Where is the best place to put an air source heat pump? Are you looking to install an air source heat pump but need help deciding where to place it? This article covers tips for positioning your air source heat pump and outlines the space needed to install one.

Where To Locate A Heat Pump?

Heat pumps, both air source and ground sources, work differently than a gas boiler, so if you've decided to make the switch, there are many things to consider, especially their whereabouts. For example, a heat pump unit tends to be located outside, yet a boiler is installed inside.

When deciding on the hot water and central heating system most suitable for your home, you'll want to consider how it can affect the space. For instance, it may be easier to increase the insulation in your property or invest in solar panels to guarantee your heat pump runs on renewable energy and electricity.

One aspect to consider that is paramount to the installation process is where you will store your central unit so it can operate efficiently. Generally, your qualified installer will provide advice on how best to locate a heat pump. 

Is It Worth Getting An Air Source Heat Pump?

Tips for positioning your Air Source Heat Pump

The positioning of an air source heat pump is paramount, so here are our top tips and handy guide on how best to store and position your new appliance:

-Air Supply

Air source heat pumps will utilise the air as a predominant source of household heating, meaning our first tip entails positioning your outdoor unit where there is a good supply of ambient air outdoors. 

Ambient air involves air that comes from a new, open space. You cannot place or install a heat pump in an enclosed area, for example, an attic or basement, as your room would become a freezer in the winter, and the cold air would circulate until it's virtually impossible for the temperature to be affected and heat up. 

-Manoeuvrability

When you're having an air source heat pump installed outside your home, it's best to remember that your unit could eventually require annual services or some professional maintenance. Therefore, you should ensure that there is enough space for your engineer to see all sides of the unit.

-Positioning

The positioning of your heat pump unit is essential. We would typically encourage you to position your unit outside your property or home on the floor immediately, which can provide you with two significant benefits. One of the advantages includes reducing the amount of pipework to ensure your heat pump is adequate to cater to your entire property and avoid heat loss at all costs. 

Secondly, any maintenance or service you require will be far easier for experienced installers and professionals to complete as they will need to be easily accessible. 

You must ensure plenty of good airflow around your heat pump unit to prevent any ice build-up from your defrost cycle at the lowest sub-zero temperatures. It could also cause unstable surfaces for your professionals when servicing. 

-Noise cancellation

For those investing in or installing a heat pump, we would encourage you to avoid positioning your unit below a bedroom window or directly outside your home as it can, on occasion, be relatively noisy and potentially disturb your sleep, especially on nights when you're struggling. The slightest noise could become an enormous irritant.

Modern air-source heat pumps are incredibly quiet, and plenty of technological advancements have allowed such noise reduction. However, the sound will still be noticeable, much like if your refrigerator was outside your bedroom window. Its murmur is still going to be irritating. 

-Shelter from the weather

Finally, we ask that you consider the best location; for example, do you live in an area in the UK that is more prone to frequent weather swings and temperature changes. Suppose the area you live in is prone to inches of snow that pile high or heavy rain storms resulting in pooling water.

In that case, we request that you and your accredited installers avoid positioning units against any walls that are likely to be hit by the brunt of the harsh weather. Snow, rain, debris, and other ground conditions may reduce the airflow and decrease the optimum efficiency. 

Where To Install A Heat Pump

Finding the perfect location for your heat pump can be challenging for some as it depends on which type it is; air source or ground source.

Assess the qualities of both to have more of an idea. For example, the air-source heat pump needs good airflow to work efficiently. Its operation allows it to take in the air surrounding the back and sides of your unit and exit any cold air once all the heat has been effectively extracted. On the other hand, ground source heat pumps are professionally planted in the earth with plenty of pipework, taking its heat from the layers in the ground and pumping it into your home.

We suggest your air-source heat pump be located in an area that isn't hemmed in too much, meaning if one side of your home has an alleyway, but the other side is your garden, we recommend placing your heat pump in your garden. It's paramount to guarantee your shrubs and plants are at least a metre away from your heat pump and keep them cut back regularly so they cannot infringe upon your pipework or site, causing obstructions.

