Worcester Bosch Greenstore 11 Combi

Going Underground: My Ground Source Heat Pump Installation Tale

I live in a semi-detached house with a decent-sized garden, and last year, I decided to install a ground source heat pump. Here’s the lowdown on the installation, especially the bit about laying the underground pipes.

The Big Dig

The most disruptive part of the installation was definitely the digging required for the underground pipes. The installers had to dig trenches about a meter deep in my garden to lay the pipes that would carry the heat exchange fluid. It turned into a bit of a mud-fest for a week, and I had to be careful not to let the dog out lest he thought it was a new playground!

The Work Schedule

The team was pretty efficient, though. They managed to get the trenches dug and the pipes laid in about two weeks. They were considerate about the mess and tried to keep it contained as much as possible.

Aftermath and Restoration

Once the pipes were in and the trenches filled back in, the garden looked a bit worse for wear. It took a couple of months for the grass to grow back properly, but now you’d hardly know they’d been there.

Living with the Heat Pump

The ground source heat pump itself has been fantastic. It’s out of sight and mind, doing its job quietly and efficiently. The constant temperature from the ground means it’s really efficient, even more so than the air source heat pump I was considering.

Costs and Savings

The installation wasn’t cheap, and the disruption to the garden was something to consider, but the energy savings have been significant. My heating bills have dropped, and the RHI payments are a nice bonus.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve got the space and you’re prepared for a bit of short-term upheaval, a ground source heat pump is a great option. Just be ready for your garden to be a construction site for a little while!

That’s my experience with getting a ground source heat pump installed. It’s a big job, but the long-term benefits are worth it.