1. Mr & Mrs T - Air Source Heat Pump
Air Source Heat Pump Case Study
CLIENTS:
Mr & Mrs T., North Yorkshire
BRIEF:
Provide heating and hot water for a four-bedroom dormer bungalow
SOLUTION:
To meet all requirements via an air source heat pump.
PROJECT:
Mr and Mrs T., were the first clients of Natural Warmth back in 2007 when they asked about an air source heat pump for their retirement home in an idyllic village in North Yorkshire.
The bungalow was ripped back to its shell – the ceilings taken out and new ones installed, all plasterwork removed and redone and the central heating system renewed.
At first they considered an oil-fired system, similar to the one already in the property, but the spiraling cost of oil at the time concerned them. They They happened to mention to Steve Heslop of Natural Warmth that they had considered and researched various “eco systems” including Air and Ground Source Heat Pumps. Steve said he also was looking to expand that side of his business and they half jokingly said they would be his “guinea pig”! Later that day he called to ask if they were serious: and after more consideration, they decided to go ahead with it.
“We looked at solar panels and grey water systems,” said Mrs. T, “but they are very expensive to install and we could not afford to do it"
“There began an exciting and scary period when the system was installed. We were all flying by the seat of our pants to start. But at every stage Steve was available on the other end of the phone to put right anything that had gone awry.”
“For after sales service he gets 11 out of 10, that’s for sure,” added Mr. T.
“We had to get used to the system running 24 hours a day (at a much lower temperature over night)”
“It is certainly cheaper to run than oil even though we run the system round the clock.”
They both point out that installing such a system means you must have extra capital up front but for those in that situation the benefits are clear.
“I just love it,” said Mrs. T. “It just works and we never have to think about it. My only regret is that we already had the new pipes and radiators installed in the house before we had decided to go down this route. If we hadn’t then we would have installed under floor heating as well,” she said.
“We might have thought more about the siting of the pump as well,” said Mr. T. “When you think about it, it makes sense to place the pump in a south facing aspect so that it is working with the warmest air available.”
SUMMARY:
Both are very happy with the system and are proud to consider themselves guinea pigs in the relatively new field of low carbon heating systems. They are willing to have people considering heat pumps to visit their home and see it in action for themselves. More than half a dozen potential clients have taken advantage of this ‘working model’ with the women generally checking how hot the radiators and water are, while the men come prepared with questions about the cost benefits post installation.
They are very open about being the guinea pigs for Natural Warmth and that therefore there were problems and hiccups in the installation – but equally keen to let people know that the company and the suppliers have addressed all problems promptly and professionally.
They speak very highly of the after-sales service provided by Natural Warmth.
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Natural Warmth - Specialist installers of Ground Source Heat Pumps, Air Source Heat Pumps