You also want to ensure that your heat pumps are installed in areas where professionals can gain easy access to complete various services and general maintenance. Making it difficult for professionals to where may have to utilise ladders or scaffoldings will make services take longer, and therefore the running costs will be more. For such reasons, we would ask you and your air-source heat pump installer to discuss an area at ground level towards the back of your property.

In doing so, plumbers can also allow pipework to stay at a minimum, making your system far more energy-efficient and less disruptive to your garden and shrubbery. For those that cannot have their heat pump installed immediately into the ground, plumbers and engineers can hang them so that they are wall-mounted on brackets just above it at head height.

Much like these, there are a few building regulations that must be adhered to by yourselves and neighbours put in place by the local authorities and planning permission councils. Suppose you're unsure whether you require planning permission to install a heat pump inside or outside your home. In that case, we recommend contacting a suitably qualified heating engineer to provide the necessary advice to make a decision.

Your heat pump must be approximately one metre apart from any units or site boundaries on a flat roof; you must ensure that it is nowhere near the roof's edge. If your home is a legally listed building or situated in World Heritage Sites or conservation areas, your professional should install your heat pump at ground level.

If you have purchased an air source heat pump, be sure to read your manufacturer's manual to ensure your heat pump is thoroughly and properly installed. Your manual may also contain some regulations or specific site boundary to comply with.

-Where to put an air source heat pump

With everything in mind, there are only a few places where you can place your air-source heat pump. Typically, if you have any free wall outside of your home, this will be suitable; ensure there is enough space to store your heat pump so it can take in an adequate amount of air.

We recommend contacting your local planning council or the authorities and brushing up on the building regulations in your area. You'll also want to consider the dBA of your unit, which entails the noise output—placing your heat pump in an area that will not provide any nosy disruptions.

-Where to put a ground source heat pump

Unlike any standard air source heat pump in the UK, a ground source system will take the existing heat from underground with the help of numerous pipes installed in and around your land or property. If you find that your home has less land than what is typically required for the installation of a ground source pump, professional plumbers and electricians can skilfully lay the pipework horizontally in your garden as this allows for more space.

The ground pump doesn't need any airflow to function and doesn't expel any cold air back into the ground, so your local plumbers can install these appliances inside your home. You can keep your ground source appliance in a utility room or cellar.

Such would be an incredibly inefficient way to provide heat for your property; thus, you should ensure your air-source heat pump is appropriately placed outside. Suppose you're struggling to find the land to put your heat pump.

In that case, we recommend contacting a local professional to perform a full household inspection to assess where the heating and cooling appliance could go, allowing it the correct air for ventilation and existing out of sight. 

How Much Space Do You Need For A Ground Source Heat Pump?

For a ground source heat pump to function effectively, you must ensure that your household or property's pipework is of a particular length; this way, you can garner the perfect heat level to pass throughout your building and provide the heat that you require.

For professionals to lay any pipework, the standard 8kWh heat pump must have around 250 m2 of land to extend out adequately. The average size of a UK garden is typically at least 163 m2, so it can be challenging to secure the necessary land so that construction can take place.

However, fortunately, professional plumbers and engineers can utilise the vertical installation system, which allows for boreholes to be efficiently drilled down into the ground at least 100m or deeper to create more space underground to eliminate the amount of land you would generally need.

For any ground source heat pump providing more than 8kW, you will likely require drilling two separate boreholes of around 60m depth. Ensure your land or property site is big enough to allow the drilling rig access; that way, you'll know you have enough space for a ground source heat pump in your outdoor landscape.

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Are you considering air source heat pump installation in Essex, Suffolk and the surrounding areas? We have years of experience in providing tailored energy-efficient and affordable home heating solutions. So if you need any further assistance  with air source heat pumps, follow the link below.