Proving that a correctly sized heat pump can outperform a boiler, even in a 200 year old solid wall cottage.
The owners of this 200 year old cottage in the depths of Cornwall wanted to move to an efficient, renewable heating system without compromising on comfort in a property with solid stone walls and all the quirks of a period building.
Before specifying any equipment, we carried out a full heat loss calculation for every room in the cottage. Older properties like this one lose heat very differently to a modern new build, so getting an accurate figure for the property's true heat demand was the key step in choosing the right heat pump and designing underfloor heating to match.
Based on those calculations, we installed a single Stiebel Eltron air source heat pump with a matching hot water cylinder, along with underfloor heating throughout the house. One compact outdoor unit now provides all the heating and hot water the cottage needs.
It's a claim we hear often: heat pumps don't work in old houses, they can't heat a house properly, or they simply aren't as good as a boiler. This project says otherwise. Since installation, this heat pump has run at over 800% efficiency, the most efficient system we've fitted to date. In simple terms, for every 1kWh of electricity it uses, it produces more than 8kWh of heat, a level of performance no gas or oil boiler can match. Sized correctly and installed properly, a heat pump can heat a 200 year old cottage just as effectively as it can a brand new home.
The cottage now has consistent, comfortable heat throughout via underfloor heating and a reliable hot water supply, all from one of the most efficient heat pump systems we've installed to date. It's proof that age and solid walls are no barrier to a well designed renewable heating system.
Get in touch for a free, friendly quote and a proper heat loss calculation.
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