HOW TO ASSESS IF YOUR HOME IS READY FOR A HEAT PUMP
As the UK moves toward more sustainable energy solutions, heat pumps are becoming an increasingly popular option for homeowners. However, before you decide to install a heat pump, it’s essential to assess whether your property is ready. In this guide, we’ll cover the key checks and tests you can do to determine if your home is suitable for a heat pump installation. We’ll also explain what steps to take if your home isn’t quite ready yet.
1. Perform the Radiator Turn-Down Test
Why It’s Important:
Heat pumps operate at lower flow temperatures than traditional gas boilers. Ensuring your current radiators can deliver adequate heat at these lower temperatures is key to maintaining comfort in your home.
How to Conduct the Test:
Choose a Cold Day: Wait until the temperature outside drops below 5°C to better simulate typical winter conditions.
Adjust Your Boiler Flow Temperature:
For modern systems with numerical settings, reduce the flow temperature to 40°C.
For older systems without specific numbers, turn the boiler down to about 50% of its maximum setting.
Monitor Your Home’s Warmth:
Let your system run for at least an hour or two.
Walk around your home and note which rooms feel warm and which feel cold.
What the Results Mean:
Warm Rooms: These rooms likely have radiators capable of handling the lower temperatures produced by heat pumps.
Cold Rooms: These rooms may need radiator upgrades to ensure they stay warm when using a heat pump.
Be mindful of external factors, such as cloud cover or sunlight, as they can slightly influence the results of this test.
2. Check Your Outdoor Space for Heat Pump Installation
Why It’s Important:
A heat pump requires adequate outdoor space to function efficiently. The location of the unit can affect both its performance and the cost of installation.
What to Check:
Proximity to Your Home: Ideally, the heat pump should be within 10-15 meters of your home’s façade. The closer it is to the property, the more efficient it will be, and it will reduce trenching costs.
Space Requirements: Find a location that is 1 meter away from your boundary line and has a footprint of 1m x 1.5m. Make sure the area has good air movement to avoid recirculating air, which can reduce the efficiency of the system.
Noise Considerations: Modern heat pumps are very quiet, but it’s still best to avoid placing the unit next to bedrooms. Aim to keep a distance of at least 10 meters from bedroom windows.
Safety Distances from Openings: If your heat pump uses R290 refrigerant, it must be installed at least 1 meter away from any windows or doors due to safety regulations.
3. Find Space for a Hot Water Cylinder
Why It’s Important:
Heat pumps typically require a hot water cylinder, unlike combi boilers, which heat water on demand. This means you need to ensure there’s space for this additional component.
What to Consider:
Placement Options: The cylinder should ideally be installed within the insulated areas of your home, such as a utility room or airing cupboard. This minimizes heat loss and improves efficiency.
Alternative Locations: Modern hot water cylinders are highly efficient, losing only about 1 kWh of heat per day. This makes them suitable for installation in unheated spaces like lofts, basements, or garages if necessary.
Proximity to the Heat Pump: Position the hot water cylinder as close to the heat pump as possible. This reduces the cost of pipework, lowers pumping energy requirements, and simplifies the installation.
4. Determine Whether You Need Planning Permission
Understanding Permitted Development Rights:
In England, heat pumps usually fall under permitted development rights, meaning you don’t need planning permission for installation. This is covered under Class G of the General Permitted Development Order (GDPO).
Special Considerations:
Check for Permitted Development (PD) Rights: Most properties have PD rights, but properties in conservation areas or national parks may not. It’s always worth checking with your local council to confirm your rights.
Listed Buildings: If you live in a listed building, you will need to apply for listed building consent before any work can be done. Consulting with a heritage officer is recommended early in the process to ensure compliance with local regulations.
5. Check Your Electrical Supply
Why It’s Important:
Heat pumps are electrically powered, and it’s important to make sure your home’s electrical system can handle the additional load.
What to Check:
Incoming Electrical Supply: Most homes have a supply rated between 60 and 100 amps. The larger the supply, the more spare capacity you’ll have for additional power-consuming devices like heat pumps.
Capacity Considerations: If you have a smaller supply (e.g., 60 amps) and also use a car charger or other high-energy appliances, you may need an upgrade to your electrical supply. In many cases, your network provider will do this for free.
Consult a Professional: A heating engineer or electrician can assess your electrical system and advise whether any upgrades are needed.
Note: This advice applies to single-phase electrical supplies, which are common in UK homes. Larger properties with three-phase supplies generally have more spare capacity, but this is rare in domestic settings.
6. Review Your Home’s Insulation
Why It’s Important:
While insulation isn’t a strict requirement for heat pump installation, a well-insulated home can significantly improve energy efficiency and reduce heating costs.
Key Considerations:
Loft Insulation: Without proper insulation, your home could lose up to 25% of its heat through the roof. If you need to upgrade several radiators, it may be more cost-effective to improve your home’s insulation instead. This reduces heat loss and ensures your current radiators can keep your home warm at lower temperatures.
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs): OFGEM accepts EPCs with insulation recommendations, meaning you don’t necessarily need to complete insulation upgrades to install a heat pump, but it will help reduce your energy bills.
Making the switch to a heat pump is a smart choice for homeowners looking to reduce energy costs and minimize their environmental impact. However, it’s important to ensure your property is prepared for the installation. By conducting these checks—testing your radiators, assessing your outdoor and indoor space, reviewing your electrical supply, and considering your insulation—you can determine whether your home is ready for a heat pump.
If your home requires upgrades or adjustments, don’t worry! There are plenty of solutions that can make your property heat-pump ready.
Need further advice? Contact us to discuss your heat pump project further and take the step to a lower carbon home.
