Ground Source Heat Pump Cost

Ever heard of ground source heat pumps (GSHPs)?

In the following guide, we’ll break down what a ground source heat pump is, the cost of cost of ground source heat pump installation, as well as various other costs and tips.

On average, to install this ground heat energy alternative, you're looking at a spend of anywhere between £10,000 - £16,000.

This guide will also delve into relevant topics such as the benefits of each type and what steps are involved in the installation process.

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How Much Does it Cost to Install a Heat Pump?

Ground heat pumps vary significantly in cost. This is purely because the pump depends on several aspects, from the type of pump to the house size.

Let's start from the smaller end; the pump would be installed using a 6kW heat pump. Within the heat pump, a hot water cylinder with a small horizontal ground loop would be installed. The length of this is usually around 250-300 meters. This would cost in the region of £10,000-£12,500 for the installation.

Naturally, as the size of the installation grows, the price will also. Moving on to the larger ground heat source pumps, a heat pump with a 12kW and 750m ground loop with a 300-litre water cylinder would come to around £15,500-£16,000.

The Installation is not the only cost. It is important to consider the additional costs such as digging. Digging can leave a substantial dent in your budget if not taken into account. The cost will also vary depending on the pump size.

Some pumps, for example, horizontal systems, may require trenching, while vertical pumps may require deep drilling of a borehole.

This cost can and will vary on a case-by-case basis. This depends on aspects such as location (as local prices may be cheaper/more expensive), contacts (maybe you know a landscaper who can do this for a reduced rate) or availability (taking two days to complete may higher the premium you pay with a professional contractor).

Ground Source Heat Pump Prices

Horizontal Ground Source Heat Pump

Vertical Ground Source Heat Pump

Supply Costs

Some people might be capable of doing the installation themselves. This is a cost-effective way if you have the tools and skills for the job.

Below are the costs for purely the supplies with no installation costs. The UK average is around £1350 per kW.

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Additional Costs

If DIY is not your forté, then there are plenty of tradespeople who would be happy to help. One of the main jobs includes groundwork, however, there are other tasks that may be less obvious.

Let's look at it this way, you have just spent £21,950 on a vertical GSHP, you are on track to save a lot of money on your heating bill in the long term, or are you?

Typically, yes, you will, but you may be wasting your time and money in certain circumstances.

Wall insulation. If you do not have sufficient insulation, then your heat that is being generated is somewhat wasted. This is something that may be worth looking at while you are upgrading your heating system.

Cavity Wall Insulation

Cavity wall insulation makes sure that heat being generated is kept inside the house, meaning less energy is required to heat the home.

This is not only eco friendly but also economically friendly as this will help you maintain those savings.

Underfloor Heating

Now we know how much it is to install the pump and maintain the savings, you may find that you have some spare money left in the budget to really enjoy the heating.

We all know the feeling. It's December early morning; the room is warm until you step into the bathroom/kitchen, you are then met with the icy tiles on your bare feet.

There is a simple yet luxurious solution, underfloor heating. Different houses need different types of underfloor heating. In an older house, electric mats may not produce enough heat to work effectively.

In this case, a wet underfloor will be used as this is linked to the boiler directly, giving it a much more effective system; this is, however, more expensive. Electric mats are cheaper and better suited to more insulated areas which do not need heating as much. Let's discuss the cost.

Labour Costs and Timescales

The Labour cost is often overlooked. We get so invested in picking the right equipment and how much that is costing and then forget about the extra work that needs to be done. The main part of having a GSHP installed is the groundwork.

The cheaper way to have the pump installed is to have it installed horizontally, as this requires less labour. As shown before, the groundwork for a vertical 12kW heat source pump would need more work.

Three boreholes will need to be drilled, which comes to a total of £15,000 for the drilling alone. For a horizontal heat pump, the price would be around £10,000.

The timescales depend on what needs work doing to it. The main timescale comes before the heat pump is even near the house. The heating system needs to be excavated and can take around one to two days to evacuate.

Following this, installing the pipes takes place. Then the tradesperson will make sure the heating system is working to its full potential and modifying the ductwork will commence, which can take three to four days. The heat pump will then be installed and connected to the ductwork.

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Cost Factors of Installing Ground Source Heat Pumps

The size is a big factor when looking at what can affect the cost. The bigger the pump, the more work will be needed on the other aspects of the job, such as groundwork and heat pump type.

Level of Insulation

The level of insulation is also a big factor. If the insulation is not sufficient, then the new pump is somewhat a waste as the heat generated is not being preserved in the house.

The insulation depends on how much you need and what type of insulation you buy. The good thing is you can get a full house insulated for a small amount in the grand scheme of the overall project.

Type of Heat Pump

The type of heat pump can cost or save you a big chunk of the budget. A horizontal heat pump is the most cost-effective but may not be suitable for the space you have.

If you have a big pump that needs a large surface area that you cannot cater to, you may need to have a vertical pump which will cost you a lot more.

RHI Payments

RHI payments are a good incentive put in place by the government to get homeowners to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

If used correctly, the landlord/homeowner will be awarded quarterly payments as an incentive to stick to using clean, renewable energy.

This is a good way to get some money back for the initial outlay of the heat system change.

Location of Property

The location of the property may mean that the contractor may need to do more work than they would for an average customer.

