Heat pumps extract heat from the air or ground, working like an air conditioning unit in reverse. Installed with expertise and sized accurately they offer a cost effective alternative to traditional heating systems.

There are a variety of heat pump technologies – ground source, water source, air source – and a variety of manufacturers so if your property is suitable we can design a system with the best product available for your circumstances.

 

Commercial Heat Pumps

Is my business suitable?

If you own the building your business is in, and it has been well insulated, then your business is likely to benefit from a heat pump. Most buildings are suited to air source heat pumps, as long as there is a suitable outside space to install it.

Ground source systems require more space outside and water source systems obviously need to be in a building near to a suitable water supply such as a lake or river.

The other factor to consider is affordability and ROI. Whilst air source heat pumps have a lower capital cost up front, the return on investment can be greater with ground or water source.

There are funding options available, and we help you to make an informed choice that will be right for your business.

How does it work?


Heat Pump technology is the same as the refrigeration unit in a fridge or air-conditioning system. In a refrigeration system the warm air extracted is a waste product of cooling. In a heating system, the warm air extracted is used in your heating system. This is why some products can be ‘run in reverse’ to provide cooling to buildings in warmer weather.

Air Source heat pumps absorb heat from the outside air. This heat can then be used to heat radiators, underfloor heating systems and hot water in your building.

A ground source heat pump circulates a mixture of water and antifreeze around a loop of pipe – called a ground loop – which is buried in vertical channels close to the ground surface. Heat from the ground is absorbed into the fluid and then passes through a heat exchanger into the heat pump.

Alternatively, a borehole can be created and a U shape loop of specialised pipe will extract heat from the borehole. The ground stays at a fairly constant temperature under the surface, so the heat pump can be used throughout the year – even in the middle of winter.

Benefits

  • Reduced carbon footprint and increase sustainability of your business
  • Reduce energy bills
  • Increase ROI with the Renewable Heat Incentive
  • Low maintenance costs after install

Incentives

The Non-Comestic or Commercial Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is available for most commercial installs. To qualify you must be the owner of the installation, and the technology must be from the Ofgem approved list. Payments will vary depending on the technology installed and heat generated, but they are fixed for 20 years, so you will see a faster ROI.

We will talk you through the details of the RHI and any other available incentives as part of our quote process.

What happens next?

One of our team will come out to your site and survey your building. They will also take time to explain the technology and answer any questions you may have.

Once we have the details and measurements we need, we will do all the necessary calculations and start to work out what to recommend to you. We’re accredited installers for a range of products, so we will always start with what you need and find the best product to fit.

Once we have a design in mind, we will send you a quote, which we can talk through with you. Whilst we always aim to be prompt, we’d rather make sure eveything is accurate from the start of the process, so that you get a system that performs at it’s best for you.

Maintenance

Heat pumps are sealed units, and therefore shouldn’t require high levels of maintenance. It is always advisable to have an annual health check, as spotting any potential issues early will save on repair costs later.

We can offer maintenance contracts for all commercial heat pump installs.

FAQ's

What are the different types of heat pump?

The main types of heat pump are Air Source – extracting ambient heat from the air, and Ground Source extracting heat from the ground. There are also Water Source heat pumps.

Which type of heat pump would I need?

The type of heat pump you choose will depend on your building, budget and energy usage. Air Source heat pumps can have a lower capital cost than Ground Source, but Ground Source heat pumps can often offer a better ROI. Make sure your installer really understands what you need, and ask them to explain anything that isn’t clear.

How efficient are heat pumps?

Unlike other technologies, heat pumps do use electricity to operate. Correctly designed and installed, they will turn the kWh of electricity they use into several times the number of kWh in heat energy. It is important to make sure that your installer has carefully calculated the potential heat losses and energy requirements of your building so that your heat pump can operate at it’s maximum efficiency.

Heat pumps can be a little more complex to set up initially, but once the settings are right, they should run efficiently with little intervention.