Heat Pumps

The domestic heating sector will be going through a genuine revolution over the next few years.

As the new Future Homes Standard comes into force, the government is regulating a shift away from the traditional gas boiler, taking us all into a low carbon future.

Domestic heating installers will already be well aware of options such as electric heat pumps available on the market. But while new homes can be designed for heat pump systems, it’s a different story for the millions of existing UK homes –and not all of them are suitable for a heat pump-only approach. Householders will undoubtedly be looking to installers to help them decide what the future of heating could look like in their homes. At Alpha, we’ve been working with installers to help them understand the latest heating technologies, so that they can advise their customers when it comes to making the right choices. We also like to offer our insights into the challenges that householders are facing – and the questions they’re asking too.

Bivalent solutions

One option available to installers is a hybrid approach to heating and hot water provision. A heat pump is installed to provide space heating, with a boiler retained (or updated) to provide hot water. The hybrid system works equally well with a heat pump and combi, LPG or oil boiler, so it’s a good option for off-gas grid homes too. This approach has several benefits for householders. Larger or older homes (with lower insulation levels), or properties with a high heating demand, can benefit from retaining a boiler to provide a boost to the heating system during times of peak demand, in cooler months for example, giving them more certainty of comfort. And the boiler can continue to provide hot water, reducing the size of heat pump needed.

Spaced out

What’s more, taking out a gas boiler to replace it with an electric heat pump is a significant project for many homeowners. As installers will be aware, if the heat pump is also providing hot water, then a hot water cylinder is required.

Households with a combi boiler will have to find a space large enough for that equipment, which is not always easy in smaller, modern homes. Retaining a combi to provide