Heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular as more people are looking for more efficient and greener ways to heat  their homes.

A heat Pump is an efficient low carbon  heating system that:

• brings in heat energy from outside
• raises the temperature (using electricity)
• Moves the heat into your home
• Heats the home via radiators or underfloor heating
• Can also heat water stored in a hot water cylinder

Heat Pumps come in two forms,  Ground Source and Air Source Heat Pumps.

Ground Source Heat Pumps

Takes the heat from the ground outside via a loop that is buried in the garden/outside space either  vis a coiled pipe in trenches or a long pipe  in a borehole.

The coiled loop system requires space  to dig the trenches. A New 3 build house typically requires 2 x 30-40m trenches. For larger or older less well insulated houses more space will be needed.

A boreholes are  an alternative option if space is limited but generally  are more expensive than digging trenches and will require a specialist ground survey.

Both require space indoors for the heat pump unit.

Air Source Heat Pumps

This is a unit that is situated outside and takes the heat from outside air  and transfers this to water which heats the home (via radiators or underfloor heating)

They are the most popular type of heat pump, are suitable for many types of home, they are cheaper and require a lot less space than Ground Source Heat Pumps.

They are about the size of an air conditioning unit and can be fitted to a wall or the ground  outside and need space around them for the air to flow.

Benefits of Heat Pumps

The benefits of switching to a heat pump are that they can:

• Lower your energy bills – can save you money  depending on what heating system it is replacing and how well it is designed
• Reduce your energy usage – heat pumps are more efficient and generally produce 3 x more energy than they use
• Cut your carbon emissions – the  carbon emissions are much lower than gas or oil boilers

Thinking of switching to a heat pump?

Before switching to a heat pump these are the important things to consider:

Installation costs

A heat pump will  generally cost more than installing  a gas or oil boiler, and overall costs depend on the size of the property, how well insulated it is and if the existing heating system needs to be adapted e.g. upgrading radiators and pipework.

Having said this costs are coming down all the time and some energy suppliers  e.g. Octopus Energy are offering some heat pumps for £500 with the government grant!

The government grants are up to £7500 through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (although this may change with the new Government)!

Do I have the space?

How much space you have externally and internally will determine whether a heat pump is suitable for you and what type is most suitable i.e. Ground Source or Air Source Heat Pump. If you live in a flat with limited space then an Air to Air Heat Pump might be a better option.

Designing Your Heat Pump System

It is important to ensure that the heat pump system is designed appropriately for your home to ensure that it operates efficiently  and does not end up costing you more to run! Use an approved MCS certified heat pump installer and importantly get a detailed room by room heat loss calculation done!

High Heat Demand

If you live in a property that has a ‘high heat demand’ (amount of heat required to provide heating & hot water) then a Hybrid Heat Pump maybe more suitable. This might  be where you live in a large property where insulating is impractical or too expensive! A Hybrid Heat Pump is a system that uses a heat pump alongside another heat source, typically a gas or oil boiler that heats the property when your heat pump is struggling to heat the property e.g. too cold outside or when gas prices are low and it is cheaper to heat via a gas boiler.

If you need further information or advice on heat pumps or how to green your home visit our services page

or contact us:

Email: tristan.owen@altristenergy.co.uk

Phone: 07300 367 916

Sources: Energy Saving Trust &  Heat Geek