Ground Source Heat Pumps

The temperature under the frost line in the ground remains a fairly stable temperature all year round. A ground source heat pump uses pipes buried in the garden to extract this heat to power radiators or under-floor heating systems.


How It Works

A ground source heat pump circulates a mixture of water and antifreeze around a loop of pipe - called a ground loop - which is buried in the garden. Heat from the ground is absorbed into this fluid and is pumped through a heat exchanger in the heat pump. Low grade heat passes through the heat pump compressor and is concentrated into a higher temperature useful heat capable of heating water for the heating and hot water circuits of the house. Ground loop fluid, now cooler, passes back into the ground where it absorbs further energy from the ground in a continuous process while heating is required.

The length of the ground loop depends on the size of your home and the amount of heat you need - longer loops can draw more heat from the ground, but need more space to be buried in.





Horizontal Arrays and Boreholes

Normally the loop of pipe is laid flat roughly 20cm below the local frost line (about 2m). This called an horizontal array. However this requires space which may not be available. If this is the case then the loop can be placed vertically into a borehole of up to 100m. While borehole installations are more expensive than horizontal arrays, they have the advantage of being suited to installation in urban settings where a large enough garden is not available.


Benefits Of A Ground Source Heat Pump

  • Can provide more heat output than an Air Source Heat Pump
  • Can reduce your carbon footprint: heat pumps can lower your home's carbon emissions, depending on which fuel you are replacing.
  • No fuel deliveries required.
  • Can provide space heating and hot water.
  • Can lower fuel bills by as much as 80%, especially if you are currently using conventional electric heating.
  • It's often classed as a 'fit and forget' technology because it needs little maintenance.
  • Easy to install in a new build scenario

Feasibility of a Ground Source Heat Pump

Is a ground source heat pump right for you? Please consider the following points.


  • Is your garden suitable for a ground loop?
    • It doesn't have to be particularly large, but the ground needs to be suitable for digging a trench or a borehole and accessible to digging machinery.

  • Is your home well insulated?
    • Since ground source heat pumps produce a lower temperature heat than traditional boilers, it's essential that your home is insulated and draught proofed well for the heating system to be effective. It could also make the system cheaper and smaller.

  • What fuel will you be replacing?
    • If you're replacing an electric, or coal heating system, a ground source heating system will save you more on your heating bills. Heat pumps are not recommended for homes on the gas network.

  • What type of heating system will you use?
    • Underfloor heating systems, larger radiators or low temperature fan convectors (warm air heating) can perform better than standard radiator-based systems because of the lower water temperatures required.

  • Is the system intended for a new development?
    • Combining the installation with other building work can reduce the cost of installing the system.

NIBE Ground Source Heat Pumps

We can install two Ground Source Heat Pumps manufactured by NIBE that are suited to family homes and industrial applications such as offices. They are highly efficient and user friendly.


NIBE F1145

NIBE F1145 is a ground source heat pump for heating single and multi-family houses and industrial buildings.


  • User Friendly
    • A unique, intuitive control panel lets you set a comfortable indoor climate and schedule your heating system to suit the demands of the household.

  • Adaptable Design
    • A modular design means you can add accessories such as a ventilation unit or accumulator tank without ruining the system's neat, streamlined appearance.

  • Quiet Operation
    • Noise levels are so low, you will hardly notice it's there!

NIBE F1245

NIBE F1245 is a complete ground source heat pump unit for heating single-family houses fitted with a 180-litre hot water heater.


  • User Friendly
    • A unique, intuitive control panel lets you set a comfortable indoor climate and schedule your heating system to suit the demands of the household.

  • Abundant Hot Water
    • The heat pump's high efficiency means you can get all the hot water you and your family need and supplies are quickly replenished after use.

  • Adaptable Design
    • A modular design means you can add accessories such as a ventilation unit or accumulator tank without ruining the system's neat, streamlined appearance.

  • Quiet Operation
    • Noise levels are so low, you will hardly notice it's there!

If you would like to discuss your Ground Source Heat Pump options in more detail, or would like a quote please feel free to contact us by telephone or email.

News

  • 29th March, 2012

    The website has now been updated to reflect the latest government information

  • 18th July, 2011

    Solar Utilities now not only install in South Yorkshire but Nation Wide.

  • 2nd June, 2011

    Solar Utilities are please to annouce we are now working closley with Rotherham Borough Coucil on a test house.

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Contact Us

Name:Solar Utilities Ltd

Phone:01709 371144

Fax:01709 829815

Email:info@solarutilities.co.uk

Address:
Northfield Rd
Rotherham
South Yorkshire
S60 1RR