Norfolk


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/05/heat-pump.jpg" alt="Heat pump" class="wp-image-51810" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/05/heat-pump.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/05/heat-pump-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/05/heat-pump-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>With energy bills skyrocketing and reducing carbon emissions high on everyone&#8217;s agenda, heat pumps are hot property when it comes to future-proofing your home. If you already have solar panels or an electric car, renewable heating may seem like a no-brainer next step. But is now the right time to make the switch? Is your home even suitable? Here to demystify the world of heat pumps is industry expert <a href="https://www.heatingtradesnetwork.org.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Louise Howlett</a> of local firm <a href="https://norfolk.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/r-a-brown-heating-services-norwich/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">R A Brown Heating</a> who design and install 21st century heating systems. If your boiler is on its last legs, or you are buying or building a new home or planning an extension, you could be pumped with the results.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-actually-is-a-heat-pump"><strong>What actually is a heat pump?</strong></h2>



<p>A heat pump is a bit of a magic contraption. It harnesses the warmth from the sun, which is present in the air or the ground around your house, and transfers it into the water in your heating system. Unlike traditional heating, it doesn&#8217;t burn fuels like gas, oil, coal or wood, but uses electricity to run a compressor, fan and pump while it’s harnessing the heat. An air source heat pump sits outside your house and looks a bit like an air con unit, but inside it is connected up to your water tank, radiators and underfloor heating. And, yes, even in freezing conditions there is still a lot of warmth in the air and ground.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/04/r-a-brown-heating-services-norwich4.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-50593" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/04/r-a-brown-heating-services-norwich4.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/04/r-a-brown-heating-services-norwich4-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/04/r-a-brown-heating-services-norwich4-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-get-a-heat-pump-nbsp-nbsp"><strong>Why get a heat pump?&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>To improve your comfort levels, save money on bills and end your reliance on fossil fuels. A heat pump will keep your home at a nice even, comfy temperature &#8211; so no more getting up to a cold house in winter or switching heating on and off &#8211; and it uses less energy too. A heat pump typically has a 300-500 per cent efficiency rate compared to 90 to 92 per cent for gas or oil-fired boilers. </p>



<p>Installing a heat pump is saying goodbye to your gas or oil bill and if you switch to a special heat pump tariff offered by some energy suppliers you could make further savings. Whether this is your first big step towards sustainable living or you&#8217;ve already added Solar PV and battery storage to your system, switching to a renewable heating will considerably reduce your carbon emissions by as much as 65%. You may already be aware that the government has banned installing replacement gas and oil boilers from 2035 as part of their commitment to achieve net zero by 2050.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-the-difference-between-air-and-ground-source-heat-pumps"><strong>What is the difference between air and ground source heat pumps?</strong> </h2>



<p>A specialist installer can advise on which type of heat pump is right for your property, depending on factors like how much outdoor space you have and, of course, your budget. An air source heat pump requires outdoor wall space, whereas ground source needs a sizeable garden as it relies on either a ground collector in a trench, or a bore hole. Ground temperature is more constant through the year and is therefore more efficient, but air source heat pumps are improving in efficiency and are generally cheaper to install. </p>



<p>Ground source is excellent in some conservation areas, for multiple occupancy buildings or new build estates, but is more expensive and invasive for retrofit because of the groundwork or bore holes needed. It&#8217;s also worth considering that trees can’t be planted in the collector areas but it is OK for the area to be paved over.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/05/woman-sofa.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-51672" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/05/woman-sofa.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/05/woman-sofa-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/05/woman-sofa-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-do-i-know-if-my-home-is-suitable"><strong>How do I know if my home is suitable?</strong></h2>



<p>Almost all detached and semi-detached properties are suitable for a heat pump. We have experience of retrofitting heat pumps in older, hard-to-heat homes, along with new builds, barn conversions and everything in between. Much confusion is being caused by homeowners being told that their property is unsuitable by utility companies who are working to very narrow criteria and using single-sized heat pumps. Established independent heat pump installers such as ourselves have a wider range of products and design the system individually. Our approach is to spend time with a customer to understand your property and how you live so we could make a suitable recommendation. We will assess your heat loss and the required size of heat pump, and let you know if you need to do anything before installing, such as attic insulation. If for any reason a heat pump wasn’t deemed to be a viable option for your home, we would be able to tell you.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-wouldn-t-a-heat-pump-be-right-nbsp"><strong>When wouldn’t a heat pump be right?&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>Sometimes a large property will need to upgrade their electricity supply and this can be expensive. Also some terraced properties do not have a suitable location for the outdoor unit. There needs to be a suitable space outside for the heat pump to stand on a solid base with a certain amount of space in front and behind to allow a free flow of air for the fans to work. It is also best for it not to be positioned in a &#8216;shady corridor’ down the side of your house. An experienced installer will let you know your options.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-is-the-right-time-to-install-a-heat-pump">When is the right time to install a heat pump?</h2>



