This message, from polymer pipework manufacturer REHAU, comes amid a nationwide push on the technology, with the Government targeting 600,000 installations per year by 2028. In order to help drive uptake, the flagship Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) was introduced in April 2022, offering homeowners grants of between £5,000 and £6,000 off the total cost of installation.
However, Steve Richmond, head of marketing & technical at REHAU Building Solutions, is calling attention to the unique needs of ‘remote’ heat pump installations, wherein the unit cannot be placed directly next to the property. He said: “With the Government setting an ambitious target on 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2028, ensuring that all eligible properties are able to benefit from this technology will be key to achieving this goal.
“This includes homes where heat pumps cannot be installed directly next to the property. This can be for a variety of reasons, including noise reasons, lack of space or poor air circulation. Whatever the reason may be, there is extra specification criteria for these projects that must be considered to ensure they remain efficient.”
Specifically, Steve is referring to the need for underground pre-insulated pipework to carry heat and hot water between the heat pump and the property without heat losses.
He continued: “As you’d expect, the greater the distance between the heat source and the property, the higher the heat losses are going to be. For this reason, if a heat pump is situated at the end of the garden for example, it is necessary for the heat and hot water to be transported via pre-insulated pipework in order to minimise these losses.
“There may be a temptation to improvise using standard plumbing pipework wrapped in some insulation and bury it underground, but this will not be a watertight or thermally efficient solution. In turn, this would likely lead to inefficient operation of the heat pump itself, and much higher energy bills for the homeowner. For this reason, we’re calling attention to the needs of these projects to ensure they are able to draw the same benefits as heat pumps installed directly next to the property.”
As part of a drive to ensure that all eligible properties can benefit from a heat pump installation, REHAU recently launched an online tool to help installers receive a quick and easy quote.