Probably the most talked about new form of energy saving heating is heat pumps, often referred to as geothermal heating. Actually there are several types of heat pumps - ground, water and air.

Heat Pumps can reduce energy input by as much as 75% for ground source pumps and up to 50% for air source pumps. The ground heat pump system is ideal to be used with an underfloor heating system and can reduce energy consumption.

The pipes for your heat pump can be installed either horizontally in the ground at a depth of about 1.5m and 50m long or if space is limited the option of drilling vertially down into the ground can be taken.

Ground heat pumps work on a similar principle as a fridge, but in reverse heating not cooling. A mixture of water and vegetable based glycol is circulated through a network of tubes in the ground absorbing the heat in the earth. The heat pump uses the energy it has gained to warm the refrigerant which in turn transfers the heat to the water within an underfloor heating system.

A heat pump in action follows the basic principles of the schematic diagram shown below.

Note: Ground heat pumps can be used in most parts of the UK except around Bath and Southampton where the ground temperature remains too low.

Air heat pumps can also be installed taking into account the difference in temperature throughout the different rooms in a house. Warm or cool air can be circulated as needed within a house or building providing heating or cooling as needed.

Ideally Purus Navitas would recommend that this type of system is installed in a new build only.

Water heat pumps in the UK are generally not installed as most people do not live close to water but if you live close to a large expanse of water then this option can be considered and can avoid extensive drilling and digging.

Purus is now a fully approved installer for NIBE heat pumps - click here