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Water source heat pumps (WSHPs) are incredibly effective in transferring heat from a water source to your home, especially if the water is between 5 and 8 degrees Celsius. Installing heat pumps has many benefits as a result.
Depending on the type of heat pump, either a special refrigerant fluid is circulated through pipes installed in the body of water, or water from a river or small stream is pumped through the heat pump. While each has its own benefits, the latter variety is more affordable because it needs less upkeep and has a simpler application method.
Since the late 1940s, water source heat pumps have been in use. Instead of drawing the heat from the temperature of the ambient air, they use the water’s relatively constant temperature as the exchange medium. Thus, compared to 175 to 250 percent for air-source heat pumps on cool days, water source heat pumps can achieve respectably high efficiency (300 to 600 percent) even on the coldest winter nights.
Water source heat pumps use two kilowatts of free heat from the water and one kilowatt of energy to produce three kilowatts of heat, which is why they are so effective. Heat that travels up the flue pipe is used for this. As a result, heat pumps have reduced operating expenses.
We are here to help you with your purchase if this sounds too good to be true and you are interested in a water source heat pump. Simply fill out the contact form and we’ll get you free, no-obligation quotes from up to 4 vendors, saving you the time and effort of looking for other sources.
> What is the Price of a Water Source Heat Pump?
> Benefits of Heat Pumps with a Water Source
> Water source heat pumps’ drawbacks
> The Function of Water Source Heat Pumps
> Water Source Heat Pump Types
> Laws Concerning the Environment to Bear in Mind
> Utilize Your Water Source Heat Pump to Make Money
> Locate the UK’s Top Water Source Heat Pump Suppliers
You must take into account a number of aspects before buying a water source heat pump because they will have an impact on both the price and the long-term value of your investment.
The initial cost of the water source heat pump, which is typically higher than that of other heat pumps, must be taken into account first. The water source heat pump has an approximate cost of £10,000.
The average payback period for home water source heat pumps is 5 years, and for larger projects it is closer to 10 years, therefore this increased expense should be seen as an investment.
Given that water source heat pumps have a minimum 15-year useful life, running the system for 2/3 of that time is predicted to provide a net benefit. With proper maintenance, water source heat pumps can, however, last up to 50 years, thus increasing the possible payback period.
The heat pump’s greater energy efficiency from utilising waste energy to heat and cool your property results in a net profit. After the device is installed, energy bills often drop by 15%.
You must also take the cost of the system’s repairs into account when buying a water source heat pump. This is a crucial point to keep in mind because regular maintenance can significantly extend the usable life of your heat pump. Although water source heat pumps often cost less to repair than its competitors, the range is still rather broad depending on the repair required.
| Year | RHI Payments | Accumulated Cost of a Water Source Heat Pump | Accumulated Cost Savings from Gas Boilers | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £264 | £9,933 | £2,464 | ‑£7,469 |
| 2 | £264 | £9,866 | £3,036 | ‑£6,830 |
| 3 | £264 | £9,800 | £3,608 | ‑£6,192 |
| 4 | £264 | £9,733 | £4,180 | ‑£5,553 |
| 5 | £264 | £9,666 | £4,752 | ‑£4,914 |
| 6 | £264 | £9,599 | £5,324 | ‑£4,275 |
| 7 | £264 | £9,532 | £5,896 | ‑£3,636 |
| 8 | £0 | £9,730 | £6,468 | ‑£3,262 |
| 9 | £0 | £9,927 | £7,040 | ‑£2,887 |
| 10 | £0 | £10,125 | £7,612 | ‑£2,513 |
| 11 | £0 | £10,322 | £8,184 | ‑£2,138 |
| 12 | £0 | £10,520 | £8,756 | ‑£1,764 |
| 13 | £0 | £10,717 | £9,328 | ‑£1,389 |
| 14 | £0 | £10,915 | £9,900 | ‑£1,015 |
| 15 | £0 | £11,112 | £10,472 | ‑£640 |
| — | — | Needs replacement | — | — |
| 16 | £0 | £11,310 | £12,936 | £1,626 |
| 17 | £0 | £11,507 | £13,508 | £2,001 |
| 18 | £0 | £11,705 | £14,080 | £2,375 |
| 19 | £0 | £11,902 | £14,652 | £2,750 |
| 20 | £0 | £12,100 | £15,224 | £3,124 |
A cost-effective and ecologically friendly heating alternative for your house, water source heat pumps offer a number of advantages :
When compared to traditional heating systems, they produce fewer CO2 emissions.
Water source heat pumps, which circulate water in a loop to trap the heat, require electricity to operate. Heat pumps are an effective and environmentally friendly heating option because they provide two to four units of heat for every unit of electricity used.
According to the heating system you replace, a water source heat pump could help you save anywhere from £395 to £2,000 a year.
For an example four-bedroom detached home, the RHI programme pays rewards to homeowners who have heat pumps that range from £2,325 to £3,690 annually.
Is adaptable and works well with alternative heating systems.
