Most of these old homes were designed to try to maximize natural ways of heating and cooling. This meant orienting the home in a direction where it received the most sunlight in winter and cool air in summer.

To supplement what they get from nature, most homes typically use traditional boilers and HVAC systems. While these systems might be adequate, in many cases they are not the most energy efficient, cost effective or carbon friendly. Heat pumps are more energy efficient, less costly to run and have a reduced carbon footprint compared to traditional HVAC systems.

A common question owners of old homes have however, is whether heat pumps can be installed in their old home. How suitable are heat pumps for old houses that may have existing HVAC systems like radiators? What would you need to do to retrofit a heat pump system in a situation like this?

What Type of Heat Pump Is Suitable For An Old House?

There are two main categories of heat pumps, namely air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps. Either can be retrofitted to an existing home.

Retrofitting Air Source Heat Pumps

Air source heat pumps transfer energy from the surrounding air outside to heat or cool a home. This is through an Air-to-air or Air-to-water heat pump.

1. Air-to-air heat pumps are air-based systems since they circulate warm or cool air through ducts.
2. Air-to-water heat pumps are water-based systems since they regulate temperatures using water pumped through radiators and underfloor heating.

Pros

1. Air source heat pumps are less expensive compared to ground source heat pumps. The average cost for air source heat pumps is between £8,000 and £18,000.
2. Installation is also much easier and typically requires less space than a ground source system.
3. Can be fitted to existing radiators, duct work and hot water tanks.

Cons

1. Air source heat pumps are slightly less efficient than ground source heat pumps. This is especially the case for homes in extremely cold climates. One of the main drawbacks of heat pumps is they experience a sharp drop in efficiency when temperatures drop far below zero.

Retrofitting Ground Source Heat Pumps

Ground source or geothermal heat pumps draw energy from water circulating in pipes buried underground. There are two variants of a ground source system.

1. Horizontal ground source heat pumps lay a network of pipes horizontally or across an area of space underground.
2. Vertical ground source heat pumps use vertical boreholes sunk deep into the ground. Vertical pumps are more expensive and used where there isn’t enough space for a horizontal ground source heat pump.

Pros

1. Ground source heat pumps are more efficient and will generate more heat compared to an air source heat pump. This is because there is more latent energy in the ground than there is in the air.
2. This type of system also has a longer lifespan compared to an air source system.

Cons

1. Very high upfront costs. Geothermal systems cost between £20,000 to £35,000.
2. The complicated installation of a geothermal system makes it more suited for a new building than for a retrofit.

Verdict

Air source heat pumps are a better option for retrofits. They require much less space for equipment and are not as complicated to install. In contrast, ground source heat pumps require laying a network of piping that takes up a significant amount of space. Generally, geothermal systems are more recommended for new homes.

The much higher cost of a geothermal system is also another factor to consider. If you are unsure of the costs, get quotes here to compare.

Do Heat Pumps Work With Existing Radiators?

Heat pumps distribute heat through a home using radiators, underfloor heating and air ducts. Using heat pumps with existing radiators will likely require some slight adjustments since heat pumps work differently.

Heat pump systems produce and circulate heat slower than traditional heating. Retrofitting a heat pump using existing radiators that were designed with a traditional heating system to a heat pump needs to account for the slower flow rate. This would entail using a larger capacity heat pump.

Designing a heating system for a retrofit needs to consider the size of the home, heating demands, and insulation. From there, an installer will recommend what size heat pump and radiators are required. If the existing radiators are of the right size then the only thing left to work out is the capacity of the heat pump.

If however, the radiators are not of the right size needed to meet the demand, an installer will likely recommend you upgrade your radiators to a larger size or you increase the number of radiators. To get an idea of what this might cost, take our quiz and get a free quote.

The energy efficiency of a home plays a big part in the running costs of a heating system. Insulation will determine just how cost effective a heating system will be.

How Insulated Does A House Need To Be For A Heat Pump?

Insulation should be the first step to retrofitting a new heating system. Any cost savings or improvements in heating efficiency will literally go out the window of a home with poor insulation. Typical signs of poor insulation include:

1. Drafts in rooms where doors and windows are closed.
2. Mold could be a sign of excessive moisture coming in from a leaky roof for example.
3. A higher than average electricity bill.
4. Temperature fluctuations that see your home being hotter or colder than average.
5. Inconsistent temperatures throughout the house. Some rooms are hotter or colder than others.

Homeowners that improve their insulation see the highest returns when they invest in a heat pump.

