WEEAC
Ground source heating is a very good way to heat your home and could provide all of the energy you need. However if you are considering installing ground source heating into your home it is quite an expensive investment and a disruptive one. The best way to install this system is if you are building your own home or buying a house off plan.
What is ground source heating?
A few metres underground there is an ambient temperature of around 12 degrees C. This heat can be used and transferred into your home. This is done by collecting the ground heat through a pipe burried in the ground or in a bore hole. A heat pump draws the heat through the collector and into your house, increasing its temperature through a compressor in a similar way to a freezer.
The heat can be fed into a traditional radiator system or to underfloor heating. Ground source heating works very well with underfloor heating as the temperatures needed are much lower than a traditional radiator system. If you are considering ground source heating with a traditional system you may need to install more radiators in order to reach the room temperature you require.
Heat pumps work much more efficiently when the temperature from the ground does not differ too much from the heat required in the home. Underfloor heating works at a constant lower temperature and from the floor upwards, so is much better suited to the output from ground source heating as the temperatures are closer.
It is also important to remember that energy (electricity) is used to power the heat pump so there are carbon emissions associated with ground source heating although much less than traditional heating. If conditions are good one kilowatt can produce three to four kilowatts of heat, this is a very energy efficient means of heating your home.
Installation
Ground source heating can involve digging up most of your garden and it is important to ensure that you have the earth and soil assessed for suitability before going ahead. Having a bore hole drilled is more expensive but takes up very little room.
Costs and Savings
The cost of ground source heating does vary but average pricing is around £8,000. This is a significant investment for most people however grants are available to help. If you are incorporating ground source heating into your new build project, the cost is a little cheaper as installation can be done before landscaping.
The payback for ground source heating is 15 to 25 years but systems should last over 50 years with potentially only the heat pump motor requiring any maintenance.
Another less intrusive solution could be air source heating which works by the same principles but extracts heat from the air. Again underfloor heating systems are better suited to this application but installation is much quicker, simpler and cheaper. However UK weather temperatures are unpredictable and the system may not supply enough heat needed in colder months. It is recommended that a support system for air source heating should be installed to make up any potential heat deficits. This could be a wood burning stove or traditional heating system if absolutely necessary.
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