22 June 2021
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Anna Wakefield, Head of Marketing for Grant UK, takes HPT through an installation of an Aerona³ air source heat pump.
Heat pumps are straightforward to install, but preparation which includes a full room by room heat loss calculation, and thorough understanding of how the technology works from the customer’s perspective, is vital to ensure the heating meets their needs and operates both efficiently and effectively.
It is also important to ensure engineers complete full product installation training before specifying and fitting a heat pump. Grant UK has comprehensive installer courses available at the Academies in Devizes, Hawes and Livingston, as well as online tuition via our eLearning Academy.
Step One
It is essential to start with a full room by room heat loss calculation to determine the heat pump required to meet the design conditions for the property concerned. It is also critical that the heat emitters and pipework are sized to deliver the required heat output at the lower heat pump system flow temperature. The heat pump and additional complimentary heating technologies are then delivered to site ready for installation.
Step Two
The location for the heat pump should have already been determined taking into account the clearances required. Holes are drilled in the external wall ready for the heat pump pipework. The heat pump is then placed into position and bolted onto anti-vibration feet on a firm flat level base.
Step Three
New heat emitters are fitted throughout the house, having been specifically sized for the lower flow temperature of the heat pump system - in this case they are using Afinia aluminium radiators which are good conductor of heat and great for low temperature systems.
Step Four
A new high-performance cylinder is installed with adequate hot water storage for the household’s needs. This has a larger indirect coil than a standard cylinder to effectively provide hot water with the lower flow temperature from the heat pump.
Step Five
Plumbing connections are made between the unit and the cylinder. The heat pump system and cylinder pipework are lagged to protect against heat loss.
Step Six
Both the electrical supply and controller for the heat pump, along with the system heating controls, are wired and tested by the electrician.
Step Seven
The unit is set up and commissioned, including balancing the emitter circuits. The heat pump parameters are adjusted on the controller and the heating system controls are set to achieve the required system performance.
Step Eight
A full customer handover is provided by the installer to ensure the householder understands their new heating system, including the importance of having it serviced on an annual basis.
Step Nine
The Customer now has a warm and sustainably heated home.
Case study
This property in Perranporth shows why heat pumps and underfloor heating are an ideal match for new builds. A Grant Aerona³ air source heat pump was selected as the heat source alongside a new hot water cylinder and an underfloor heating system which have been installed to meet the space heating and hot water demand of this sustainably built home.
Based in Redruth, Tom Smith Plumbing and Heating Services, are G1 Installers and completed the installation.
“The clients gave us a design brief and we came up with a system to suit the needs of their property,” says Tom Smith, the installing engineer. “Being an eco-friendly build, this property needed a sustainable heating system that would help the client achieve a low carbon footprint. The Monowave cylinder and 10kW Aerona³ heat pump were coupled with Uflex underfloor heating.”
The 10kW heat pump is one of four models within the Grant Aerona³ R32 air source heat pump range. Monobloc in design, the Aerona³ heat pumps are inverter driven units and are highly efficient, achieving an ErP rating of A+++. The 10kW model’s excellent performance is marked by its high SCOP value of 5.22, demonstrating its efficient operation even when external temperatures are low.
