Below you will find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about ground source heat pumps.
Q. How does a ground source heat pump work?
A. A ground source heat pump - also known as a geothermal heat pump - uses pipes buried under the ground to extract thermal energy stored below the earth's surface, which is then converted to provide heat and hot water.
Q. Do all ground source heat pumps absorb heat from the ground?
A. No, some pumps also draw heat from groundwater.
Q. What type of heating system do they work best with?
A. Ground source heat pumps are most efficient in properties with a 'wet' underfloor or low temperature heating system, such as warm air convector fans or large radiators.
Q. Do ground source heat pumps still work in the winter?
A. The temperature beneath the earth's surface stays relatively constant all year round which means that ground source heat pumps are effective throughout the year.
Q. How is the pump powered?
A. The ground source heat pump is driven by electricity, with four units of heat produced for every one unit of electricity needed to power it.
Q. Do they need to be left on all the time?
A. Because ground source heat pumps deliver heat at lower temperatures over longer periods than gas or oil boilers they may need to be left on all day and night during the winter in order to heat the home efficiently.
Q. Are ground source heat pumps environmentally friendly?
A. Ground source heat pumps can offer considerable long-term environmental advantages compared to other heating sources such as electric storage heaters and oil boilers. Although they run on electricity, the heat they absorb from the ground is constantly being replenished naturally.
Q. Are ground source heat pumps efficient?
A. A ground source heat pump is typically more efficient than an air source heat pump because ground temperature is fairly constant all year round, so the temperature differential is lower.
Q. What size properties are they suitable for?
A. Ground source heat pumps can provide heating solutions for small, medium and large properties; the length of the pipes (or ground loop) will depend on the size of the home and the amount of heat needed.
Q. Do ground source heat pumps come in different sizes?
A. A range of sizes is available to meet your individual heating needs. The Baxi Geoflo comes in a choice of outputs ranging from 4kW to 20kW.
Q. Are they economical to run?
A. A ground source heat pump can reduce your fuel costs, especially if it replaces a conventional electric heating system; the amount saved depends on the size of your home and its insulation.
Q. Are ground source heat pumps eligible under the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme?
A. As a renewable and low carbon heat technology, ground source heat pumps will be eligible under the Government's Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.
Q. Are they compatible with solar?
A. A ground source heat pump like the Baxi Geoflo can be used together with solar heating technology like the Baxi Solarflo to provide low carbon hot water in the summer.
Q. What if my garden isn't very large?
A. Your garden doesn't have to be particularly large but it does have to be suitable for digging a trench or borehole and it needs to be accessible to digging equipment.
Q. Which is more cost effective - a ground or air source heat pump?
A. Ground source heat pumps tend to be more expensive to install than an air source heat pump because of the ground work needed, but they offer greater year-round energy efficiency.
Q. What about servicing and maintenance?
A. Once a ground source heat pump has been installed you can virtually forget about it because the technology is so simple that minimal maintenance is required.
Q. How do I know if a ground source heat pump is suitable for my home?
A. In general, heat pumps are most suitable for people living in a well-insulated, off-gas property or in a new-build property. You can find out more on our suitability page.
Q. Who can install ground source heat pumps?
A. Installation work should only be carried out by a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accredited installer.
Q. How do I find an MCS accredited installer?
A. The easiest way to find a certificated installer local to you is via the MCS installer search or by using the Baxi Find an installer search.