If more work is needed, the contractor may charge more in labour which could prove rather costly in the long run.

Groundwork

Many of the factors previously mentioned have referred to the groundwork. The groundwork, much like the name suggests, provides the base for the work that needs doing.

The groundwork is the specialist aspect that needs professional assistance to ensure it has been completed to a suitable level.

The more groundwork that needs doing, the more money it will cost as labour charges will increase.

What's Involved in Installing a Ground Source Heat Pump

When installing a ground source heat pump, there are five steps involved, including:

Assess Your Home

Planning is the most important part of any design process.

This step involves an installer visiting the home to appraise what heat pump, energy source and which distribution would be best for the home.

The installer will take all the information and create a plan for the best GSHP system for you.

Excavate Loop Fields

After the initial planning, it is time to excavate the loop fields, whether the plan suggests horizontal and vertical, so that the pipes can be buried into the soil with them later on.

Install the Pipes

The pipes are then fitted and filled with water and antifreeze, which then acts as a heat exchanger.

Modify the Heat Distribution Infrastructure

From here, the contractor will modify the ductwork. This may require the removal of the original heat distribution infrastructure.

Install the Heat Pump

For the last step, the contractor will connect the heat pump to the ductwork meaning the heat pump is now ready.

Before turning the heat pump on the water flow from the ground to the exchange loop, air temperature and amp draw on the heat pump needs to be observed.

Can I Install a Ground Source Heat Pump Myself?

We all love DIY. We all like to look at our work and feel proud of our achievement. Unfortunately, DIY is not perfect, and some things need to be left to the professionals.

While this is technically possible to install yourself, it is highly advisable to leave this to the contractor. The risks are very real and very serious. The most obvious is the complete rewiring of a heating system which can cause issues with electric shocks, power cuts, flooding etc.

Without a proper design which has been done by a professional means, the efficiency will be compromised. This may result in the the heat pump becoming useless in terms of saving energy and money. If that still isn't enough to deter you, maybe the RHI's disqualification will be.

The main advantage of having this done by a professional is that you will get the quarterly payment incentive if used correctly.

Now if you are completely sold on wanting to be involved, you can do aspects of the project yourself. For instance, You can dig the trenches for the horizontal ground source heat pump.

Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Ground Source Heat Pump Installation

Planning permission needs to be looked into. If planning permission is needed, then it is important to apply as this can result in most costs along the line.

Planning permission can cost up to £206 for making changes to your home, and you can apply through your local authority.

Now, do you need planning permission for a new GSHP? Simply, no, but you do need to comply with the building regulations. It is best to speak to your local MCS-certified installer to help you with any questions.

Types of Ground Source Heat Pumps

Horizontal ground source heat pumps fall typically on the cheaper side of GSHP systems as less groundwork is required, so this is a benefit. This is also cheaper, and both vertical and horizontal systems are great renewable sources.

Vertical ground source heat pumps require a lot less space than its horizontal counterpart meaning it is more accessible if you do not have a lot of landmass. Overall a GSHP has an annual running cost average of £975.

Benefits of Ground Source Heat Pumps

RHI Payments

The payments you receive for having a GSHP can work out to around £4300 per year, which is a big return and goes a long way to help regain the money that was initially laid out to have the system installed.

Space Saving

The heating system does not require the mains gas import, meaning you save space in your home. You also do not need to worry about seeing it outside either as the system will be below ground.

No Risk of Combustion

No gas is being used. This way of heating uses a mix of both solar and heat generated in the ground. This means there is no chance of a gas leak.

There is no chance of a build-up of gas and subsequent combustion as there is nothing in the system to cause this reaction.

Save Money

We all love to save money, and when using a GSHP, the usage cost of your energy will be considerably lower as no fossil fuels are being used. The initial outlay does seem expensive, but this is a long-term investment, and you will certainly see the benefits.

Removing a Ground Source Heat Pump

Much like the installation, the DIY option is very much advised against. A professional should be called to remove this as the same risks apply as the installation.

The removal will require more groundwork to remove the system, and then the system will need to be replaced, so it could end up costing a lot more in the long run.

The labour costs will be at least the same as the installation, if not more, as more work needs to be done.

Hiring Contractors to Install Ground Source Heat Pumps Checklist

1. Get multiple quotes - It would help if you get quotes from multiple companies and contractors before hiring anyone. This gives you a great chance to review the different prices and work out who best suits the job.
2. Look for local hires - Local hires are always great options as they're usually on hand to start the work quickly. They have probably worked on homes in the area for you to take a look at, and you'll save money on travel costs.
3. Check their previous work - Contractors will now generally have online portfolios and websites for you to take a look at their previous work and peruse reviews that they have received from past customers. This is a brilliant way to vet them before hiring any company.
4. Don't rush! - Take the time to review all the prices and make a decision based on good research of everything listed in this section before choosing a contractor.
5. Liability insurance - You should always make sure that the company working on your home has liability insurance to protect both them and you, the customer, from any issues further down the line.

FAQs

Sources

https://www.imsheatpumps.co.uk/blog/cost-of-installing-ground-source-heat-pump-in-uk/
https://www.imsheatpumps.co.uk/blog/diy-ground-source-heat-pump/
https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/27/heat_pumps/4
https://www.geogreenpower.com/blog/five-benefits-of-ground-source-heat-pumps/