Ground Source Heat Pumps

TCS Solutions are pleased to offer ground source heat pumps as a way of generating heat for your home. Ground source heat pumps use pipes which are buried in the garden to extract heat from the ground. This heat can then be used to heat radiators, underfloor or warm air heating systems and hot water in your home.

A ground source heat pump circulates a mixture of water and antifreeze around a loop of pipe — called a ground loop — buried in your garden. Heat from the ground is absorbed into the fluid and then passes through a heat exchanger into the heat pump. The ground stays at a fairly constant temperature under the surface, so the heat pump can be used throughout the year, even in winter.

The benefits of ground source heat pumps

• Could lower your fuel bills, especially if replacing conventional electric heating
• Could lower your home’s carbon emissions
• No fuel deliveries required
• Can heat your home and provide hot water
• Need little maintenance — often called ‘fit and forget’ technology

How do ground source heat pumps work?

Heat from the ground is absorbed at low temperatures into a fluid inside a loop of pipe buried underground. The fluid then passes through a compressor that raises it to a higher temperature, which can then heat water for the heating and hot water circuits of the house. The cooled ground-loop fluid passes back into the ground where it absorbs further energy in a continuous process.

Normally the loop is laid flat or coiled in trenches about two metres deep, but if there is not enough space in your garden a vertical loop can be drilled down to a depth of up to 100 metres.

Is a ground source heat pump suitable for me?

• Is your garden suitable for a ground loop? The ground needs to be suitable for digging a trench or a borehole and accessible to digging machinery.
• Is your home well insulated? Ground source heat pumps work best when producing heat at lower temperatures than traditional boilers, so good insulation is essential.
• What fuel will you be replacing? The system will pay for itself more quickly if replacing electricity or coal heating.
• What type of heating system will you use? Ground source heat pumps perform better with underfloor heating or larger radiators.

If you’d like to discuss a ground source heat pump or arrange for a free, no obligation survey, get in touch.