Heat Pumps
Here at Ecotecnic we will never sell you a heat pump unless your property is right for an installation. Heat pumps work really well in well insulated properties so are ideal for new properties, these are a great solution if you are renting new properties out as the electricty bills will be much lower and they work amazingly with solar panels. If you have an older property dont worry, there are other solutions which we will cover below.
How They Work
How They Are Used
Heat pumps transfer heat rather than generate it, similar to how a refrigerator works in reverse. They capture heat from the air, ground, or water, amplify it, and transfer it to your home for heating or hot water. This process involves a refrigerant, which is a liquid that absorbs heat and then turns into a hot gas, which is then compressed and used to heat your home.
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Heat pumps aren't used like a traditional gas fired heating system, which is where most people fall into a trap. Heat pumps must heat your house to a desired temperature constantly to remain efficient which is why they don't work in every house. In a well insulated property they will remain primed, warm and trickle heat in. This may sound like a bad thing but is why it is important to understand the thermal loss on your property.
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Please call if you would like to know more and have any questions
Solar Thermal Panels
Solar thermal (also known as solar water heating), uses renewable energy from the sun to heat the water for your taps and showers. The panels contain glycol fluid which readily absorbs solar energy and transfers this to the water that flows through your solar hot water cylinder.
Special coatings on the panels enable them to absorb energy even on cloudy and cold days, as they don’t rely on high temperatures or direct sunlight. The longer the daylight hours and the higher the sun’s intensity, the more energy the system can collect. In the summer months, it may be possible for up to 90% of your hot water to be provided by your solar panels.
They’re a great way to heat your hot water without relying entirely on your boiler or heat pump, as well as helping to lower your bills and carbon footprint too.
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Is Your Home Suitable For Solar Thermal Panels?
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Panels can be installed on tiled or pantile roofing. To get the optimum efficiency from your panels, they should be mounted in a southerly direction, angled between 30º and 45º towards the sun. However, if your property faces east or west, you can still collect solar energy for your home. Your installer will advise you on the best orientation and position for your home, as well as the number of panels needed to provide sufficient water heating.
Unless your home is a listed building or in a conservation area, you most likely won’t need planning permission – but there may be building regulations that you need to comply with, so it’s important to check with your local authority.
If your current heating system doesn’t use a cylinder, you’ll need to make sure your property has space to store this. These are typically located inside a utility or bathroom cupboard.