<p>Ideally you should get a heat pump when your current boiler is reaching the end of its life, typically between 10 to 20 years. Reputable installers won&#8217;t try to sell you a heat pump if you have a relatively new boiler, unless you&#8217;re extending your property, making your current boiler insufficient to meet your heating needs.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/05/heat-pump-cost.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-51673" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/05/heat-pump-cost.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/05/heat-pump-cost-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/05/heat-pump-cost-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-so-what-s-the-damage">So, what&#8217;s the damage?</h2>



<p>To replace an existing heating system, including installation, you can expect to fork out on average up to £13K for an air source heat pump and cylinder, whereas a ground source heat pump will be between&nbsp;£35k &#8211; £80k, depending on groundwork and size. With any radiator upgrades, which allow the lower water temperature required to run a heat pump more efficiently and cheaply, the average whole system cost will be between £18 &#8211; £21k before the BUS grant allowance. Don’t change your radiators before speaking with an installer as they can calculate the size, and if you need new ones they can currently be charged at 0% VAT as part of a renewable system. You may not need to replace all of them at once either. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-any-government-grants-i-can-access-nbsp"><strong>Any government grants I can access?&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>If your boiler is going to reach end of its life over the next four years, you could expect to receive government grant of £7,500 off the cost of a heat pump system through the <a href="https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/boiler-upgrade-scheme-bus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)</a>, which will run until 2028. Your installer needs to be MCS qualified and BUS registered.&nbsp;Another financial incentive is that renewable systems are currently 0% VAT rated, which effectively gives 20% off, and this includes the radiators attached to the heat pump and the hot water cylinder, as well as the heat pump unit itself.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-long-does-the-installation-take"><strong>How long does the installation take? </strong></h2>



<p>For a fairly standard-size house it will typically take up to 10 days to install the outdoor unit, new hot water cylinder, upgrade radiators and alter pipework, or just 5 days if the upgrades aren&#8217;t required. A ground source heat pump installation will be over a longer period of time and involve other contractors like a groundwork company as well, so you could expect it to take 3-4 weeks</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-any-other-factors-to-consider-like-noise"><strong>Any other factors to consider, like noise?</strong></h2>



<p>A good quality air source heat pump is very quiet, but the installer does need to assess how far the unit is from your neighbour’s property. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/05/heat-pump-installer.png" alt="" class="wp-image-51675" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/05/heat-pump-installer.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/05/heat-pump-installer-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/05/heat-pump-installer-768x511.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-do-i-know-i-am-choosing-a-good-installer-nbsp"><strong>How do I know I am choosing a good installer?&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>If you’re new to heat pumps it is reassuring to work with a local specialist company that has a solid track record. Avoid online quotes from utility companies as they are only geared up to install heat pumps in a narrow range of smaller properties. Remember that if you wish to claim any government grants like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme then your installer will need to have MCS accreditation (find an <a href="https://mcscertified.com/find-an-installer/">MCS Certified Installer here</a>) and be BUS registered. I would also recommend to look for additional memberships such as <a href="https://gshp.org.uk/members/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ground Source Heat Pump Association</a> which indicates a high level of skill. Ask about heat pumps they have installed in similar houses and if you can speak to other customers. Do they have premises/showroom that you can visit?&nbsp;Look at their online profiles and reviews. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-anything-else-useful-to-know"><strong>Anything else useful to know?</strong></h2>



<p><a href="https://www.nesta.org.uk/project/visit-a-heat-pump/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Visit a Heat Pump Scheme</a> connects local people who are interested in getting a heat pump with local heat pump owners.</p>



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<p><strong><a href="https://rabrown.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">R A Brown Heating Services</a> is a nationally award-winning company, with appropriate industry accreditations and a good track record of installations, having installed heat pumps since 2008.</strong> <span><b>Read more about R A Brown Heating in our </b><a style="font-weight: bold" href="https://norfolk.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/r-a-brown-heating-services-norwich/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Little Black Book</a></span><strong> and watch the &#8216;R A Brown Story&#8217; on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAIDS4oBTQ0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube</a>. Want to take the next step?</strong> <strong>Call Louise of R A Brown on 07766 715662 or email her at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:louise@rabrown.co.uk">louise@rabrown.co.uk</a></strong>.</p>


Hot stuff! Everything you need to know about heat pumps

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