish pro-NIBE users will argue that this model is anything but bad. However, they fail to note Swedish properties with NIBE boilers also have other heat sources, such as wood burners. Sweden also benefits from cheaper, 'greener' electricity, plus British houses in comparison are seriously under-insulated. If you haven't complained about your heating yet, do it now! Click here see our guide. |
Housing Associations Involved: Longhurst & Havelok Homes Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association Shoreline Housing Association Plus Dane Melin Homes Orbit Housing Flagship Housing Guinness Hermitage Orwell Housing New Linx Housing Trust Orkney Housing Association Limited Tarka Housing Association Incommunites Cairn Housing Association Hyde Martlet Many, many more... |