Gas & solar or air source heat pump

[JoePlant]

Hello everyone. 
 

I recently got planning permission for a 3 bed bungalow and I’m just going through building regs. The house has lots of glazing and will be heated by an underfloor system along with a log burner in the kitchen / diner.  In order to comply I’ve either got to have an air source heat pump or if I wanted conventional gas I’m required to have a 7kph solar system (18 x 400w panels) along with a boiler. Both would roughly be the same cost wise and I know this comes down to personal preference, but I wondered what people’s thoughts were on this?

 

Gas and solar are both proven technologies and with a well insulated home I think the gas usage will be at a minimum if we went down that route - but this would be an extra cost to the build getting gas to the property as if I went for the heat pump this wouldn’t be required. Im exploring this as an option as heat pumps are a relatively new technology in terms of engineers and fitters along with support afterwards, so my thought was to go with gas and solar and eventually move to an air source heat pump once the boiler needed replacing / there is more support with ASHP’S. 

 

If anyone has had this scenario or has experience with either then feedback would be greatly appreciated 

 

Thanks for taking time to read 

 

[ProDave]

Lots of glazing says risk of over heating, so choose ASHP and you can have cooling as well.

 

AND fit solar PV which is an ASHP's best friend.  It will do more good for you with an ASHP than it would for a gas boiler.

 

You might be limited by your DNO how much you can have, 7KkW is good, you you are not guaranteed to be allowed that.

 

Heat pumps are not new technology.  They might be new to the rather backward UK population.  Have a serious look at just getting your electrician and plumber to fir the ASHP rather than paying £££ for a "specialist" company.  Lots here with appropriate skills have self installed them with good results.

[Conor]

Sounds like you've too much glass and not enough insualtion (to be that far off the min regs)

 

Address those design issues (what has your architect advised?) And get a small ashp and a 4pkW PV array. That's what we have and wouldn't change it for the world.

[joe90]

+1 for ASHP and solar, save the cost of gas installation and standing order. Just make sure you get a good installer who knows how to design and set it up properly. The grid is getting greener so you will be doing your bit fir the planet.

[JohnMo]

If you need that much PV should like your insulation and airtightness needs some looking at.

 

I installed gas, and moved to ASHP soon after completion. Wanted cooling as we also have big windows.

 

I would look at insulation, airtightness, do PV (about 3kW min) and ASHP, coupled to UFH. Plus heat pump cylinder.

 

Ventilation I do MEV with humidity activated terminals in wet rooms, and with humidity activated trickle vents. Least amount of ventilation and only operating when required. Almost no running costs, no filters.

 

 

[saveasteading]

1 hour ago, JoePlant said:

Gas and solar are both proven technologies

I'd say ashp was more proven than solar.

The number of days that a well designed house needs cooling is very low. Open a window unless it's 30° outside. But the heat pump is there for these 3 nights a year.

[Originaltwist]

Have a look at 'Cheapest Heating Ever' thread to see how your running costs will be miles better with ASHP + battery + solar.

And consider; Octopus heat pump offer. A smaller heat pump gets round a lot of pipe size issues, then add a mini-split to top up heating and do cooling. Having low power on the heat pumps means you can often run one free off the solar.

[saveasteading]

3 hours ago, Originaltwist said:

Have a look at 'Cheapest Heating Ever' thread to see how your running costs will be miles better with ASHP + battery + solar.

 

I will have to re-read. I thought the concensus therein was that it wasn't  worth doing because of limited battery capacity relative to cost.

[JoePlant]

Thank you everyone for replying it’s much appreciated. From the replies I’ll definitely follow up and check the insulation / air tightness as suggested. 
 

From the replies I think the most ideal scenario would be to have the heat pump and try to stretch the budget to have solar along side it to keep the running at a minimum, it’s just the initial outlay but then reap the rewards 

 

I agree the cooling would be a good feature to have, all if the bedrooms have three large floor to ceiling windows so during the summer that would be a invaluable addition 

[JohnMo]

38 minutes ago, JoePlant said:

bedrooms have three large floor to ceiling windows

We have the same, but are they required - no. First month had the blinds open each night, but after that don't really look out those windows.

[SteamyTea]

Make sure there is plenty of insulation under the floor. Then add a bit more.

Will your DNO allow you to connect up 7 kW_p without special conditions? Worth checking.  If not there are ways around it.

 

6 hours ago, JoePlant said:

7kph

That's kW, but could be autocorrect.

 

6 hours ago, ProDave said:

7KkW

WTF is that, a new one

Kelvin thousand watts.