How To Insulate An Older Home

The best ways to insulate an existing home is through double glazing, wall and loft insulation. Windows and doors are an easy passage for cold and hot air. Double glazing can reduce your bill by up to £100 a year according to the Energy Saving Trust.

Roofs have the most energy loss in a home. Insulating a loft generally has the most impact on making a home more energy efficient.

The post Can A Heat Pump Be Installed In An Old House? appeared first on Compare 24 - English.

In this guide, we’ll go over all the questions you may have about placing your heat pump in the attic, including the advantages and disadvantages.

Can a heat pump be located in the attic?

Yes, a heat pump can be placed in the attic, however, there are various disadvantages that you should consider. It may seem like the perfect option to place a heat pump in the attic because you can easily control the temperature of the floor below, and this proves useful for 2-story houses. Despite the advantages, there are also plenty of things that can go wrong with attic heat pumps.

In order to decide whether or not you should place your heat pump in the attic, we need to consider the advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of having a heat pump in an attic

Less noise

We all know how noisy HVAC systems can be and a heat pump is no different, for that reason, some homeowners consider placing their heat pump system in the attic. A typical heat pump system will be either located on the wall or in an outdoor area, and it can be noisy at times. One way to avoid this is by placing the heat pump in the attic.

Located out of the way

If you have a small outdoor space, and you want to avoid placing your heat pump on the wall, the attic might be a great solution. The system will remain out of the way, and it can help you save space.

It can be easier to control the temperature in all the rooms of the house

An attic heat pump can also help you to control the temperature, especially if you have a 2-story house. Typically, in this type of house, the heat pump will be located on the ground floor, and to push the air to the first floor, you either have a second system mounted on the wall, or it can consume more energy. Having a heat pump in your attic makes it easier to control the temperature on the first floor, and it can be more efficient.

Disadvantages of having a heat pump in an attic

Difficult to clean and maintain

One of the main disadvantages of placing your heat pump in the attic is that you need to maintain and clean heat pump from time to time. Whether you do this on your own, or you hire a company specialized in heat pump maintenance, you need to consider how difficult the task may be.

Some attics are relatively easy to access and have plenty of space and headroom to be able to clean and care for your heat pump. Others may be a lot more complicated to access, and it can be difficult to maintain and clean your heat pump system.

Rodents can damage your heat pump system

Rodents love attics, and in fact, they are a big threat to your heat pump system. Within a few weeks, they are able to destroy all the pipes in the system and could cause you a lot of trouble, and a hefty repair bill. This is another disadvantage of having your heat pump system installed in the attic.

It is more difficult to check your system

While maintenance and cleaning are important, having a way to check on your heat pump is also crucial. Placing it in the attic means that it will be more difficult to access, and therefore more complicated to check on your heat pump system from time to time.

Lower efficiency

Depending on the structure and architectural layout of your house, a heat pump in the attic could have a lower efficiency. For example, if most of the areas close to the attic are not the most used rooms in the house, it means that you will need additional energy to make the heat or cold air move into the rooms you want to.

For this reason, you need to carefully consider how your house is designed in order to make your heat pump as efficient as possible.

Maintenance can be more expensive

Some attics are difficult to access, and on top of that removing parts of your heat pump in the attic or a simple task like replacing the air filter can be a total nightmare. This is why you have to consider whether or not having the heat pump in the attic is a good option for you. If it is easy to access your attic, then you can consider it otherwise, it might be difficult and expensive to repair any problems that your heat pump may face.

Dustier

Attics are known for being dusty, and dust and heat pumps do not go well together. Especially if one of your family members has allergies, a heat pump placed in a dusty place like an attic can make it easy for the dust to go into the system. Not only spreads dust around the house but also blocks the airways, requiring you to replace the air filter often.

Should you install a heat pump in the attic?

Most of the time you should avoid installing a heat pump in the attic because it can cause more harm than good. However, if you have a high-ceiling attic, with plenty of space, that allows your heating system to easily blow air into the most used rooms of your house, then you should consider it.

Once again, it depends mostly on the layout and design of your house, and you should carefully consider and ponder all the pros and cons of an attic heat pump.

Attic heat pump FAQ

Which type of heat pump can be located in your attic?

An air-source heat pump can be located in the attic since it relies on air to make the system work. Other types of heat pumps, such as water-source and geothermal are not adequate to be located in the attic.

Is a heat pump in the attic a good idea?

While it is generally best to avoid placing your heat pump in the attic, in some cases for 2-story houses it can be a viable solution. Provided that the attic has a high ceiling and accesses the most used rooms of the house. This will ensure that the installed system will be efficient, and will work properly.

Is it better to have a heat pump in the basement or attic?

