Do you know anyone with a heat pump?

If you do we would be interested in hearing from them.
Heating our houses accounts for around 20% of carbon dioxide emissions in the UK.  Gas heating for new houses is to be banned by 2025, and existing homes will need to be much better insulated and heated by lower carbon systems.  Heat pumps are likely to play a major role in this programme.  CAI is finding out how this can be done, with information and meetings with accredited heat pump design & install companies.  We are setting up a user group to find out what needs to be considered when thinking about installing heat pumps including: what are the different types, how do they work, what are their costs and benefits.  We also would like to hear from those who have already had a heat pump installed, with details of type, installers, how they have performed.  Let us know by contacting heatpumps@climateactionilkley.org.uk     

Advice from a Heat Pump Owner

A friend of one of our members describes his experience of a heat pump:-

  • His system (an air source pump) was supplied 10 years ago by a company called Nu-Heat when he was virtually rebuilding the house.  It provides underfloor heating plus hot water.  They have a service agreement and have never had any problems with the system, which heats the house adequately to an outside temperature of -7.  They have an immersion heater for back up if the temperature drops below -7 but have never needed to use it.  In the summer, they switch the underfloor heating off so it only provided heating for the hot water.   
  • They have a 300L water tank, heated by a water jacket from the heat pump so you need space for this.
  • With their significantly out-of-date pump, they get 4K of energy for every 1K that goes in.
  • As the pump has to run all night it may be important to find an electricity provider who offers a cheap price for off-peak electricity.  They are with Octopus.
  • His main advice was to find a reliable company.  His son, who lives in Denholme, has researched companies with a view to having a system installed, and he has chosen a company called Peak Power.
  • As was said in the meeting, the first step is to get the house well-insulated and you will also may need larger radiators.
  • He added that the technology has made considerable progress since they had their system installed – so they can now be considered for radiator systems as well as underfloor heating.

Ethical Consumer Heat Pumps

The new edition of the Ethical Consumer has a useful report on heat pumps see:-

https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/energy/shopping-guide/heat-pumps