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Ground Source Heat Pumps

When temperatures drop, many animals burrow underground, not only to seek protection from winter winds and snow but also to take advantage of the warmer temperatures that persist year-round just a few feet below the surface.

Ground source heat pumps tap into that same heat that hibernating animals do, and they compress and transport it above ground to heat our homes and hot water. They’re one of the most efficient, seasonally stable, and durable forms of heating on the market.

Lauren Smith
Mike Rowe
Written by Lauren Smith
Edited by Mike Rowe
17 November 2025
26 mins read

What is a ground source heat pump?

Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are a low-carbon heating solution that draws on the stable temperature beneath the earth’s surface and uses it to warm water or space above ground. They’re a highly efficient alternative to fossil fuel boilers.

While more expensive than air source heat pumps, they also perform better year-round and can deliver greater energy bill savings, especially for households in cold climates and with high heating demand. 

Their upfront cost is steep, with domestic systems starting at £12,000 and running up to £36,000. However, the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers a £7,500 grant for low-carbon heating systems and brings the cost of GSHPs down to earth.

How do ground source heat pumps work?

Ground source heat pumps rely on a simple fact: even when the mercury falls at ground level, the earth just a few metres underground retains warmth, remaining a consistent temperature of between 8 and 12°C year-round in the UK.

Ground source heat pumps extract that subterranean heat, concentrate it, and redistribute it to heat our buildings and water. They do so through a reverse refrigeration cycle, altering the pressure of a liquid refrigerant so it can absorb or release heat.

The most common GSHPs are closed-loop systems, in which the reverse refrigeration cycle works like this:

  1. 1

    Heat absorption

    A mixture of water and antifreeze, known as a brine, circulates through the ground loop, underground pipes laid either horizontally in trenches or vertically in a borehole. That liquid absorbs heat from the warmer ground.

  2. 2

    Evaporation

    The warmed brine travels to the heat exchanger within the above-ground heat pump itself. The heat exchanger contains a refrigerant, a fluid with a low boiling point, in a liquid state. It absorbs heat from the brine and evaporates, turning into a low-temperature, low-pressure gas.

  3. 3

    Compression

    The refrigerant gas travels to an electrically powered compressor. As the compressor raises the pressure of the gas, its temperature increases.

  4. 4

    Condensation

    The hot gas travels to a second heat exchanger, where the heat is transferred to the building’s heating system, warming water that flows through radiators but sometimes warming air that flows through ducts.

  5. 5

    Recycling

    Ground source heat pumps can also be used to cool homes, in a reversal of this process. When cooling, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the home and transfers it outside.

Less common are open-loop ground source heat pumps, which extract heat from groundwater, such as an aquifer or well. Shallow groundwater averages temperatures between 8 and 12°C across the UK.

Here’s how open-loop ground source heat pumps work:

  1. 1

    Groundwater is pumped to the surface

    A submersible pump brings groundwater to the surface through a borehole.

  2. 2

    Heat exchange

    The water is delivered to the heat exchanger within a heat pump. When the heat pump is used for heating, the heat is transferred to a refrigerant, which is compressed to further raise its temperature, much as in closed-loop systems (see above). In cooling mode, heat from the building is transferred into the groundwater, which absorbs it.

  3. 3

    Water discharge

    The water, with its temperature slightly changed but otherwise unaltered, is discharged back into the environment, usually through a return well but sometimes into a surface body of water, provided one is nearby.

Open-loop ground source heat pumps are often even more efficient than closed-loop systems and cheaper to install in some locations, especially those with existing wells. They’re therefore often used for buildings with large heating or cooling demand, such as farms and commercial buildings. However, as they tap into and discharge into groundwater, they require not just water access but also permission from environmental agencies (e.g., in England, the Environment Agency). Additionally, maintenance demands from open-loop systems are often higher and potentially very costly.

How efficient are ground source heat pumps?

Closed-loop ground source heat pumps typically produce three to four units of heat for every unit of electricity they use, giving them an efficiency of 300 to 400%. Less commonly used open-loop systems can have even higher efficiencies.

In comparison, modern condensing gas boilers are usually around 92% efficient, producing less than one thermal unit per unit of gas consumed.

The efficiency of ground source heat pumps varies slightly due to location and season, but they remain highly efficient even in northern climates and in the depths of winter.

