Domestic Heat Pumps

Domestic Heat Pumps: Efficient Hot Water and Heating for Your Home

Heat pumps are a renewable, low carbon alternative to traditional high carbon heating systems. This modern technology delivers sustainable hot water for your home and as well as space cooling and heating all year round.

The Mittens Heat Pumps UK has installed ground source heat pumps and air source heat pumps for many domestic clients in the UK.  Heat pumps vary enormously in quality and reliability. The range of heat pumps we offer only come with proven track records and robust safeguards.

This, in combination with our expert design and installation service, gives you complete confidence in the performance of your heat pump.

Our local experts are qualified to provide you with advice on the full range of renewable products and systems. We’re an established company with a first-class reputation, recommended by 99% of our customers. We design and install renewable energy systems that meet the highest standards of quality, giving you long-term confidence and the highest financial return. Call us at number 01273257407.

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Heating Your Home Without Mains Gas

Heat pumps offer an outstanding alternative for off-grid homes by using heat differentials that occur all year round. While the initial installation costs are high, they start to look a lot more appealing when paired with the electricity compensation packages and spiralling energy prices.

Lower Bills

A heat pump can reduce the amount of oil used by 300 gallons for a typical household that uses 800 gallons of oil per year. Today’s heat pump systems will reduce heating energy consumption by about 50% compared to heating with electricity.

Lower Carbon Emissions

Heat pumps are renowned for their lower carbon emissions. They can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 54%! In addition, the production and disposal of the hardware of a heat pump are relatively insignificant, representing only 2-3% of the overall footprint of the heat pump.

Which Heat Pump is Best for Your Home?

Air source heat pumps are so lightweight that they accommodate a wide range of properties. However, combining air source heat pumps with the current heating system is a highly technical process and should be worked out by trained experts like the Mittens Heat Pumps UK to produce the heat and hot water you require.

For new buildings and renovations, air-source heat pumps are ideal because they operate exceptionally well in properties designed to the most recent regulations and work efficiently with underfloor heating.

Air source heat pumps are more affordable than ground source heat pumps. Ground source heat pumps are usually more effective but come at a higher cost.

Heat Pumps for New Homes

Are you exploring heating options for your new home? Heat pumps can provide an efficient, energy-efficient alternative to traditional hot water and heating systems in new builds. The good news is that heat pumps pay for themselves by taking advantage of an initiative from the government called the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

What’s more, compared to traditional means of heating, the running costs are super low with less of a carbon footprint.

Will a Heat Pump Suit my Home and Heating Needs?

Before choosing to install a heat pump system in your home, there are many factors that must be considered.

An important factor to consider is the requirements of the house. In the case of a ground source heat pump, you’ll require a space outside – generally about twice the dwelling’s surface area – that you don’t mind digging up to lay the heat pump.

When you don’t have the room or if you don’t want to dig up your backyard, it may be better to go for an air source heat pump network, which is much more portable and more suited for urban environments.

The insulation quality of your property will also have a significant effect on the cost and energy conservation provided by heat pumps from the air and/ or ground supply.

New builds and newly restored properties are also suitable for the installation of heat pumps, which are built to high energy efficiency requirements.

Your home’s current source of heating and hot water also affects the financial rewards of renewable heating systems.

For instance, if you are substituting liquid gas, electric, or a solid fuel system with a heat pump system, the financial benefits are likely to be relatively high.

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Why Should I use a Heat Pump to Heat my House?

More Modern Technology Making Heating Safer

A heat pump is a much more modern, more sophisticated technology. It essentially functions as a boiler, that is, it produces heat in order to heat water and supply your home with hot water.

The heat pump system is based on the principle of latent natural heat extraction from air or ground and using modern technology to transfer the energy to your home which can then be used to cool or heat your space.

At temperatures as low as -15°C, heat pumps need less energy to operate. That means you can have heating and hot water for your home all year round.

High Efficiency

When you are heating with energy, a heat pump will reduce the amount of power used by as much as 40%. Also, in summer months, heat pumps are a far better dehumidifier than standard central air conditioners, using less energy in the process while providing more comfort through cooling.

Long Lifespan

Heat pumps have considerable longevity. In the past, their total lifespan was about 15 years, however, today’s new systems last between 20-25 years until they need replacement due to many technical advances.

A heat pump’s long life is due to its quality and design – there’s not that much that can go wrong, particularly with newer models. Heat pumps are the clear winners in terms of their longevity, compared to other types of heating.

Your heat pump’s lifespan is very important in that you can recover sufficient funds after 7 years through the RHI scheme.

Moreover, oil, electric and gas boilers are only allowed to work for 10 – 12 years before their parts need to be replaced, parts that the manufacturer may well have stopped making. Not so with heat pumps.

Are Heat Pumps the Greenest Way to Heat Your Home?

Geothermal heating is the most environmentally friendly and efficient way of heating your home according to Energy Star reports.

However, that requires an upfront investment in a geothermal heating system. Heat pumps will provide you with an incredible 50-60% reduction in your footprint for greenhouse gas emissions and they will not raise your electricity bill.

Air Source Carbon Emissions and Running Costs

An air-source heat pump will provide 3 kwh of heat for every 1 kWh of electricity. In most UK homes the total annual demand is 12,000 kWh.

This will save you about £520 in annual energy costs, with 4,000 kWh of power sold at £0.13 per unit. Research indicates that the emissions of the traditional air-source heat pump are over 40% lower in optimal settings, that is, assuming perfect air mixing, and the emissions of the ground-air heat pump were over 70% lower than for direct electric heating.

