Choosing between ground source and air source can be a hard decision. There is often a much higher outlay in costs for a ground source heat pump due to the excavation of the ground arrays and the heat pump package being more expensive.
A ground source heat pump (GSHP) is a highly efficient heating system that taps into the stable temperature of the Earth beneath the surface. It works by circulating a mixture of water and antifreeze through a loop of pipes buried in the ground, transferring heat from the ground to the heat pump. The Earth's consistent temperature maintains a stable temperature throughout winter. GSHPs can achieve high coefficients of performance (COPs), typically ranging from 3 to 5, meaning they can produce three to five units of heat for every unit of electricity consumed. This efficiency results in substantial energy savings compared to traditional heating and cooling systems, reducing both operating costs and environmental impact. Additionally, GSHPs contribute to lower greenhouse gas emissions, making them a sustainable and cost-effective choice for residential and commercial heating and cooling needs.
This bungalow is located next to a small field which was a perfect set up and a factor in our clients decision to proceed with our chosen design for a ground source heat pump.
Internally we designed underfloor heating throughout all rooms which would be controlled independently. To maximise space within the utility area, we designed the plant room to be split between a ground floor cupboard and attic space.
Southern Renewables were on site early to lay the ground loops which were excavated by the main contractor. The loops are laid in conjunction with our design calculations to ensure the right depth and spacings are met.
Ground source heat pumps can inadvertently cause ground freezing if the system operates continuously in extremely cold conditions without adequate design considerations. In cold climates, the constant extraction of heat from the ground may lead to a reduction in soil temperature, causing the moisture in the ground to freeze. This can result in the formation of ice around the heat exchange pipes, affecting the system's efficiency and potentially causing damage. Proper system sizing, insulation, and thermal conductivity assessments are essential to prevent excessive cooling and ground freezing, ensuring the effective and sustainable operation of GSHPs in cold environments.
The calculated heat loss for this project was 4.2KW which meant the Vaillant 5kw Flexotherm was a perfect match.
Or engineers installed the ground source heat pump within a cupboard located off of the utility. This cupboard also contained all of the components supplied in conjunction with the heat pump package.
We used the attic space as the chosen area to install the remaining bigger items which included a 100l Vaillant buffer vessel and a Vaillant 200l heat pump cylinder.
Southern Renewables also supplied & installed Vaillant controls, interface and wiring centre.
If achievable, keeping all the components the same manufacturer including the controls is beneficial for getting the very most out of your heat pump. This gives the user and servicing engineers a good understanding of the system and makes potential fault-finding easier. 
The Vaillant ‘Live Monitor’ mode is a brilliant addition to the Vaillant interface. This gives the commissioning/servicing engineers an accurate stream of information for many parameters of the heat pump. The ‘Live Monitor’ mode provides accurate information for diagnostics and future maintenance checks .
After the heat pump was commissioned, Southern Renewables arranged an appointment with the client at a convenient time to provide a handover pack. This pack contains all of the information required for the end user and any future servicing engineers. The handover is an important part of the process. We provide a demonstration of the controls and give the client an understanding of how the system operates.
