Grey Friar Court and White Friar Court Improvements
Ground Source Heat Pump Information
Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) Installation
A large part of the improvement works is that an eco-friendly ground source heating system will be installed.
A GSHP is an energy-efficient heating and cooling system that utilises the ground’s natural thermal energy to heat and cool buildings. It consists of a heat pump unit and a ground loop buried underground.
Read on for more details and a list of Frequently Asked Questions.
GSHP radiators
GSHP radiators differ from traditional boiler systems in several ways, including their sizes, temperature, and design. Here’s an explanation of these differences:
Size and temperature:
GSHP radiators are typically larger than traditional radiators used with boiler systems. This is because GSHPs operate at lower water temperatures compared to boilers, resulting in radiators that are warm to the touch rather than hot.
To compensate for the lower temperature, GSHP radiators have larger surface areas to effectively distribute heat throughout the room. The larger size allows for better heat emission and ensures that the rooms are adequately heated. As a result, the heat emitted by the GSHP radiators is more evenly spread across the surface, reducing the risk of hot spots and making them safe to touch.
Decoration:
When replacing storage heaters with GSHP radiators, there may be additional decoration costs to consider. Storage heaters are often mounted on walls and have a relatively slim profile, allowing for more flexibility in room design and decoration. GSHP radiators, being larger, might require adjustments to the existing wall configurations or repositioning of furniture to accommodate their size and placement. These changes may incur some decoration costs, such as patching and repainting walls.
Radiator layout:
The following drawings show a typical radiator layout based on the room type, however, please note that this layout may be subject to change.
• Flat numbers ending with 1 or 4
• Flat numbers ending with 2 or 5
• Flat numbers ending with 3 or 6
Using Your GSHP System
We recommend running your GSHP system 24/7 for the following reasons:
Consistent Temperature Control: GSHPs maintain a stable indoor temperature throughout the day and night.
Energy Efficiency: Continuous operation saves energy by avoiding frequent startups.
Reduced Wear and Tear: Running the GSHP continuously extends its lifespan and reduces the risk of breakdowns.
Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) FAQs
A GSHP works by transferring heat between your property and the ground. It extracts heat from the ground through the ground loop in winter to heat your home and releases heat back into the ground in summer to cool it.
The benefits of GSHPs include reduced electricity demand, lower maintenance costs, energy efficiency, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. They also offer long-term cost savings and use renewable energy from the ground.
Heat pumps work best and use less energy if you set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature and do not adjust this or turn off the heat pump. They will only warm the radiators if the temperature in the home drops below what the thermostat is set to.
If you switch the heat pump on and off, or move the thermostat between high and low temperatures, the heat pump will have to work much harder, and you’ll end up using a lot more energy.
You won’t need to change your daily routine significantly. GSHPs are designed to run continuously, providing consistent and comfortable indoor temperatures without frequent adjustments.
Yes, GSHP radiators are safe to touch. They operate at lower temperatures than traditional radiators, making them warm to the touch but not hot. This reduces the risk of burns.
During installation, there may be some disruption in the parking areas and common spaces due to drilling and equipment placement. Advance notice will be provided.
Breakdowns are rare, but if they occur, we have a maintenance team in place to address them promptly. Running the GSHP continuously helps reduce the likelihood of breakdowns.
Yes, we offer the opportunity to visit a working GSHP system in Fitzwarren Court. You can interact with the components and learn how the system operates.
We will also provide a mock up flat within White Friar Court to showcase how a finished GSHP installation will look. This will show you how it will look, the space that will be used within the property and the finished GSHP cover. It will also allow consideration for what items will have to be moved within the flat to allow for the installation.
Yes, we provide user guides that explain how to operate the GSHP system. These guides are subject to minor changes but will help you understand the system’s operations.
