How To Prepare Your Home For A Heat Pump Installation
More and more homeowners in Ireland are making the decision to reduce their energy bills whilst cutting down their carbon emissions, by installing a heat pump in their homes. The great news is that there are a number of different types of heat pump to suit different properties, from new builds to older houses. If you are going ahead with a heat pump installation, it’s important to ensure that you get your home ready. This involves making sure that your property is as energy efficient as possible, to enable the heat pump to operate to its best ability. These are the crucial steps to take:
Get A Home Survey
First things first, you need a professional to confirm that your property is suitable for heat pump installation. The best way to do this is through the SEAI who offer grants towards the heat pump installation cost. You’ll need to arrange for an SEAI registered technical adviser to carry out a technical assessment of your home. You’ll also need to get an energy performance certificate via a BER assessment. This initial survey will determine any improvements that you need to make to your home, such as adding insulation, in order to make it ready for a heat pump to be installed.
Improve The Energy Efficiency Of Your Property
The more energy efficient your property, the more effective and economical the heat pump will be. Modern homes and new builds are likely to be a lot more energy efficient than older homes, which are likely to need more preparation for a heat pump installation. There are many ways to make your home more energy efficient, including the following:
Loft Insulation
When thinking about where to start with insulating your home, the loft is a sensible place to start. In fact, it’s estimated that approximately a quarter of your property’s heat can be lost through an uninsulated loft. Getting your loft insulated only takes a few days, and will have huge benefits for the comfort and cost-effectiveness of your home in the long run.
Double Glazing
A lot of heat is lost through windows and doors, which is why double glazing, or even triple glazing, is so important in improving the energy efficiency of any building. You can also draught-proof your windows and doors to prevent any heat from being lost through small gaps, whilst preventing cold air from getting in.
Wall Insulation
If your home is relatively modern, then it’s likely that the wall insulation is of a reasonably good standard. However, in older properties with cavity walls that have hollow centres, more insulation may be required prior to heat pump installation. However, this is a straightforward process with cavity walls.
There are different types of heat pump to suit different properties, and the team at Pipelife can talk you through which model is best for your requirements, whether that’s a hybrid, split or monobloc heat pump installation. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to discuss your options.