ground source vs air souce for new build

[ajd132]

any points to consider? research so far suggests that ground source is better long term despite initial outlay. I have heard that the ground source can affect plants in gardens? any info very welcome and thanks in advance.

 

[Wurzeetoo]

This may not be a fair review as the company that installed the air source in the whole of the new build estate I lived on were pretty shoddy but I wouldn’t ever either install an air source neither buy another property with it installed. It was ridiculously expensive to run on electricity and servicing if I’d of stayed there my plans were to rip it out and install an oil fired boiler. Hope this helps but like I say somebody else may have got a better installed unit running lovely

 

[br jones]

any points to consider? research so far suggests that ground source is better long term despite initial outlay. I have heard that the ground source can affect plants in gardens? any info very welcome and thanks in advance.

Wouldnt have either ,more insulation,

 

[ajd132]

Wouldnt have either ,more insulation,

we will be insulating very well, we will need something though?

 

[scotston]

Oddly ignorant points of view. Both systems work well, better insulation is a must. I'd go with spending the capital on insulation and then the air source will deliver the goods.

 

[Wazmos]

definitely ground source over air source, everyone I know with air source has very expensive maintenance bills.
Ground source seems to be more reliable. Have you looked into a pellet boiler?

 

[br jones]

we will be insulating very well, we will need something though?

If you have air or ground ,make sure you have a back up

 

[Courier]

If you have air or ground ,make sure you have a back up

Big Log burner at one end of the house and leave the LPG oven on low at the other then occasional use of a leccy fan heater if needed.

Thats what I used for 3 years before I got an ASHP installed - The ASHP just works and the leccy costs us little more than the opportunity cost of what we get on our PPA from the wind turbine so thats about 6p when the wind is blowing and 14p when it's not unless I turn the ASHP off and use the residual heat in the 7" concrete floor above the insulation ( That was done by accident and makes reaction times very slow)

The house is 23 years old built with underfloor wet heating and excessively insulated (at the time of building).

 

[Scribus]

I recently heard of one fellow who installed ground source heating and his electricity bill doubled through running all the pumps.

 

[jack6480]

Definitely need a log burner with air source here! You just don’t get the heat when you want it, it’s just a steady constant temperature

 

[24/7 farming]

Ground sourse here and loving it, averaging 550€/yr to run, heating 250sqm house built in 2017. 600m of pipe in the ground about 4-5ft down. Not recommended to plant (trees, shrubs) over the pipes, but we put the pipes in the field beside house so not an issue. Pump runs default on night rate electric and temps set for 21 downstairs and 18 upstairs, rarely needs to run during day to top up heat unless it's freezing outside all day.
Dearer than air to install, but easier running costs

 

[jack6480]

what temperature is your underfloor heating set at?

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Groundsource here aswell, running underfloor throughout the ground floor bar utility room. Rads in every room upstairs but only needed in old stone part of the house. No heating needed upstairs in new built extension. Although frowned upon by the installers we have a logburner in lounge that we run all the time that we are home, makes a hell of a difference though. House is steady 20 degree, log burner takes lounge up to 25-26 some nights or just radiates the heat throughout the rest of the house. We’re averaging roughly £1300 on electricity a year for everything. Most I know pay about £100 a month direct debit for gas and electricity in smaller much less exposed houses.

 

[Daniel]

We built 3 chalet bungalows in 2013, air source has worked fine in them, but they are very well insulated.

 

[S J H]

We went for air source, I didn't like the idea of groundsource as they take up so much room, and with the airsource it is just a bolt on unit. Someone told me not to use groundsource in clay as it can shrink around the pipes and be less effective I don't know if that's true or not.

But, if it wasn't for the regs I reckon it would be just as cheap to run oil. I don't know if groundsource is cheaper to run.

 

[Longneck]

We’ve had ground source for 10 years now and it works really well for us. Have underfloor heating all round (concrete first floor) and lots of insulation. Have an electric AGA in the kitchen and a wood burner in the lounge but we very rarely light it.
Heating pipes trenched into the field next to house @ 1m deep.
It also helps that we have a 10kw wind turbine that supplies most of our electricity

 

[br jones]

Just built a 4 bed 160 sqm place ,ultra insulated ,last year it used £200 worth of gas for hot water and heating ,

 

[Try to succeed]

we will be insulating very well, we will need something though?

Have you made a decision re which to go for? I’ve just received planning permission and this is my next decision so following with interest.

 

[Hfd Cattle]

Ground source here . 4 x 170 m runs out into the field . Solar panels on shed which earn us money and charge up a power pack which runs the heating / hot water and the borehole . We get RHI payments for the heating and payments for the electricity generated that goes into the grid . Our house is run for virtually nothing . We have a wood burner in the lounge cos we like to sit in front of the fire . Underfloor heating upstairs and downstairs .

 

[br jones]

Ground source here . 4 x 170 m runs out into the field . Solar panels on shed which earn us money and charge up a power pack which runs the heating / hot water and the borehole . We get RHI payments for the heating and payments for the electricity generated that goes into the grid . Our house is run for virtually nothing . We have a wood burner in the lounge cos we like to sit in front of the fire . Underfloor heating upstairs and downstairs .

What sort of powerpack?