Buying a heat pump system from OMNIE
Your comprehensive guide to buying a heat pump from specification to delivery.
All our heat pump systems are provided so they are ready to install into a building.
Our pricing includes the DHW cylinder, buffer tank, controls and connection components.
We provide a comprehensive warranty and commissioning service.
We work with architects, installers and end users.
The primary heat source
A heat pump is usually specified as the primary heat source within a building, replacing a gas or oil boiler. The heat pump extracts energy from the ground or the air and converts this into useable heat for use in the building such as hot water.
Why specify a heat pump in your project?
Saves money on utility bills, especially if you’re in an off gas area.
Reduces greenhouse gas being released into the environment as the energy is renewable.
Potential payments via the Renewable Heat Incentive - more information can be found on the OFGEM website.
Future-proof the property for when fossil fuel prices rise.
Where should the heat pump be located?
Both air source and ground source heat pumps require some element of space within the building. An air source heat pump will need a conventional domestic hot water cylinder to store the hot water, in the same way a pressurised heating system functions using a gas boiler. Ground source heat pumps will also need a form of storage vessel, however can function without them depending on the design and project requirements. In both cases we will supply the heat pump and the storage cylinder, along with all the other components necessary to connect the heat pump to the hot water system in the building.
If you have an air source heat pump, it can usually (depending on model) be wall or floor mounted, externally. You would then have a small control interface located near your cylinder, usually in a utility room or plant room.
If you have a ground source heat pump, you would have a floor mounted appliance (similar to a fridge or freezer) within your utility or plant room.
Ground Source or Air Source?
Both have individual benefits and drawbacks.
Most importantly for ground source you will need to excavate a reasonably large area (about three times the footprint of the building to be heated) in order to place the ground loop array, otherwise you would need to bore a deep borehole in order for the array to work on a vertical basis rather than horizontal. Planning permission might be needed for the array in both cases, you will need to check with your local authority. Otherwise, the ground source unit is normally located inside the building such as in a garage or plant room.
For air source the most obvious difference is that the unit will be located outside the building, either on its own hard standing or hung from a wall. Most units are not particularly large and can easily be positioned at the rear of buildings to minimise visual impact. Air source units are generally an easier install as no land needs digging up for installation. They also take up less space inside than a ground source as the main unit is outside and they are cheaper to buy than a ground source alternative.
The image shown is a ground source heat pump in a domestic plant room.
How do I get a quote?
Getting a quotation is very easy. Simply send us the plans of the building (all floors), indicate whether you would prefer a ground source or air source heat pump and we will do the rest. If you have a preference for a ground source heat pump, please let us know whether you intend to bore or lay the array in the ground.
Please send your enquiry to: projects@omnie.co.uk
Does a heat pump work with underfloor heating?
Absolutely. Because UFH typically runs at a much lower temperature than traditional radiators, it’s the perfect partnership to work with a heat pump. Heat pumps are at their most efficient when operating at low temperatures.
How do I use and maintain my heat pump?
Generally, once your heat pump has been started and commissioned by an OMNIE engineer, you don’t really need to change anything. It will be set up to work with your heating system so you would just use your heating controls as normal.
With every heat pump that we sell, we ensure that an OMNIE engineer commissions and starts the heat pump to ensure it delivers an optimum performance.
Your heat pump, just like a boiler, should be serviced every year by the installer.
What warranty is provided?
We have two brands of heat pumps within the OMNIE range; Alpha Innotec & LG.
Once started and commissioned by an OMNIE Engineer, the Alpha Innotec heat pumps have a 2 year warranty and the LG have a 7 year warranty from commissioning.
All of our cylinders come with a 25 year warranty, other mechanical components come with a 10 year warranty and electrical items come with a 2 year warranty.
