Buying a heat pump – checklist

Most people change their heat pumps due to high heating costs. Try making a cost analysis for at least the last year with a snapshot going back further so that an unusually mild – or cold – winter does not create a misleading picture.

Boilers and oil tanks take up space. A heat pump uses less than half a square meter, freeing up valuable space.

Air heating does not require drilling or hoses being laid, which makes it a great solution when land is limited and a partial upgrade is being considered – heat pump + current system.

A ground source system means that a long looping hose is buried about a meter below your property. A large area of the property will need to be dug up, putting it temporarily out of use.

In producing heat and hot water and choosing the right size of heat pump, be aware of your domestic hot water demand and heat receivers.

A heat pump heats radiators and wet floors regardless of the required supply temperature. However, if the heating supply line is lower than consumption, less energy will be needed, providing MAX efficiency.

Besides heating and hot water, during hot summers a ground source heat pump can provide indoor cooling, known as passive and active cooling.

By circulating a cool liquid in the loop, cooling is created at a cost equal to a couple of light bulbs. This technique is called passive cooling and can be used with all ground source heat pump solutions.

COP (Coefficient of Performance) expresses a heat pump’s capacity to produce heat against the energy needed to extract it. For example, COP 4 means that 1kW of electricity produces 4kW of heat energy.

But that is not the entire story. Measuring the COP in specified test conditions, without calculating the energy consumption for all the components in the system (e.g. circulation pumps), can produce what may appear to be very good values. But a measurement should not be done just to support a manufacturer’s marketing. It should give homeowners like you a more accurate picture of how efficient the heat pump is over time.

A larger heat pump costs more but has lower running costs and visa-versa. Correct sizing will give the optimal balance between investment and operating costs.Installing an efficient heat pump reduces heating costs from 50-75% compared to an old heating system.

Factors affecting output include the condition of the house, the heating system and outdoor temperature – climate zone and the price trend of the type of energy being used.

Compare your quote: anything from total costs for a turnkey installation to disconnection and removal of the old boiler. Cheaper heat pumps should have sufficient output to comfortably heat your home. A tempting low purchase price can be quickly swallowed up by higher running costs.

A heat pump is a part of the entire heating system, which also consists of a heat distribution system and a ground source.

Normally, a heat pump should run all year round and be maintenance free. When service is occasionally necessary, it is important to have a dependable retailer. With the warranty offered, don’t be distracted by the length of the cover period but check what is covered.

Ask for remote control, which enables to raise or lower the temperature in your home via the Internet when you are about to travel home after a holiday or business trip.