Is My House Suitable For A Heat Pump?
If you are interested in a heat pump system, it is advisable to consider the following specifications, this will ensure that it is both cost effective and is operating correctly if you want to reduce your carbon footprint.
Do You Have Good Home Insulation?
If you have good home insulation it will retain heat, which will prevent it being lost through ceilings and walls. Take the necessary steps to insulate your home and this will ensure when you do have a heat pump fitted it will operate to its maximum potential.
If you have modern windows these will also help to reduce any heat loss and have long term benefits to reduce the impact to the environment. Heat pumps can run at a low temperature, however having a home that has good insulation will increase the overall efficiency, this will reduce the overall running cost and help to reduce your energy bills.
If your house is not very well insulated, you would definitely need a large heat pump to help manage the loss of heat to your home. In certain cases, a heat pump may not be compatible for some homes and in the long run can be more expensive to run than your existing system. If you have any concerns about whether your home may not meet good insulation standards feel free to contact one of our friendly staff at Total contracting services who will be happy to give you the best advice, before you make a final decision.
If you are wanting a sustainable solution, you could consider a hybrid heating system that uses an oil-filled or gas boiler which works alongside the heat pump. We would also recommend that you check the following and make the necessary installations if required:
Do you have loft insulation and cavity wall insulation
Have you got any cracks around any of your exterior windows and doors, if you do have double glazing
As heat pump installers, we can assess your home and advise of any recommendations to improve the overall insulation of your home, if required. If you do this you will ensure that your new heating system delivers the maximum efficiency for your home.
How Much Outdoor Space Do You Have?
Depending on the type of heat pump system you want to install, you will need to consider where you will put it and if the chosen area is suitable.
Air Source Heat Pumps
These types of heat pumps are easier to install and cause less disruption on installation. This outdoor unit works to collect thermal energy from the air and cleverly converts it into energy that is used to provide hot water and heating to your home. Ideally your new unit will need good clearance from openings like doors and windows. The installer will give you the best advice on where it can be placed at your property.
Ground Source Heat Pumps
When choosing a ground source heat pump, you will need enough outdoor space for it to be installed. It does take longer to install this kind of heat pump due to the groundwork that is required for the heat collectors. If you have a large garden this will accommodate a ground loop where they install pipes that are laid in trenches. The ground would need to be free from any trees as the roots will often cause problems when digging.
If you have a smaller garden, the installer will need to dig boreholes for the vertical pipes to be installed deep into the ground. This will require a ground survey to be carried out for this kind of installation. How big it needs to be will be down to the energy requirements your home might need, typically they average around a 100m deep. You would also need to ensure that you have adequate space inside your home for an indoor unit, which will regulate and maximise the hot water and heating levels of your home.