Cotswold Energy

Costs

What are the costs involved?

One of the first things homeowners are concerned about is the initial heat pump system cost. Interestingly, heat pump systems are not as expensive to install as many people think. And, after the initial outlay, the energy savings that come with the system will, in the long run, outweigh the initial cost of central air source heat pump.

Plus who wouldn’t like to increase the value of their home? Air source heat pumps have been proven to add significant value to a property. Should you want to sell your home several years down the road, your heat pump system will be one of the major selling points.

Is there financial help available to me?

Homeowners who opt for heat pumps stand to benefit from the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme. But what is RHI and, more importantly, how can it benefit you as a homeowner?

The BUS is a scheme by the government whose aim is to encourage households and businesses to switch away from traditional fossil fuel systems to renewable heating technologies. The goal is to make sure that by 2020, 12 percent of heating is from renewable resources.

All property owners are eligible for RHI payments. These payments are tax-free for domestic customers and fixed for seven years for homeowners and 20 years for non-domestic customers. Regardless of whether the government withdraws RHI or makes changes to it, you still continue to enjoy payments for the duration of the contract.

Efficiency

Are Heat Pumps Efficient?

Switching from your traditional heating system to an air source heat pump can result in massive energy savings.

Heat pumps have an average coefficient of performance (COP) of 350%. This means that they produce 3.5 kilowatts of heating or cooling power for every 1 kilowatt of electrical energy they consume. Given that conventional gas boilers have a COP of 70-80%, air source heat pumps are the undisputed winners in the heat pump vs. gas debate when it comes to energy efficiency.

How does the heat work in the home?

How cool is it to have one system for both your heating and cooling needs? That’s an optional extra if you install a heat pump system.

The system can provide space heating or cooling at the touch of a button using a remote, a wall monitor, or a phone app. Due to the nature of its design, air source heating system works very quickly. Once the system has heated or cooled a space, it can sustain the desired temperature for as long as you want.

Servicing & Maintenance

Heat Pumps Are Easy To Maintain?

Once you’ve installed a heat pump system, how much work should you put in to make sure that the system stays in top shape for a long time? Fortunately, heat pump systems are a lot easier to maintain than combustion heating systems.

Firstly, heat pump systems usually come with a warranty of up to seven years. Their workmanship warranties can also last for years, and you can often opt for a warranty extension for a fee. Should the system develop a problem, the warranty takes care of it.

The typical air source heating system requires a professional service every year. Such regular maintenance is enough to make the system operate for 25 years or more.

Do CEG service Heat pumps?

Yes, we are able to service all Air Source and Ground Source Heat Pumps installed by ourselves only.

How often should my Heat Pump be serviced?

In order to ensure you get the maximum performance from your Heat Pump throughout its working life, you need to arrange for the system to be regularly serviced and maintained.

What does a Heat Pump Service include?
  • Clean outdoor unit
  • Anti-freeze check
  • Cleaning of filters
  • Removal of any trapped air
  • Check pressure
  • Check flow rate and adjust where possible
  • Check and optimise controller settings

 

Heat Pump Types

Is a heat pump right for me?

The truth is, absolutely anyone can install a heat pump. From a small terrace flat to a luxurious mansion, heat pumps can benefit absolutely everyone.

We have done plenty of installs in our time, and the great thing is that no house or customer is the same.

From the oldest, draughtiest house to the newest barn conversions or smallest flats, there is an option for everyone.

If you decide to get a heat pump and take advantage of the current government subsidy (RHI – renewable heat incentive), you could potentially reduce your energy bill by an incredible 40-50%.

Traditionally, we tend to get most of our customers switching over from oil as this enables them to save the most money and reduce their carbon footprin. However, customers switching from mains gas also have the potential to save on energy costs, and an additional benefit they experience is having a clean source of energy.

So, in reality, there is no ‘perfect’ customer, as each one will be different. The RHI exists to be helpful for anyone that wants to venture into a cleaner and incredibly effective and efficient source of heat for their house. So, if you think about it, who wouldn’t want to potentially save hundreds of pounds whilst exponentially reducing their carbon footprint if they have the chance?!

Are Heat Pumps Environmentally friendly?

Because heat pumps don’t directly use combustion when generating heat, there aren’t any carbon emissions. The only carbon emissions experienced in the use of heat pumps are at the point of electricity production. Even then, the amount of electricity used to run the compressor is very little.

Air source heat pumps also use either R32 or R410A refrigerant, whose release does not harm the ozone layer. When it comes to the heating and cooling of your home, heat pumps are the most eco-friendly option in the market at the moment.

Ground Source vs Air Source

There are two ways to lay ground collector pipe in order to collect heat from the ground:

Horizontally

The pipe is laid down in trenches at least 1.2 m deep. This can either be in slit trenches as single pipes or in open trenches which are 1m wide, allowing the pipe to run down one side and loop back to run down the other side. These trenches may run from anywhere between 50m to 200m depending on the space available.

Vertically

Here the pipe is fed vertically into a borehole. Boreholes are created by a large rotary drilling rigs which bore down into the ground vertically. They typically have diameters of 6 inches and can reach depths of up to 120 m depending on the heat requirements of the property and lithology present.

If you are interested in how we calculate how much borehole or trenching is required please refer to our ‘sizing ground loops for ground source heat pumps’ guide.

Which method you choose is ultimately dictated by the space that is available. Where there is significant space (at least half an acre, which is more than most people would think!) trenches is the favourable option as it is much cheaper than boreholes, keeping the cost of the installation down. Where space is premium or restricted, boreholes are required.

Here are some other pros and cons to each method to consider

Boreholes

Necessitates a small portion of ground area Less pipework is required Systems on boreholes can reach very high efficiency Ground which it is exchanging heat with has relative constant parameters, therefore even in winter efficiencies remain high More likely to benefit from ground water influence

Con – More significant initial investment

Trenches

Lower installation costs Less specialist equipment meaning customers are often able to dig their own trenches Smaller environmental impact

Con – more variable performance due to seasonal exposure and presence of water saturation fluctuations

Some benefits common to both system

Post-install both systems will be unnoticeable and can be planted over, covered or tarmacked. The ground loop is MDPE, expected to last up to 100 years. Subsidised by the government

Air Quality & Environment

Can Heat Pumps Enhance my Home’s Air Quality

Your indoor air quality is essential, but what are you doing to ensure that it stays in peak condition? Why not install a heating and cooling solution that has no risk of polluting the air?

A heat pump system does not burn anything to provide heat in your home. Therefore, there’s never any risk of carbon monoxide from the system filling your indoor air. And unlike traditional HVAC systems, heat pumps don’t dry out the air, so there’s a better balance of humidity and comfort in your living space.

Heat pump systems can also clean and purify air through their filters. The system removes smoke, dust, odours, mould spores, and other particles in the air. Heat pump systems are thus excellent for people with allergies and asthma.

Can A Heat Pump Help Prevent Condensation?

Condensation in your home can be both annoying and destructive, but how can you keep it at bay?

Well, if you opt to use a heat pump for cooling during the summer, the system automatically dehumidifies your room using the heat pump function. Come winter, the heat pump circulates warm air around your living space, effectively reducing condensation.

A customer journey

We help our customers find the right solution for their property - it all starts with a conversation.

Phone consultation

Survey

Installation

Commission

Handover

After Care

Feel free to get in touch

We are here to answer your questions

0333 444 5 444

info@cotswold.energy

1 Upper Mills
Stonehouse
Gloucestershire
GL10 2BJ