Heat Pumps

Heat Pumps and Hi-Therm®

In 2015 the government introduced the RHI scheme (Renewable Heat Incentive) to encourage homeowners to change to more efficient heat pumps and help us to achieve our target of achieving net carbon zero by 2050. Unfortunately, only 750,000 heat pumps have been installed throughout the UK since 2015, whereas 1.5m gas boilers were installed last year alone.

Although ASHP’s are absolutely the way forward in our battle to combat climate change there are some considerable issues with retrospective installations, probably the biggest issue is the existing radiators.

Around 90% of the UK’s housing stock have gas central heating systems installed. The boiler is set to heat the water that feeds the radiators up to between 70 and 80 degrees and the design size of the radiators is specific to the flow temperature of the water (75-80 degrees) and the size of the room. The average flow temperature of a low temp ASHP is 50-55 degrees. Therefore 9 times out of 10 the home will have to increase the size of the radiators to account for the lower temperature of the water in the radiator. This not only increases the cost of the installation considerably but also adds an enormous carbon footprint to each installation.

The average 3 bed home has 8 radiators so ‘if’ only half of these radiators needed to be upgraded this would obviously mean that 4 new radiators need to be manufactured, delivered, and installed as well as the old ones having to be transported away and disposed of or recycled, both having a further carbon footprint.
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The Government has set out plans to retrospectively instal 90.000 homes with ASHP’s over the next three years. If this is achieved, this equates to 360.000 radiator upgrades and if this target is maintained up to 2050 the figure would be 36m radiators.
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Due to Hi-Therm’s increased heat transferability, if it is installed with the heat pump it will negate the need for radiator upgrades. Furthermore, as Hi-Therm increases the COP (coefficient of performance) of the heat pump, it will also mean a considerable reduction in the energy needed to run the pump and heat the property.

Filling The Gap

As much as ASHP’s will have a very positive impact on our carbon emissions they cannot be installed everywhere. Homes with microbore pipework may not be suitable. Homes with combi boilers are not suitable as they have no hot water cylinder and most likely do not have a suitable place for one to be installed. Currently, there are 15m homes in the UK with combi boilers. Also, the HHIC (Heating and Hot Water Industry Council) state that around 50% of our housing stock is pre 1964 meaning that to make the property suitable for a heat pump they would have to have all the following measures installed:

  • Internal, external or cavity insulation

  • Argon filled double glazing

  • Increased loft insulation

Hi-Therm® fills the gap between the properties that are not suitable for heat pumps as it is suitable to be installed into any hydronic heating systems, if it has water in it, Hi-Term® is the answer!​

Find out more about Hi-Therm® 

If you would like to find out more about the benefits of Hi-Therm® and how it can save you money and reduce your CO2 Footprint, contact our office by completing the Contact Form.

One of our technical engineers will be able to answer your query.