Backwell Down

The Project

This old cottage on the edge of North Somerset has been modernised over the years to include upgrades such as internally insulated walls, double glazing and a solar PV system, however the heating system used an aging oil boiler and even older oil tank so the customer was faced with the choice of replacing the boiler and tank or taking advantage of the BUS and installing a heat pump.

With a large cupboard for a cylinder close to an external wall we could take advantage of the existing space to install a new cylinder and keep pipe runs to a minimum and whilst the work took place we could convert the hot water from a gravity fed system to mains pressure meaning that the flow rate for hot and cold water could be greatly increased.

The Solution

Owing to the age of the property, the size and some of the older parts of the heating system we opted for a Daikin Altherma 3 HHT high temperature heat pump capable of flow temperatures of 70°C, super quiet operation and a nice looking unit, this was paired with an All-in-One indoor unit with all the hydraulic components and a 230 litre hot water cylinder built in to save as much space as possible, keep the install time down and leave the client with a simple to control and easy to understand system.

We also installed a 100 litre buffer vessel, adding volume to the system, working like a heat battery to protect the compressor, keep response times down and hopefully prolong the life of the heat pump. We offered a smart thermostat to give the client easy control over their heating wherever they are.

The Installation

The large outdoor unit was installed close to the plant room to minimise the pipe run on a concrete base with an allowance for the condensation from the outdoor unit. We timed the project to run whilst the client was on holiday, meaning we could complete the work over the course of a week without having to worry about the client not having heating or hot water.

Where required we upsized radiators to cope with the lower flow temperatures compared to the old oil boiler and converted the hot water systems to a sealed system to give a greater flow rate.

Results

Installed as part of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme the client saved £5,000 on the cost of the project, which totalled approximately £15,000. Over the lifetime of the heat pump the customer will recoup costs through lower running costs and they have not had to replace their oil tank or boiler.

By switching the house to mains pressure hot water they are benefitting from a much better supply of hot water throughout the house.