Placing your heat pump in the basement or attic depends on how your house is constructed and the type of heat pump you are installing. The most common type of heat pump, air-source, should not be located in the basement, because it requires air inflow, and the basement is not the best place for it. Moreover, it can be located in the attic depending on the structure, and layout of your home.

Remember that choosing the right location for your heat pump is totally dependent on the layout of your home.

How does an attic heat pump work?

The type of heat pump that can be installed in an attic is an air-source heat pump. It works by taking air into the system and controlling its temperature with a compressor, which allows the system to either warm or cool the house.

The post Attic Heat Pump: Should You Put a Heat Pump in an Attic? appeared first on Compare 24 - English.

In this article, we’ll go over some of the most common questions about the location of heat pumps and finally answer the question of whether or not a heat pump can be located inside or outside your home.

Does a heat pump have to be outside?

There are different types of heat pumps and by far the most popular is an air-source heat pump. These types of heat pumps require an indoor and outdoor unit so that they can create airflow between the outdoor and indoor units. However, other types of heat pumps, such as ground and water heat pumps can be located inside your home.

Both water and water heat pump systems do not require airflow and for that reason, they can be placed inside your house, whether it is in a garage, a basement, or another area that you have available.

Understanding the different types of heat pumps

In order to understand whether or not a heat pump can be located inside your home, you need to understand the most common types of heat pumps and exactly how they work. 

Air source heat pump

An air source heat pump is the most common type of heat pump and the system works by transferring air from the outside unit to the inside of your home. Because it relies on airflow to control the temperature, this type of heat pump requires an outdoor unit.

Ground source heat pump

A ground source heat pump or geothermal heat pump uses the natural heat of the ground and transfers it to your home. For this reason, this type of heat pump does not require an outside unit.

Water source heat pump

Water source heat pumps are another system that does not require an outdoor unit. It works just like an air source heat pump but instead of using air, it uses water. By removing the heat from the water in the summer, and by heating the water during the winter.

Where would a heat pump be located?

The ideal location for a heat pump is dependent on the type of heat pump system you decide to install in your home. This is why it is so important to research the different types of heat pumps available before you commit to installing them in your home.

While some types of heat pumps such as ground sources, and water sources can be located in various places, an air-source heat pump will require both an outdoor and indoor unit. Additionally, there are some things you should consider before installing an air source heat pump.

Air source heat pumps are heating system that requires an outdoor and indoor unit. As an HVAC system, a heat pump requires both the inflow and outflow of air and for that reason it needs to have an outdoor and indoor unit so that the air is able to flow from the outside of your home inside and vice versa.

If you are installing an air source heat pump you also need to make sure that the outdoor unit is placed in an area without vegetation, because it can block the airway of the heat pump. This could lead to lower efficiency and in some cases, it might require repairs if leaves, dust, or any other debris finds its way in. Additionally, it will also prevent you from having to replace your heat pump filter frequently.

Why you should not put a heat pump in a cold area

You should avoid placing the heat pump in a cold area that does not get a lot of sunlight. The reason is that heat pumps are prone to failure and eventually freezing in cold weather. Therefore, placing the heat pump in the warmest location possible will allow you to prevent any failure while also increasing the lifespan of your heating system. 

This also helps to increase the efficiency of the heat pump, because if the difference between the temperature outdoors and indoors is lower, then the energy consumed by the heat pump to control the temperature inside your home will also be lower.

Heat Pump Location FAQ

Does a heat pump have an indoor and outdoor unit?

While the most common type of heat pump, an air source, requires an indoor and outdoor unit, some types of heat pumps do not need an outdoor unit, including water and ground heat pumps. These types of heat pumps do not require an outdoor unit, and for that reason, you can place them in any space in your home.

Why is a heat pump placed outside of the house?

Air source heat pumps are the most common type of heat pump available, and because they require airflow from outside of the home, and indoors, they have to be installed outside of the house. However, some heat pump types, such as geothermal and water source, can be placed inside the house.

Can heat pumps be installed anywhere?

Only ground and water source heat pumps can be installed anywhere because they do not require airflow. Conversely, an air source heat pump will require an outdoor unit, so that the air is able to move from indoors to outdoors, and from outside to the inside of your home.

Can a heat pump be installed in a garage?

Both geothermal and water-source heat pumps can be installed in a garage, however, an air-source heat pump cannot be installed in a garage. The reason is that an air source heat pump requires the inflow of air.

Read More:

Heat Pump Risks: Can a Heat Pump Make People Sick?

Heat Pump vs Fireplace: Which One Is Better?

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