A 2015 study found that ground source heat pumps had a typical coefficient of performance (COP) of 3.6 (360% efficiency) in most of the UK, falling slightly to 3.4 (340%) in Northern Scotland.

Ground source heat pumps can work in ambient temperatures as low as -40°C, far below typical winter temperatures of 2-7°C in the UK and, in fact, lower than the country’s record low of -27°C. In fact, chilly Scandinavian countries lead the world for ground source heat pump installations: in 2019, there were more than half a million operational in Sweden.

Ground source heat pumps retain efficiency in the coldest temperatures far better than air source heat pumps do, due to the stability of below-ground temperatures, and are a better choice in very cold places.

How much are ground source heat pumps?

Ground source heat pumps are more expensive to install than natural gas boilers and even air source heat pumps. However, they deliver impressive energy bill savings that can offset the investment. They also last longer than gas boilers (20-25 years for the heat pump itself, up to 100 years for the ground loop) and require less maintenance. Additionally, government grants can reduce the upfront cost of a GSHP.

The cost of a ground source heat pump depends on several factors, including:

  • £

    The type of ground loop used (horizontal or vertical)

  • £

    The size of your home, and thus the capacity of the heat pump required

  • £

    Whether you’re retrofitting an older property or building a new home

Horizontal vs vertical

Heat pumps with horizontal ground loops are cheaper to install, with a typical cost, including parts and labour, of £15,000 to £30,000. In these installations, the ground loop pipes are buried in trenches 1-2 metres below the ground, either in loops or straight runs. Because no drilling is required, horizontal installations are cheaper but require more outdoor space - typically two to three times the floor area of the building to be heated - so are best for rural or suburban homes. They’re also best for areas with wet soil, which makes digging trenches easier.

In denser areas, homeowners need to use vertical heat pumps, in which 50-200 metre boreholes are drilled for the U-shaped ground loop. Specialist drilling rigs are required for deep excavation, pushing up installation costs to a typical £23,000 to £35,000. However, due to the stability of temperatures that far underground, these are the best ground source heat pumps for efficiency, especially in cold climates, and for heating larger buildings. They’re ideal for urban areas, properties with small gardens, and places with rocky ground.

Capacity

Whether installed horizontally or vertically, most domestic heat pumps have a capacity between 4 kW and 12 kWh. The larger the capacity of the heat pump, the more expensive it is to buy and install.

It’s very important to closely match the size of your heat pump to the actual heat demand of your home, as heat pumps are designed to run continuously, and cycling on and off can reduce their efficiency, pushing up running costs, and reducing their lifespan. 

The best way to arrive at a heat pump size is through a room-by-room heat loss survey, conducted by a surveyor. These studies calculate how much heat your home loses at the typical coldest temperature for your region. 

However, the following sizes can serve as a rough guide for capacity:

  • Very efficient new builds or flats: 4-6 kW

  • Well-insulated modern semi-detached house: 6-8 kW

  • Typical detached 3-4 bedroom home: 8-12 kW

  • Larger homes with less insulation: 12kW+

For a heat pump that also supplies hot water, add 1-2 kW more to the size of the system.

Heat pump capacity

Horizontal loop

Vertical borehole loop

6 kW

£14,000-18,000

£18,000 – £23,000

8 kW

£16,000 – £22,000

£21,000 – £27,000

 

 

10 kW

£18,000 – £25,000

£24,000 – £32,000

 

 

12 kW

£20,000 – £28,000

£28,000 – £35,000+

Retrofit vs new build

It’s considerably cheaper to install a ground source heat pump as a home is being constructed rather than retrofitting one into an older property. With a new build, the ground loops can be installed during construction, and radiators and underfloor heating ideal for heat pumps can be installed from scratch. Retrofits are more complicated, involving excavations in your garden and likely upgrades to your heating system, for instance, the installation of larger radiators.

How are ground source heat pumps installed?

Ground source heat pumps require professional installation, typically from a specialist renewable heating installer. If you want to use government incentives like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the installer must be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).

The installation process has several steps:

  1. 1

    Survey of your property

    Before undertaking an installation, an installer will visit your property and determine exactly what type of heat pump is suitable, considering your heating and hot water requirements, the size of your lot, the soil type, the availability of groundwater, and the necessity of environmental permits (for open-loop systems).

