What are the space and location requirements of an air ...

As you would expect the main component of an air source heat pump, is the heat pump unit itself. Additional components may include a hot water cylinder (if the heat pump is to provide hot water as well as space heating), and a buffer tank. We will explore each of these in further detail below.

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Heat pump unit

The typical size of an air source heat pump is between 1 and 1.5m high and between 0.5 and 1m wide. It will need to be fitted to one of the outside walls of your home or be placed on the ground next to it. If on the ground, it will need to stand on something solid enough to bear its weight and vibration (so that the noise during operation is not amplified).

The heat pump unit needs to have space around it to allow for a good flow of air (heat pumps draw in air from the back and sides and release it from the front). Fitting an air source heat pump unit near the corners of a building is to be avoided. This is because cold air will bounce back from the wall and go behind the unit reducing the average temperature of the air that heat is being extracted from (making the heat pump less efficient).

It is possible to site a heat pump unit in your garden, further away from the house, but there are disadvantages to doing this. These are additional heat loss in the pipes running between the house and garden and the potential for additional maintenance costs as the pipework is less accessible. If the heat pump is fitted in your garden, you will also need to manage any plants or shrubs nearby to keep them at least a meter away.

It is also advisable to avoid putting a heat pump directly outside or below a bedroom window, as the noise of a heat pump running (which is similar to a fridge) could be irritating at night when the occupant of the room is trying to sleep.

Installing an air source heat pump in a domestic property does not usually require planning permission, as it is classed as permitted development. However, there are conditions that apply. These include a requirement that all parts of the air source heat pump must be at least one metre from the property boundary and (if installed on a flat roof) be at least one meter away from the roof&#;s edge. Permitted development rights do not apply to homes that are listed or within a conservation area &#; always check with your local council&#;s planning department for guidance if you are not sure.

Hot water cylinder

If you want to use an air source heat pump for heating hot water as well as space heating you will also need to find space for a hot water cylinder, requiring cupboard space with a footprint of approximately 80cm x 80cm. If you already have a cylinder replacing it with one suitable for use with a heat pump should not cause you any space issues. If you don&#;t have space, there are alternatives possible.  For more information on this, see our blog on &#;Can I get all my hot water from an air source heat pump?&#;

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Buffer tank

A buffer tank is simply an insulated vessel that adds an additional volume of hot water to the heating system This enables it to act like a battery for the heating system, allowing it to store more energy from the heat pump. A buffer tank also helps a heat pump run more efficiently by reducing the need for short cycling (during which the heat pump keeps turning off and on).

A fixed-output heat pump needs a buffer tank to manage fluctuations in demand. Even with an inverter heat pump (which can modulate its output) a buffer tank is needed if different temperatures in different rooms are required. A buffer tank helps heat pump systems run efficiently (by eliminating short cycling) and at the right temperature.

A buffer tank also allows for the separation of the liquids in the two circulation systems &#; one in the heat pump and the other around the heat emitters (radiators or underfloor heating). This is important because the water temperature needed by the two circuits is different.

The size of the buffer tank will depend on the size of your home and other factors, such as the amount of insulation it has. The buffer tank may be similar in size to a hot water cylinder and to save space may be situated above or below the cylinder or integrated into one tall vessel. To save space a buffer tank could also be put in a loft or basement.

Summary

This blog is intended as a general guide only to the many factors to be considered when selecting where to put a heat pump outside and whether space is needed (and how much) for a hot water cylinder and/or a buffer tank. Designing an air source heating system for optimal performance is a job for a professional installer. To find one go to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme website.

If the idea of enhancing your home&#;s energy efficiency through strategic retrofitting and delving into the realm of low-carbon alternatives intrigues you, then our SuperHomes project could be a perfect match. Our community members are at the forefront of redefining sustainable living. For further details, feel free to visit www.superhomes.org.uk

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