Ground Source Heat Pump Installers
Repairs, Servicing & Maintenance

London, Essex, Kent, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Surrey & Sussex

Do you want to know what Ground Source Heat Pumps are and how they work? Being one of the most effective and efficient systems you can install in your property, a GSHP will not only make your home more comfortable but also help you save money. Not to mention, it’s not as bad for the environment as other heating systems. Continue reading to find out more!

What is a Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP)?

A Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) is a device used to transfer heat from one place to another, usually from the outside to the inside. This makes indoor areas warmer and more comfortable.

GSHPs are energy-efficient, have a low carbon footprint, and can help you save money on energy bills.

There are many benefits of installing a GSHP in your home, which include:

  • Efficiency: A GSHP’s efficiency rating can reach up to 400%, meaning that it transfers 4x the heat it draws from the ground to your home.
  • Doesn’t Require Access to Mains Gas: Unlike conventional heating systems that require access to mains gas, GSHPs run on electricity, making them great for off-grid properties.
  • Easy Access to Hot Water: With a GSHP system, you don’t have to worry about accessing hot water by installing inefficient water heaters that break down within a few years.
  • Flexible Installation Options: GSHP systems can be installed vertically or horizontally, so even if the available outdoor space on your property is limited, you can install a GSHP system.
  • No Noise: GSHPs operate quietly. You won’t even notice there’s a GSHP system in your home. That’s how silent they are!
  • Save the Environment: GSHPs are a greener alternative to traditional boilers. They don’t use fossil fuel heating that increases carbon emissions in the air we breathe, making them kinder to the environment.
  • You also make your home more sustainable by opting for green energy alternatives.
  • Can Be Installed in Existing Homes: Ground source heat pumps don’t have to be installed during construction. You can install a GSHP in your existing home, provided that there’s enough outdoor space to bury the fluid loops.
  • Requires Little Maintenance: A GSHP barely requires any maintenance, provided that the system is well-designed in accordance with the needs of the property. Once installed, you’ll only need periodic maintenance for your system.

Benefits of a Ground Source Heat Pump

Types of Heat Pumps

There are two primary types of heat pumps: Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs) and Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs). These two systems differ in the source they draw heat from.

GSHPs draw heat from water that runs in underground pipes, while ASHPs use outside air as a source of heat.

In a GSHP, the water gains heat via a heat exchanger installed inside the house. It’s mixed with antifreeze and transfers to the refrigerant before making it to the compressor.

In an ASHP, the cold refrigerant is pumped from the evaporator placed outside and absorbs heat from the air that passes across the heat exchanger. An ASHP can function with cold air because the volume of air that passes through the heat exchange is massive.

It’s also worth noting that there are other less-common types of heat pumps, called Inverter Heat Pumps and Hybrid Air Pumps.

Inverter heat pumps can run all day and work only when required through pre-installed sensors, while hybrid air pumps combine conventional boiler-based systems with air-source pumps for maximum efficiency during summer and winter.

A ground source heat pump relies on the principle of heat transfer. According to the laws of physics, heat moves from the hot place to the cold place, which is the underlying principle used in the operation of a ground source heat pump.

The pump transfers heat from the ground outdoors to your radiators and underfloor heating. You can even use it to get hot water in your bathroom and kitchen.

A mixture of water and antifreeze, also called Thermal Transfer Fluid (TTF), goes through a series of pipes buried under the ground in your backyard or outdoor space. The pipework could be long or coiled. In vertical GSHPs, the pipes are arranged as a long loop inserted into a borehole with a diameter of two centimetres at most.

When the fluid moves under the ground, it absorbs heat before passing through a heat exchanger, ultimately causing the temperature of the fluid to rise.

How Does a Ground Source Heat Pump Work?

Is a Ground Source Heat Pump Right for my Home?

Whether a GSHP system is right for your home or not depends on various factors.

For example, if your home is too old and you have access to mains gas, you may not benefit much from a GSHP since they work much more effectively in a modern house with good insulation. Of course, you might still want to use a GSHP to make your home sustainable and use less fossil fuel, but that’s another story.