  2. 2

    Excavation and groundworks

    Horizontal systems require the digging of shallow (1-2 metre deep) trenches, often 50 to 100 m long, often using mini excavators. Vertical systems require deep (50-200 m) boreholes, drilled with rotary drilling rigs.

  3. 3

    Pipe installation

    Polyethylene pipes are installed in the ground, connected to an underground manifold chamber, where the pipes are collected with balancing and isolation valves. From the manifold chamber, a pipe runs to the heat pump unit in the house. After the pipes and manifold chamber are installed, the trenches and the boreholes are carefully backfilled: trenches with soil and boreholes with grout, usually thermally enhanced bentonite clay.

  4. 4

    Heat pump unit installation

    The heat pump unit - usually the size of a refrigerator/freezer - is installed in the home, often in a garage or utility room. It’s connected to the manifold chamber and to the home’s heat distribution system (radiators, underfloor heating, hot water taps).

  5. 5

    Upgrade of the heat distribution system

    Often, homes will need an upgrade of their heat distribution system. Usually, this is the installation of underfloor heating, which works best with ground source heat pumps, or radiators with more surface area.

The installation process has several steps:

  1. 1

    Survey of your property

    Before undertaking an installation, an installer will visit your property and determine exactly what type of heat pump is suitable, considering your heating and hot water requirements, the size of your lot, the soil type, the availability of groundwater, and the necessity of environmental permits (for open-loop systems).

  2. 2

    Excavation and groundworks

    Horizontal systems require the digging of shallow (1-2 metre deep) trenches, often 50 to 100 m long, often using mini excavators. Vertical systems require deep (50-200 m) boreholes, drilled with rotary drilling rigs.

  3. 3

    Pipe installation

    Polyethylene pipes are installed in the ground, connected to an underground manifold chamber, where the pipes are collected with balancing and isolation valves. From the manifold chamber, a pipe runs to the heat pump unit in the house. After the pipes and manifold chamber are installed, the trenches and the boreholes are carefully backfilled: trenches with soil and boreholes with grout, usually thermally enhanced bentonite clay.

  4. 4

    Heat pump unit installation

    The heat pump unit - usually the size of a refrigerator/freezer - is installed in the home, often in a garage or utility room. It’s connected to the manifold chamber and to the home’s heat distribution system (radiators, underfloor heating, hot water taps).

  5. 5

    Upgrade of the heat distribution system

    Often, homes will need an upgrade of their heat distribution system. Usually, this is the installation of underfloor heating, which works best with ground source heat pumps, or radiators with more surface area.

Are there any grants for ground source heat pumps?

Yes, because the government wants to hit 600,000 annual heat pump installations annually by 2028, they offer grants to offset the higher cost of heat pumps compared to fossil fuel boilers.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

The most widely available grant programme is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), which offers up to £7,500 off the installation of a low-carbon heating system, including ground source heat pumps, air source heat pumps, water source heat pumps, and, for rural properties not connected to the gas grid, biomass boilers.

Typical Cost of GSHP with Boiler Upgrade Scheme discount applied:

  • £

    Horizontal closed loop

    £7,500-£22,500

  • £

    Vertical closed loop

    £15,500-£27,000

To be eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, you must own a property in England or Wales with a fossil fuel or non-heat pump electric heating system and with adequate insulation. 

The government is also consulting on expanding the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to offer hire purchase or leasing plans for heat pumps, which would enable households in the future to pay for heat pumps by instalments.

Warm Homes Local Grant

Warm Homes Local Grant is a new fuel poverty scheme delivered by English local authorities, which offers up to £15,000 for low-carbon heating measures, such as heat pumps, and £15,000 for energy performance upgrades, such as insulation or double or triple glazing.

The Warm Homes Local Grant is open to owner-occupied or privately rented households in 270 participating local authorities that:

  • Have an Energy Performance Certificate between D and G

  • Are low income and meet one of the following conditions: have gross annual household income of £36,000 or less, are in a deprived area (in the lowest income deciles), or receive means-tested benefits.

0% VAT

Until April 2027, all UK residents can benefit from zero-rated VAT on energy-saving materials. This includes ground source heat pumps themselves, pipework, excavation, and other installation costs. This is a discount on the 20% VAT usually levied on goods and services and can save you £3,000 to £7,000 on a ground source heat pump.

