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Heat pumps are a tried and tested solution for heating issues for many commercial and residential properties in the UK. Compared to traditional heating solutions, heat pumps are more energy efficient and have a lower carbon footprint, which makes them better for the environment.
However, this heating technology requires a robust electrical system that can handle the demands of the premises along with the heating requirements.
Read on for a detailed guide on installing heat pumps, what they are, and whether your existing electrical system can support heat pumps:
Heat pumps are popular because they are a low-carbon, modern heating technology that absorbs latent heat from the air outside and transfers it to your home to increase the temperature inside. It works like an air conditioner but in reverse, making it suitable for various heating needs during the colder months.
Contrary to what you might think, heat pumps do not generate heat on their own. Rather, they act as a transport system that moves heat inside from the outside.
Heat pumps sit outside your home, with their size depending on how much heat they will generate. The higher the heating requirement, the bigger the heat pump and the more energy it will consume.
Here’s how heat pumps work:
The heat generated from the refrigerant is transferred to radiators, underfloor heating units, or a hot water cylinder to provide a comprehensive heating solution.
The same process can also be found in air conditioners, except that in ACs, this process is reversed and the unit moves hot air from the inside of the premises back outside.
Although air source heat pumps use electricity to run, they use much less energy compared to the amount of heat they produce, making them an energy-efficient method to heat your home – but they still require a good electrical system for higher efficiency.
Heat pumps require the following components:
Heat pumps are designed to remain turned on, which creates a continuous electrical load, especially when combined with modern electrical demands such as induction hobs, EV chargers, and more.
When assessing if your existing electrical system can support heat pumps, one of the first checks an electrician will make is your consumer unit.
In most cases, older properties may have rewirable fuse boards, limited spare ways, no modern RCD protection, and outdated equipment that may not meet current electrical standards.
This is why heat pump installations usually require:
It is important to note that if your property is fairly new, then there is a good chance that you will not require a consumer unit upgrade. However, the likelihood of an upgrade becomes more apparent when the existing board lacks spare capacity or modern protection systems.
In most cases, yes, heat pumps are meant to run for long hours, which makes separate circuitry important.
By installing a separate circuit, you can ensure that the dedicated circuit will always remain protected and the appliance will always receive a stable supply.
It also ensures that the heat pump will not “trip” via an overload when other household appliances are used. Of course, a dedicated circuit also makes it easier and quicker for professionals to detect issues in the system and fix them efficiently.
Not every property needs a supply upgrade.
In the case of residential properties, many homes in the UK operate on a single-phase supply. This setup is suitable for domestic heat pumps, but for larger properties with multiple high-demand appliances, you may need further assessment.
Heat pumps take between 2,000 and 5,000 kWh of electricity annually. This averages out to roughly 333 kWh of electricity per month.
To assess whether your property needs a supply upgrade for better spare capacity, a professional electrician, like the ones provided by Calder Electrical, will investigate the incoming supply rating, calculate the maximum demand, and account for existing loads.
If you plan to install EV chargers or increase the load by going with high-demand appliances, then you will have to share your plans with the electricians, who can then factor in these variables in their calculations.
Here are some common electrical problems found during the assessment stage that may warrant an upgrade in some properties:
Heat pumps plug into your existing system that may already be working at its maximum capacity. This is when you need to investigate the overall spare capacity of your property.
In simple terms, spare capacity shows how much headroom you have in terms of energy usage. It is compared to the supply of your property.
The spare capacity is calculated by:
Incoming Supply Capacity – Existing Demand = Spare Capacity
If your property does not have enough spare capacity, then you will have to go with an upgrade. This can either be in the form of a supply increase or an expansion/upgrade of the consumer unit.
Since heat pumps are designed to work for long hours, they often require additional electrical protection components. If the electrician finds that the fuse board is old, then you may need to replace it for added safety.
When dealing with old properties, electricians will often look at the earthing and bonding system to ensure that it is adequate and efficient enough to support the heat pump.
Earthing is important in this regard because the heat pump will typically run continuously, which is why it needs to have adequate earthing to provide comprehensive protection against runaway currents.
Heat pumps require modern load systems.
If the property is old, then the consumer unit is bound to have outdated components that may be incompatible with modern energy-efficient heat pumps.
There is a silver lining to upgrading the circuitry too because it will also allow you to expand your electrical ecosystem. For example, with a modern electrical system, you will not only be able to install heat pumps but also EV chargers and battery systems as well.
There are three variables to keep in mind when budgeting for heat pumps:
The installation cost is the bulk of the initial investment that you will require.
This cost includes the procurement of the heat pump, the installation cost, labour cost, fitting cost, and testing cost.