On top of that, GSHP systems work best when paired with underfloor heating. If you don’t have underfloor heating in your house, you won’t get the most out of a move to a GSHP. You can, however, install a GSHP and underfloor heating at the same time, but the initial investment will increase.

You should also keep in mind that installing a GSHP is a big investment. If you’re planning to relocate or move out within the next few years, you might want to postpone installing a GSHP for now.

A ground source heat pump system will cost you somewhere between £8,000 to £15,000 depending on the size of your home. You should also take into consideration the costs needed for installation.

How Much Does a Ground Source Heat Pump Cost?

What are the Running Costs of a Ground Source Heat Pump?

A ground source heat pump will cost around £500 to keep running if you have a four-bedroom house. Of course, this is just a rough estimate that you should take with a pinch of salt since there are many variables that go into this.

Installing an air source heat pump is a great move towards a greener Earth and lower pollution levels, which is why the British government offers dedicated grants for those who wish to install a heat pump in their properties.

The ongoing government efforts towards reducing reliance on fossil fuels are part of a sustainability plan that seeks to switch to environmentally friendly options whenever possible.

As a UK resident planning to install a GSHP, you can install your system at a much cheaper cost and even access lower tariff costs at 10.85p/kWh as part of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

What’s more, you can benefit from quarterly payments over a seven-year period depending on how much heat you consume, in addition to the amount of environmentally-friendly energy your home produces.

The total payment potential is up to £7,000 for a three-bedroom house that consumes 15,000kWh of heat energy every year.

Ground Source Heat Pump Grants

Ground Source Heat Pumps FAQs

Yes, a GSHP is a much more environmentally-friendly heating device than many other high-carbon solutions. It relies on electricity, so you don’t have to use fuel to keep your home warm and comfortable.

Sizing your ground source heat pump depends on the size of your home, as well as other factors like:

● The insulation level of your home
● Use or lack of underfloor heating
● Heat loss rate
● Age of your property
● Room types

As a general rule of thumb, a 100 square-metre apartment requires a 4kW GSHP, while a 200 square-metre apartment or house may need an 8kW-10kW GSHP.

Ground source heat pumps are quite efficient. They’re capable of delivering much more energy than they consume at a rough ratio of 4 to 1. Compared to fossil fuel boilers, GSHPs are much more efficient.

Yes, it’s definitely a good idea to use underfloor heating with a ground source heat pump.

With underfloor heating, your GSHP will require less work to reach the desired temperature in your home, which ultimately maximises its efficiency and lowers power consumption.

A horizontal GSHP system requires roughly 700 square metres of space, compared to just 20 centimetres for borehole vertical GSHPs required for the drilling rig to access the site.

A ground source heat pump system that’s properly designed and installed based on your home’s specifications should comfortably last up to 30 years with adequate maintenance.

Taking into consideration the ground conditions of your property before installation can have a major impact on the longevity of your GSHP system too.

PHS: Ground Source Heat Pump Installers

If you’re thinking about installing a ground source heat pump in your home, PHS Engineers will handle it all.

When you reach out to us, we’ll initiate our process by consulting you about the different ground source heat pump models and which of them will best suit your needs.

There’s no one-size-fits-all system when it comes to ground source heat pumps, which is why we’ll design a unique GSHP system for your home to minimise running costs and maximise performance. For that, you’ll need to book an appointment with us for an on-site inspection.

As we go through the design process, we’ll provide you with all the electrical and mechanical drawings, as well as the figures and calculations for full transparency.

Once you check them out, we can start with the installation process. A GSHP often requires more work than an ASHP, so it’ll probably take us a few days to get it installed.

After we’re 100% done, we’ll test the system to make sure that everything is working as it should. Of course, we’ll always be available in case you run into any problem or have a question or concern.

On top of that, we’ll work closely with the MCS to make support documentation accessible, enabling you to apply for RHI incentives in the foreseeable future.

So what are you waiting for? Call us on 0208 252 8927 or send us an email through our contact page. We look forward to hearing from you!

Are you interested in the energy savings and incentives that come with a ground source heat pump?