4 minute read
Lowdown on Heat Pumps
As changes to Part L of the Building Regulations and the launch of the Government’s Future Home Standard moves our industry towards cleaner home heating solutions, your generation of apprentices looks set to be one of the first for which heat pump installation will become extremely common.
Grant Engineering (UK) Limited
Heat pumps are relatively straight forward to install but you will need to make sure you have a good base level of product knowledge and every single installation will require planning and preparation. > SO WHERE TO BEGIN? The good news is that you can start straight away by viewing Grant UK’s heat pumps videos on YouTube. Comprising 18 videos divided into three playlists, the tutorials have been developed to assist heating engineers and end-users. Each video addresses a particular question to provide clear, concise and informative answers, allowing viewers to select and watch the content which is most relevant to them.
> One playlist focuses on the Aerona³ heat pump controller. From programming through to fault finding, this playlist is a great resource for installers who work with Grant UK heat pumps. > There is also a playlist tutorial which covers the steps involved in setting up and commissioning a heat pump so this video content is purely aimed at the installing engineers. > A final playlist centres around the customer handover of a heat pump system. The topics covered include controlling the system, radiator temperature, airflow, servicing, water pressure and system water. This playlist has been developed for both homeowners and installers, to provide additional support during the important customer handover after an installation.
> TRAINING The videos should give you some insight into what goes into a heat pump installation. However, it goes without saying that when it comes to an actual installation, preparation is vital to ensure that the heating system meets a householder’s needs so that the product operates both efficiently and effectively. This preparation includes a full heat loss calculation, and thorough understanding of how the technology works. To get to this point, an installer requires some solid product knowledge, and should complete full product installation training with the manufacturer before specifying and fitting a heat pump. Grant UK, for instance, has comprehensive Flexible training. installer courses available at the Academies in Devizes, Hawes Anytime. Anywhere.and Livingston, as well as online tuition via the eLearning Academy. There are some product courses on the eLearning Academy that apprentices can access for free.
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> HELP WITH CALCULATIONS When installing heat pumps, it is essential to start with a full room by room heat loss calculation to determine the heat pump required to meet the design conditions for the property concerned. A HEAT LOSS ACCOUNTS FOR > the room sizes > the insulation levels of both the walls and windows > the height of the rooms. The calculation brings together the amount of space that needs heating along with the building’s materials and their capability to reduce heat loss from the property. Grant UK has a Heat Loss Calculator tool that can be used for a more thorough analysis of the property’s needs, eliminating potential errors at quotation stage. Assistance with this is also available from Grant UK’s in-house Design Team and through installations taking place via the G-CERT Scheme. > RENEWABLE HEAT INCENTIVE The G-CERT Scheme offers a solution to installers who want to install to MCS standards without formally registering with MCS themselves. The G-CERT Scheme takes care of all the paperwork and notifications as well as commissioning and signing off the system for MCS approval. This enables the householder to claim the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), the government financial incentive designed to encourage the use of renewable heating technologies. You are starting out on an exciting career in a great industry, which is transitioning towards cleaner and greener heat generation. Eventually, you could join the Grant UK G1 Installer Scheme which allows you to access even more support, extended warranties and rewards. In the meantime, we wish you all the best on your heat pump journey! For more details visit www.grantuk.com