From April 2027, the VAT rate on energy-saving materials will rise to the reduced rate of 5%.

Grants in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

In Scotland, the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan provides homeowners with grants of up to £7,500 (£9,000 for some rural and island properties) for the installation of clean heating technologies and interest-free loans of up to the same amount.

Funding for GSHPs may also be available from other regional energy upgrade grants, such as Warmer Homes Scotland and the Welsh Warm Homes Nest scheme.

Energy company grants

The fourth iteration of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) requires energy suppliers to cover 100% of the cost of energy-efficiency upgrades for residents receiving income-related benefits living in properties with an EPC rating of D or below. While ground source heat pumps are technically one of the measures covered, they’re rarely installed, as the scheme focuses on cost-effective upgrades that deliver the biggest improvement in EPC rating, and air source heat pumps and boilers are almost always more cost-effective.

In rare cases, a GSHP may be the chosen option, for instance, if the property has very high heat demand, such as in the case of a rural home off the gas grid, and it’s well-suited to a GSHP, such as with a pre-existing well.

Grants for Ground source Heat Pumps

Amount

Eligibility

Eligible systems

Exclusions

Deadlines

Apply

Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)

£7,500 grant for ground source heat pumps

Homeowners in England and Wales with homes with adequate insulation and without heat pumps

Air-, ground- and water-source heat pumps, biomass boilers (for certain properties); in the future, possibly air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries

Hybrid heat pumps

31 March 2028

https://www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme

Warm Homes Local Grant

Up to £15,000 for low-carbon heating measures

Privately owned or rented properties with EPCs below D and residents who qualify as low-income (either earn less than £36k, live in a deprived area, or receive means-tested benefits)

air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, and high heat retention storage heaters

Residents of non-participating local authorities

31 March 2028

https://www.gov.uk/apply-warm-homes-local-grant

0% VAT on energy-saving materials

Relief from 20% VAT

All UK residents

Heat pumps, including ground source insulation, solar panels, wind turbines, etc.

None

31 March 2027, when it will rise to 55

Automatic

Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan

£7,500 grant and £7,500 interest-free loan (£9,000 for rural and island households)

Scottish homeowners

Heat pumps, including GSHP; district heating scheme connection; solar thermal, and more

Hybrid heat pumps

Ongoing

https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/home-energy-scotland-grant-loan

Energy Company Obligation (ECO4)

100%

Homeowners and private tenants who claim income-related benefits and live in properties with EPC ratings of D or worse

Technically GSHP are included, but their high cost means they’re not the preferred option. Air source heat pumps and boilers are much more commonly installed.

Customers of smaller energy suppliers that don’t participate in the ECO4

31 March 2026

Contact your energy supplier

Ground source heat pump advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

  • High-efficiency heating
    Ground source heat pumps are 3-4 times as efficient as gas boilers, with efficiencies between 300% and 400% (up to 550% for rarer open loop systems).
  • Reduced energy bills
    In a typical four-bedroom detached house, replacing a G-rated boiler with a GSHP will reduce your energy bills by £490 per year, according to the Energy Saving Trust. However, replacing a new A-rated gas boiler with a GSHP will only save you around £40 annually and probably doesn’t make sense purely for savings reasons alone. If you’re off the gas grid and use other sources of heat, the savings are even greater: £2,000/year when replacing old electric storage heaters, £1,200/year for new storage heaters, £1,200/year for a G-rated LPG boiler, and £550/year for an A-rated LPG boiler.
  • Lower carbon emissions
    Their use of electricity and high efficiency make GSHPs less polluting than other heating systems. GSHPs can slash your household’s carbon emissions by 4,500 kg CO₂/year if you’re replacing a G-rated gas boiler and 3,000 kg CO₂/year if you’re replacing an A-rated boiler, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Carbon savings if you’re switching from a dirtier fossil fuel system (oil, LPG) are even greater. As Britain continues to decarbonise its electricity supply, these carbon savings will increase. You can also combine heat pumps with solar panels for further carbon savings.
  • Stable year-round performance
    Ground source heat pumps deliver more stable performance in very cold temperatures than air source heat pumps.
  • Can be used for cooling
    As Britain’s summers get hotter, some households are considering cooling systems. Like other heat pumps, GSHP can also cool your home, and more efficiently and cheaply than air conditioning systems do.
  • Low maintenance
    Heat pumps have a simpler design than gas boilers and don’t involve combustion, so they’re lower maintenance. While they still require annual servicing, they’re less likely to develop faults and require repair.
  • Safer than fossil fuel systems
    As heat pumps don’t burn fossil fuels, they don’t pose safety risks that boilers do, such as gas and carbon monoxide leaks and explosions.
  • Long lifespan
    The ground loop of a GSHP can easily last 50 to 100 years once it’s in the ground. The heat pump unit itself typically lasts 20-25 years, beyond the typical 10-15-year lifespan of a gas boiler.
  • Government grants to offset installation cost
    £7,500 grants are available through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in England and Wales, and £7,500-£9,000 grants are offered in Scotland through the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan. Until 2027, you also don't have to pay VAT on heat pumps and their installation.