Long life expectancy, with a maximum of 50 years and an average of 15 years.
A homeowner should think about the potential drawbacks before investing in a water source heat pump because they are a very substantial investment.
The payback period for water source heat pumps is typically 5 years and they have considerable upfront expenses. As a result, air source heat pumps are more affordable now.
The heat pump installation can be challenging. In contrast to ground source heat pumps, water source heat pumps are typically simpler to install.
In some places, special planning clearances are needed.
You must reside close to a reliable water source.
The system is made up of effective heat pump units that are connected by a water-filled loop. Each unit provides a certain air comfort need for the zone in which it is installed.
The water source heat pump uses a specifically built refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger to transfer heat from a water loop into the central heating system during cold weather.
Units are working in a heating mode in extreme weather circumstances when much more heat is required to warm up the building; as a result, heat is supplied to each individual unit from the water of the loop. An energy-efficient fluid heater needs to be inserted in the loop to help with the heating process if there isn’t enough heat in the looped water.
The water supply should ideally be nearby so that it won’t need to be pumped up to a great height, reducing the energy needed for pumping and improving your savings.
If the pipe diameter is large enough, especially in a downward direction, water can be obtained from considerable distances. You should think about getting the necessary permits and filling out the necessary paperwork before considering installing such a gadget. However, it is worthwhile to install a water source heat pump in the UK.
To choose the type of water source heat pump that would function the best for you, you must weigh the many options. This depends on a number of variables, including how close your residence is near a body of water and whether your water source is underground or on the surface.
This will be the least expensive choice if there is a large enough body of water close to your residence. In order to prevent freezing, a supply line pipe runs through the ground from the structure to the water and is intertwined into circles at least 8 feet below the surface. Coils must be buried in a water source that satisfies the minimum volume, depth, and quality standards.
In this system, the heat exchange fluid passes through a heat pump system while being heated by a well or a body of surface water. The water returns to the ground via the well, a recharge well, or surface discharge after dispersing throughout the entire system.
Unfortunately, this solution is only workable in locations where there is a sufficient supply of clean water and where groundwater discharge is fully compliant with all laws and regulations. To obtain the requisite permissions, a filter system or other types of water treatment are required. A corrosion-resistant system must also be used by the heat pump since a lot of water is circulated through the pipes.
Before installing water source heat pumps, several environmental requirements and issues must be met. Groundwater temperature is changed by open-loop systems, whereas hydrochemistry and bacteriology are impacted by thermal plumes.
Licenses can be necessary depending on the sort of system you want to install. A licence to analyse groundwater and an abstraction licence (permission to divert surface or groundwater), which can be obtained from the Environment Authority, are needed, for example, to explore hydrogeology and thermal qualities.
Water source heat pumps function by drawing heat from underground aquifers in the winter and releasing it in the summer. Aquifers provide you with effective heating and cooling as well as a smaller carbon footprint because they have high heat storage capacity, constant temperatures, and good heat transmission. There are many suitable aquifers in the UK for water source heat pumps.
British Water Source Heat PumpsAccording to estimates, water source heat pumps can supply up to 30% of the UK’s heating requirements. The overall market share for heat pumps in the UK is 20 percent for both ground and water source heat pumps. Lower installation costs, new advancements in renewable energy, and the Renewable Heat Incentive have all made this possible. All of these have sparked a significant amount of interest in water source heat pumps generally, particularly in the London area, where there have been an estimated 1,000 applications for open-loop systems.
The UK has begun encouraging businesses, organisations, and individuals to boost their usage of renewable energy sources and to lower CO2 emissions as the importance of utilising green energy solutions grows.
Beginning in the middle of 2011, the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) started giving money to homes with small to medium installations that provide a tolerable heat load and adhere to the minimal energy efficiency criteria. The same tariffs that apply to ground source heat pumps also apply to water source heat pumps
| Applications Submitted | Ground source and water source heat pumps | Heat Pumps With Air Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 1st April 2017 – 31st December 2017 | 19.64p/kWh | 7.63p/kWh |
| 1st January 2018 – 31st March 2018 | 19.86p/kWh | 10.18p/kWh |
| From 1st April 2018 onwards | 20.46p/kWh | 10.49p/kWh |
With water source heat pumps, savings are rising. Despite government limitations, a 5 percent increase in electricity costs in early 2019 is probable given that gas prices have risen by more than 30 percent over the last two years while wholesale electricity prices soared by 35 percent in a single year in 2018.
There are various things you should think about before buying a water source heat pump. This can include the heat pump’s original purchase price, ongoing expenses, and payback time.
You should also think about your home’s location and maintenance costs because a water source heat pump can only be used close to an open body of water. The brand of the heat pump is also important to take into account when selecting a water source heat pump because it has an impact on the product’s efficiency and longevity.
We are here to simplify the purchasing process after carefully weighing all the various aspects before making a heat pump investment. By completing the contact form , you may obtain free, no-obligation quotes from up to 4 vendors without wasting time searching for other sources.