Heat pumps are hot by Will South
I
’
ve installed a heat pump in my Brighton Victorian terrace house just down from Seven Dials . Specifically , a 5kW Vaillant air source heat pump , replacing my gas boiler to keep us in hot showers .
We ’ ve had it one winter and it works . To be honest l ’ d forgotten about it , and to be really honest I ’ m disappointed about that , hoping for more high tech tinkering and drama .
If you ’ re worried about climate change then getting off gas fossil fuel heating is one of the best things you can do , ranking in the same league as less flying and eating less meat . There ’ s some money to spend and a little inconvenience , but then there ’ s the benefit of having a warmer house that costs less to run .
The main challenge is where to put all the stuff ; you need a big fan unit outside like an air conditioner , and a hot water cylinder inside , so thinking about this and planning for it is worth it . In our homes the cylinder is normally easier , your house used to have one and sometimes the cupboard still exists , or can be recreated as an airing cupboard of old . What they don ’ t mention is that an unvented cylinder and heating also need a couple of expansion vessels , taking up even more space . The fan is more problematic . They are ugly - unless beige Japanese 1980s lean manufacture chic is your thing - and make some noise , although interestingly about the same as a condensing boiler flue . They have to be outside , more than
1m from a boundary and a bit more from any windows , which doesn ’ t leave many options .
Ours is on the roof of the rear return extension , above the bathroom . More normal is on a flank wall or even out the front near a road . Second is any complimentary improvements that you can do , or need to . Heat pumps can heat most of our homes without any changes , but to make it the same cost as gas , fit within your house electric capacity . And to get the most out of it , you ’ re best pairing with some energy efficiency ( loft insulation and some window replacement minimum ), and possibly larger radiators in the main rooms .
Once you have a rough plan , I ’ d wait for a good opportunity to make the switch . There ’ s some gentle encouragement from the government in the form of a £ 7,500 ‘ Boiler Upgrade Scheme ’ grant , but this only really makes it cost the same as a new boiler and heating system . You ’ re better timing it with something else so that the heat pump is only the additional net cost , for example some remodelling that involves moving a radiator , an extension , or a boiler that keeps breaking down and needs replacing .
The last challenge is to find someone good to design and install the thing . Competition and cheap prices mean plumbers have been forced to get lazy with heating design . I recommend finding someone on the Heat Geek website , or through a manufacturer ‘ find-an-installer ’ website .
The actual install is pretty straightforward , and operation even more so . Heat pumps like to run long and low temperature , that gets the best efficiency , so a simple thermostat and hot water time clock is best , clever on / off systems like Nest are unnecessary and usually make it worse . And hence my only criticism , it ’ s a bit boring , there ’ s been no high tech tinkering or drama at all !
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