Disadvantages

  • High upfront cost
    GSHPs typically cost between £15,000 and £35,000, significantly more than air source heat pumps (air to water: £14,000-19,000, air to air: £2,500-6,500) and gas boilers (£1,500-£5,000).
  • Energy bill savings take a long time to offset upfront cost
    While GSHPs can deliver big energy bill savings, their high upfront cost means it takes longer for homeowners to break even than with a less expensive air source heat pump.
  • Outdoor space required
    Cheaper horizontal loops need large gardens. Vertical loops require less space, but the garden must still allow access to a specialist drilling rig. So GSHPs may not be suitable for dense urban areas.
  • Excavations required
    Excavations required for their installation can be disruptive, messy, and time-consuming.
  • Work best with underfloor heating and large radiators
    Heat pumps heat water to a lower temperature than boilers do. While heat pumps typically operate at 35 to 45°C, compared to 65°C for modern boilers, they can still heat rooms effectively, as long as sufficient surface area is available via large radiators or underfloor heating.
  • Home must be well-insulated for heat pumps to work well
    For the same reason, heat pumps require homes to be well-insulated. They work most efficiently when delivering gentle, continuous heat, while boilers cycle on and off, blasting rooms with higher temperatures. The boiler method is less efficient but better combats heat loss through draughts and leaky walls.

Are ground source heat pumps better than air source heat pumps?

Air source heat pumps (ASHP) work similarly to ground source heat pumps but extract and concentrate heat from the air outside rather than from the ground. 

They’re a much more popular choice than ground source heat pumps. In 2023, MCS-certified installers installed 36,799 air source heat pumps, compared to just 2,469 ground source heat pumps. That means air source heat pumps accounted for nearly 93% of all heat pump installations.

However, ASHPs aren’t necessarily better than GSHPs. They just have a lower upfront cost and are suitable for more properties. But for some homes in some locations, GSHPs will be the better choice. 

Let’s compare and contrast them:

  • Air source heat pumps are cheaper to install

    Air-to-water systems cost a typical £14,000-£19,000, compared to £15,000 to £35,000 for ground source heat pumps.

  • Air source heat pumps don’t require as much outdoor space

    GSHPs with horizontal ground loops require around 2-3 times the garden space as the floor space required to be heated. Vertical loops are better for smaller plots, but you must still have enough space for a drilling rig to gain access to the garden.

  • Air source heat pumps are easier to install and don’t require disruptive excavations.

  • Ground source heat pumps work better in colder temperatures

    The performance of air source heat pumps fluctuates more depending on the outside temperature. While their COP (coefficient of performance) is comfortably between 3 and 4 above freezing, below 0°C it can fall to 2. Because GSHPs are drawing heat from the ground, where temperatures are relatively stable year-round, they typically maintain consistent COPs of 3 to 4. These high efficiencies make them a better choice for colder regions, such as Northern Scotland, and properties with high heat demand.

  • Ground source heat pumps have more stable running costs year-round

    Due to this dip in performance, the running costs of ASHPs rise slightly in the winter.

  • Ground source heat pumps have greater longevity

    The unit itself has a typical lifespan of 20-25 years, compared to 15-20 years for an air source heat pump. Meanwhile, the ground loop can last 50-100 years.

