Heat Pumps - how do they work

At one metres depth the average soil temperature in the UK remains consistently between 10 and 13°C. The "ground loop" is a pipe which is buried in the garden at this depth and filled with a mixture of water and food friendly glycol. The mixture is at a low temperature and is gently warmed by the surrounding soil as it is pumped through the pipe.

The heat pump only requires an increase in the temperature of the water mix of just a few degrees. It is then put through a process which involves a series of heat exchangers and a compressor where the heat is concentrated so that temperatures up to 65°C are achieved. This then feeds the central heating radiators or under-floor heating pipes and the domestic hot water tank.
 

Heat Pumps - the different types

There are many types of heat pump all of which are available from Ice Energy. The Three main types are:

Air Source Heat pumps

Air Source Heat Pumps do not have a ground loop, but instead absorb the heat from the air. Their advantage is no digging required, however they are less efficient and their siting needs to be sensitive due to a small amount of noise from the external fan.
 

• More on Air Source Heat Pumps

Air to Air Heat Pumps

Air to Air Heat Pumps as the name suggests absorb heat from the air outside and moves it inside the house distributing it via the air. They are highly efficient and are ideal for small open plan dwellings. The air to air is not a solution for hot water but does give air conditioning during the hot periods.
 

• More on the Air to Air Heat Pump