Heat Pumps
Air-Source Heat Pumps | Ground-Source Heat Pumps
Heat pump heating systems extract and compress low-level heat stored in the ground or air into smaller amounts of high-level heat that can be used for space heating. A heat pump system will work in weather conditions up to minus 20˚C and will still be able to satisfy 100% of the heat requirements of the property.
Heat pumps are best suited to low level heating distribution systems, such as underfloor heating or specific low-temperature radiators. The higher the heat requirement from the heat pump the more energy it will use, so it is very important that heat pumps are only used in the right circumstances.
Although heat pumps are classed as renewable technology, it does still use electricity to run the compressor. In most cases a heat pump will have a Coefficient of Performance (CoP) of 3 to 4. This means that for every 1kw of electricity used, the heat pump will produce 3kws to 4kws- making it effectively 300% - 400% efficient.
Heating water requires the heat pump to produce much higher temperatures (around 60˚C) than those required for underfloor heating (around 40˚C). The higher the temperature required from the heat pump the harder the compressor has to work, therefore the more electricity it uses. For this reason we recommend using a solar thermal system to provide the majority of the hot water demand, enabling the heat pump to work at the lower temperatures required for the underfloor heating, thus creating a far more efficient system.
Q: WOULD A HEAT PUMP BE SUITABLE FOR MY HOME?
A: Heat pumps are site specific and only suitable to properties with high levels of insulation and a low level heat distribution system, such as underfloor heating. Heat pumps are not suitable for poorly insulated houses.
Air-Source Heat Pumps
Air source heat pumps extract and compress heat from the outside air and distribute it throughout your home. They can cover up to 100% of your heating and hot water demands. Air source heat pumps are becoming more and more common as the technology is now well proven and the installation process is very straightforward.
Noise levels on the early versions of air source heat pumps have in the past given air source heat pumps a bad reputation. This problem has now been addressed by the manufacturers and modern air source heat pumps now have very low noise levels (around 42dBA).
The only air source heat pumps we install are the Mitsubishi Ecodan and Daikin Altherma, as these are the only heat pumps currently available with an inverter driven compressor. This means that they have a much lower electricity demand and are therefore much more efficient.
Q: HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
A: The average cost for a system is between £4,000 and £8,000 depending on the size and setup of the system. There are various grants currently available. Please contact us on 01392 213 912 for more details.
Ground-Source Heat Pumps
A ground-source heat pump extracts heat from the ground. This heat is then compressed and distributed as space or hot water heating. Ground-source heat pumps have a higher seasonal Coefficient of Performance (CoP) than air source heat pumps, as their heat source is more constant.
One of the main requirements for installing a ground source heat pump is space loops or boreholes, and how much space will depend on the size of the system.
Q: HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
A: The average cost for the installation of a ground source heat pump is between £7,000 and £12,000. The price varies depending on the location of the system, the size of the system and the property itself. There are currently various grants available. Please contact us on 01392 213 912 for more details.
For more information on our range of Heat Pump systems please call us on 01392 213 912