Ground Source Carbon Emissions and Running Costs

A ground source heat pump provides a clean way of heating buildings, free of any on-site carbon emissions. It makes use of the solar energy stored in the ground to provide one of the most energy-efficient means of heating buildings. Solar ground recharge is an integral part of ground source energy which is used to increase the efficiency of a ground source heat pump.

Ground source heat pumps save money and run much cheaper than electric, direct-heating systems. Ground source heat pumps are cheaper to run than gas and oil boilers.

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Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)

The Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive is a government initiative designed to encourage UK dwellers to use renewable energy by paying people who install and use such systems in their UK homes. You could be getting money for renewable heating costs. You get paid for 7 years depending on the amount of renewable heat you generate.

Domestic Air Source Heat Pump Potential Earnings

Heat pumps are part of the government’s newly launched solar heat incentive scheme. It means you can get paid for any unit of heat you produce if you add a solar heating system.

Occasionally, but not always, the RHI payments will be sufficient to offset the cost of the initial outlay of the air source heat pump.

Air source heat pumps usually cost from £7,000 – £10,000. You should expect to get about £2,000 – £5,000 in a regular home. RHI payments are paid in excess of seven years on a quarterly basis, so please note, you’ll need to invest the money upfront.

The Green Deal

The Green Deal is a private enterprise, originally run by the government but purchased by private investors in January 2017. It offers loans to property owners in the UK through its supplier network. The purpose of these loans is to support renewable energy installations and energy efficiency upgrades.

The RHI for Air Source Heat Pumps

Water source heat pumps that theoretically qualify for the domestic RHI are included in ground source heat pump definition. This may also be suitable for other cooker stoves and high-temperature heat pumps.

Savings on Bills

Since a heat pump supplies the hot water for cooking, there are significant savings to be made on fuel costs – usually, an air source heat pump will produce up to 3.5kW of usable energy for every 1kW of energy used to power it.

Potential Money in Your Pocket

If you have already purchased or upgraded a solar heating system qualifying under the domestic sustainable power incentive program, you will obtain quarterly payments from the UK government for a period of seven years.

Domestic Ground Source Heat Pump Potential Earnings

Domestic ground source heating provides efficiency and potential income of £3,000 per annum from the government’s sustainable heat initiative (RHI), with users of air source heat pumps theoretically receiving about £1,350 a year in savings and profit.

The RHI for Ground Source Heat Pumps

The domestic RHI covers all ground source heat pumps installed as of 15 July 2009.  Renewable power plants will also earn a 20.89 pence cashback rebate per kilowatt-hour used – over the first seven years of the facilities used.

Savings on Bills

The lowered gasoline costs will offset the initial capital expense and there will be no need for repair or servicing. Much of the electricity you use for heating comes from the earth and you’ll be less subject to consumer price swings and have a stable supply of energy for your home.

What’s more, you’ll be liable for compensation of between £2,405 and £2,830 a year under the Renewable Heat Incentive after you have installed the heat pump.

Potential Money in Your Pocket

The use of a ground source heat pump could minimise your energy consumption for heating by up to 75% compared with direct electricity.

Domestic Hot Water Heat Pumps

A domestic hot water heat pump uses natural air to heat your hot water. Unlike regular air-to-water heat pumps, this specific heat pump only provides hot water to showers and sinks in the house. This system is an excellent alternative for homes with or without space heating.

Domestic Air to Air Heat Pumps

An air to air heat pump is used for heating during the cold season and air cooling during the hot summer days. They are affordable to install. To install an air to air heat pump, there’s no need to dig boreholes or use costly machinery. They have significant heat transfer capacities.

What Size Heat Pump Do I Need for My House?

Install one ton of air-conditioning capacity for every 500-600 square feet of conditioned floor area. Every ton is worth BTU 12,000. BTU stands for British Thermal Unit.

For homeowners who are not professionals in the heating or cooling sector, this may seem a little complex. That is where our expert team comes in – they will determine the right size heat pump for your home.

Can Households in Cold Climates use an Air Source Heat Pump?

Cold climate air-source heat pumps (ASHPs) can be a cost-effective option for many homeowners across the UK to improve home comfort while delivering energy and cost savings which make their homes more affordable to live in. ASHP systems can be installed across a variety of climates and in different types of housing.

How to Keep the House Warm or Cool all Year Long

In addition to helping your house stay warm in the winter, a heat pump will even keep your house cool throughout the summer. In cold weather, it works by drawing warm air from outside and moving it inside your house.

Even when it is cold outside, warm air is still present. The heat pump can transfer it to the house where it’s required.

In warm weather, the heat extraction process is reversed, heat is taken from inside the house and released outside. That way, when it is warmer outside, the air inside stays cool.  A heat pump is a very efficient way to keep your home comfortable all year round, by heating and cooling a home using a small amount of energy.

Get in Touch

As specialists in renewable technology, we precisely size heat pumps for individual houses. This is based on comprehensive heat loss calculations and hot water calculations taken at your property, from which we can specify the model of heat pump which will most efficiently and cost-effectively meet 100% of your heat demands.

If you would like to find out how much a heat pump system would cost to install in your home, fill out our contact form. One of our professional account managers will be in contact quickly for a short talk before drawing up a plan, complete with efficiency forecasts and estimated costs.

For more information, please call 01273257407 today to arrange a free fact-finding ‘no obligation’ conversation.

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