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If you are in the process of making household improvements that benefit the environment, you may have considered installing heat pump systems. The most popular type is the ground-source heat pump because it runs at the highest efficiency. These systems use green technology that harnesses naturally occurring heat from the ground for use in home heating and domestic hot water. Many households in the UK have already switched to heat pumps for their reduced carbon emissions and energy savings. Ground-source heat pumps feature pipes that are installed in trenches underneath your garden. A liquid flows through the ground loop and captures renewable heat from the earth. The system stores this energy at temperatures between 30 and 55 degrees Celsius for later use. When you use heating or hot water, the fluid runs through a compressor that raises the temperature to a desired range. For maximum comfort, you can set the temperature using the controller and thermostat. Heat pumps come with several settings for seasonal changes and intelligence features that allow you to determine when the system turns on. Before you install a ground-source heat pump, you need to ensure that your home is suitable for this type of system. It is best to check with a professional installer, but this checklist can help you get started. Garden Size and Features You do not necessarily need a large garden for ground-source heat pumps. There are a variety of ground loop styles that may suit your needs. For small gardens, you can opt for a vertical pipe that goes deeper into the ground than coiled varieties. The soil in your garden needs to be soft enough for digging trenches. The average ground loop is buried at least two metres deep underneath the earth. You need a large enough space to accommodate digging machinery for creating the trench. If there is an excessive amount of plumbing or electrical fixtures in your garden, you may not be able to install a ground-source heat pump. Home Insulation To achieve optimal efficiency from your heat pump, your home must be properly insulated. Heat pump systems are heated at lower temperatures for the highest performance level, so trapping that heat is essential. Your home needs proper insulation to prevent any heat loss, which decreases the system's efficiency. Ask a professional to check your roof, walls and floor for insulation. Consider draught-proofing your building as well by checking windows, doorways and insulation around fixtures. Type of Fuel You Are Replacing Many households choose to install heat pumps to benefit from savings on their energy bills. You can receive more savings and recover the cost of your installation quicker when replacing electric or coal heating systems. Homes with mains gas may not benefit from installing heat pumps since the costs are so similar. Residents on the gas network also do not qualify for renewable heat incentives from the government. Heating System Type Heat pumps work with a variety of heating systems, but they do not perform the same with each one. To receive the highest performance, you should use your heat pump with underfloor or warm air heating. If you have radiators installed, you will lose efficiency because the system requires a higher heat curve for the supply line to effectively provide heating. Project Type The type of project you are working on can greatly impact the total costs of your installation. Heat pump systems are better suited for new development projects because you will be combining the installation with other construction. Retrofitting may be more expensive due to the amount of work involved. Optimising Your Choice Even if you discover that your home is not suitable for a ground-source heat pump, you may be able to consider an air-source or water-source heat pump. It is wise to get the help of a professional installer to teach you how to properly use your new system. There is a slight learning curve to the technology and controls, but using them correctly can improve performance and efficiency. Heat pump systems feature valuable technology that can lower your energy bills and help improve the state of the environment. Sam Jones the author recommends to readers wanting more info about the types of heat pump systems available to visit the comparison website uSwitch.
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ground source heat pump, home heating, heating the home, energy providers,
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