In total, installation costs can be between £8,000 and £18,000. The lower end of the cost bracket is for small homes, while larger or complex installations will command a higher amount.
Please keep in mind that the exact cost is subjective and is based on the type and size of the heat pump, the size of the property, and the complexity of the installation.
The running costs of heat pumps are where they show the most promise. Since these appliances are designed with inverter technology and are efficient, they consume a steady amount. Generally, the longer you run the appliance, the lower the costs will be.
This is because the unit consumes more energy when it starts up and begins to heat. That is when it consumes the most electricity. Once the desired temperature has been reached, the unit switches to a low-power mode where it keeps the compressor running at a variable rate to maintain the temperature and keep energy consumption low.
With this in mind, the annual cost of running an air source heat pump in an average-sized UK home would be around £450 to £960. You can expect the cost to go up exponentially with more heating requirements for larger commercial spaces.
These costs are also dependent on the electricity price in your area along with the average coefficient of performance (COP) of the air source heat pump, the heat demand of the dwelling, and the electrical input required.
One of the best things about heat pumps is that they require little maintenance, especially if you install a good quality system by a certified professional like Calder Electrical.
These efficient heat pumps are also designed to last for decades. On average, you can expect them to last up to 20 to 30 years!
When you do need maintenance, the service cost is around £150 to £300, which is considerably lower compared to traditional gas or oil boilers. The servicing includes checking the system for leaks, cleaning the system, checking the compressor and condenser, and checking the integrity of the coils and the electrical system.
There are also some pro tips that you can rely on to get even more out of your heat pump, especially during the colder months.
Heat pumps are vulnerable to icing. Even though they generate high temperatures, in cold winter months, the heat pumps can develop icing, which can significantly bring down their efficiency.
Many modern heat pumps prevent this by having a defrost mode built into the system. To avoid icing, we highly recommend that you turn on the defrost setting to melt the ice and keep the system running smoothly.
Modern heat pumps may also have automatic features that turn on the defrost setting when it detects icing on the outdoor unit.
You can additionally have a power monitoring device installed on the dedicated circuit board for the heat pump by a professional.
This will allow you to monitor the average power consumption of the heat pump and set a baseline during the colder months.
If you notice the unit consuming more power than the baseline, then you may need to call in a professional to diagnose the issue. In most cases, it is usually related to icing because when the system cools down, it has to work extra hard and the compressor must run for longer to maintain the temperature.
If you want to know whether heat pumps are worth it, then the short answer is a resounding yes.
Heat pumps are efficient, cost-effective, and provide immeasurable comfort during the harsh winter months.
However, these units do have a higher initial investment cost. This is why it is important to look past the initial cost and keep in mind the considerable savings compared to other heating solutions.
It is estimated that by switching from a gas heating system, you can save on average £350 a year. If replacing an electric system, the savings could amount to £700 a year.
There are also ways that you can maximise the efficiency of the system by installing more efficient radiators and building a robust and effective delivery system for the heat.
When you combine these efficiency best practices, you can considerably lower the running costs of the unit and get back your initial investment in a few years compared to other heating solutions.
We recommend that you go with professional installation for this project. Never attempt DIYs with heat pumps because they require more than just fitting!
You will need someone who knows the best practices and safety standards to keep the system operational throughout the decade(s).
If you want even more convenience, then you can also go with smart heating controls that allow you to control and schedule the heating via a mobile application. This way, you can not only monitor the unit and its energy consumption but also optimise it according to your needs.
Professional installers can also help you set pre-defined presets for various seasons to help you get the most out of the system.
Calder Electrical has been providing electrical services to residential, commercial, and industrial properties for over 40 years, and we are specialists in all aspects of electrical installations, maintenance, testing, and energy-saving practices.
All our work is fully insured, and we work to meet the standards set by the NICEIC to make sure all your electrical installations meet the current regulations, and all the notifiable work is signed off by the local authorities.
Our team can generate a Visual Inspection Report (VIR) to identify anything visual that does not comply with the standards or looks unsafe, as well as a full Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), where we will identify and test each circuit to make sure they are not deteriorating and are safe for use within the current standards and regulations set by the BS 7671.
We can also provide PAT testing of appliances to make sure that any items such as kettles, computers, and microwaves are safe for use in the home and workplace.
If you have unplanned issues within your home or business, we can provide a call-out service to rectify and solve any problems, such as circuit tripping, loss of power, broken items that need repairing, or to check if you feel something is unsafe or a potential hazard.
Contact us here or call us at 0800 612 3001 for more information on heat pumps and whether your existing electrical system can support them.
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