  • Ground source heat pumps are quieter

    ASHPs produce a low hum outdoors, comparable to a refrigerator, while GSHPs are almost silent, with a volume often compared to a whisper.

So in what situations might you choose a ground source heat pump over an air source heat pump?

  • You’re in a cold climate with a long heating season.

  • You have a home with high heating demand, such as a very large property or a farm.

  • You have a large garden or a lot of land.

  • Your home has a pre-existing well for the installation of an open-loop GSHP.

  • You plan to stay in the house for decades and want to maximise your energy bill savings.

If you're unsure which type of heat pump is best suited to your home, contact a certified installer, who will help you select a system as part of their initial survey.

FAQs

How much land do you need for a ground source heat pump?

The amount of outdoor space you need for a ground source heat pump depends on the type of ground loop it uses.

Pumps with horizontal ground loops require the most space, as they require pipes to be buried in shallow, long trenches. As a rule of thumb, you usually need 2-3 times the internal floor area of your home. So for a 100 m² semi-detached home, you’ll need a garden offering at least 200 m² to 300 m² of outdoor space.

The type of soil in your garden can also impact the amount of space required. Wet clay and damp loam have good thermal conductivity, meaning they transfer heat well. In these types of soil, you need a shorter length of pipe to capture the same amount of heat, so less garden space is required. In less conductive soils, such as dry chalk, sand, or gravel, you’ll need a longer length of pipe and more garden space.

Vertical installations lay pipes in deep boreholes. Their footprint on the ground is typically only 5-10 m². However, your garden needs to be large enough that the drilling rig can gain access.

Do ground source heat pumps work with radiators?

Yes, ground source heat pumps heat water, the currency of most heating systems in the UK. That water can then be pumped to radiators and hot water taps.

But you may need to replace your existing radiators, which are likely designed for gas boilers. Gas boilers heat water to high flow temperatures, usually 65-75°C, while heat pumps are most efficient when they heat water to just 35-45°C. At those lower temperatures, the water from a heat pump needs more surface area to heat a room to the same temperature. That means larger radiators or, as many homeowners decide, underfloor heating, which offers even greater surface area.

Are ground source heat pumps noisy?

No, ground source heat pumps are typically very quiet. They’re the quietest of all types of heat pumps:

  • Ground source heat pump: 40-42 decibels (dB) – comparable to a quiet library or residential neighbourhood at night

  • Water source heat pump: 40-50 dB – at the loudest, comparable to moderate rainfall or a quiet office

  • Air source heat pump: 40-60 dB – at the loudest, comparable to a normal conversation, an electric toothbrush, or a sewing machine

By comparison, modern gas boilers usually produce 40 to 60 dB of noise, while older models may be as loud as 70 dB.

How deep do ground source heat pumps go?

Horizontal loops are fairly shallow, buried just 1-2 metres below the surface.

In contrast, vertical loops can dive deep underground. Typical domestic systems have boreholes that go 50-200 metres deep. The depth required for any system depends on the heat demand and the conductivity of the soil. A borehole for a small home on thermally conductive clay will be shallower than that for a large home on dry chalk. Installers then backfill the boreholes with a conductive grout, such as bentonite clay, to ensure thermal conductivity and prevent accidents.

Boreholes for larger commercial heating systems can be even deeper, sometimes over 300 metres.

How long do ground source heat pumps last?

Ground source heat pumps have remarkable longevity. The ground loop itself should last between 50 and 100 years. Its pipes are made of highly durable high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which should last many decades when properly installed with grout to prevent leaks and maintain thermal conductivity.

The heat pump unit itself, including the heat exchanger, compressor, and pumps, should last 20 to 25 years with annual servicing. However, you may need to replace the ancillary parts of the system, such as the thermostats, expansion tanks, and circulating pumps, at least once in the lifecycle of the heat pump (every 10-15 years).

To ensure your heat pump lasts as long as possible, you should:

  • Make sure it’s installed correctly, as poor grout can reduce both efficiency and durability.

  • Have the system serviced annually, checking the pressure and flow rates, inspecting the circulation pumps, and testing the brine in the pipes to ensure it hasn’t become contaminated (which can damage system parts).

  • Size the system correctly: A heat pump that’s too large for your home will cycle on and off throughout the day, increasing wear and tear. Heat pumps are designed to run continuously, which maximises their efficiency and lifespan.

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