Ground Source Heat Pumps (Geothermal) Heating & Cooling

So many people are choosing to switch to heat pumps because of the benefits of this type of system. You can find some of these listed below.

• Environmentally friendly
  
  

Heat pumps can harness the natural heat in the ground to heat your home, using electricity to help them along a bit. This makes them more environmentally friendly than their gas counterparts, but it should still be noted that electricity can be created through burning fossil fuels. You can make your heat pump even more friendly to the environment by using it alongside solar panels or energy generated from other renewable sources.

• Energy efficient
  
  

Heat pumps are more efficient than gas boilers. In fact, it’s thought that whereas gas boilers are around 95 per cent efficient, heat pumps can be over 400 per cent efficient because for every unit of electricity used, around four units of heat are generated and used.

• Provide cooling as well as heating

Unlike a boiler, which only has the ability to heat your home, a heat pump system can cool your home, too, by working in reverse.

• Eligible for grants
  
  

Homes that have a heat pump installed are eligible for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), a government grant that provides you with quarterly payments over seven years. Eventually, you may be able to pay off the cost of the heat pump altogether.

• Reduce energy bills
  
  

While electricity does cost more than gas, we’ve previously calculated that a heat pump could actually cost less to run each year than a gas boiler, so you can reduce your annual heating bill.

• Come with a warranty

All Viessmann’s heat pumps come with a standard warranty of two years, however this can also be extended if installed by a registered Viessmann installer.

• Work even at low temperatures

If you’re concerned that a heat pump can’t generate enough heat when outside temperatures dip below zero, don’t worry. They can gather heat even when it’s as low as -20 ℃ outside, so more than adequate for the UK climate.

• Low maintenance
  
  

Heat pumps are easy to run, don’t rely on any fuel deliveries and just require an annual service to ensure they’re working safely and efficiently.

Given these advantages, it’s not hard to understand why this technology continues to grow in popularity across the UK.

As mentioned, a ground source heat pump gathers heat from outside and brings it into your home. It does this via pipes that are filled with a heat transfer fluid and laid in the ground. This heat is then transferred to a refrigerant which boils at a low temperature evaporating to a gas.

The gas can now be compressed to increase its temperature even more, raising it to a level where it can be used to heat your home. This is done in the condenser heat exchanger. As the gas heats the water, it cools down, causing it to condense back into a liquid refrigerant. The whole process then starts again.

Viessmann’s heat pumps and geothermal cooling systems use the most advanced technology to make the appliance work as quietly as possible, while also optimising its lifespan.

You can find our video on how a heat pump works here, as well as additional information.