So, you’re thinking about making the switch to a heat pump? Good on you. If you live in Farnham, or anywhere around Surrey and East Hampshire like Bordon or Guildford, you’ve probably noticed more of these units popping up on the side of houses lately. There is a good reason for it. As we all try to do our bit for the planet and keep those energy bills from spiralling out of control, heat pumps have become the "go-to" for future-proofing our homes.
This is part of our 7-day series here at Heat Eco Building Services where we are looking at how you can get your home ready for the next decade. Yesterday we talked about solar, but today is all about the heavy lifter of the eco-home: the Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP).
Why Farnham is Going Green
Farnham is a lovely place to live, we all know that. We’ve got a mix of stunning Georgian townhouses, mid-century estates, and plenty of new builds. But the one thing they all have in common? They need a heating system that actually works without costing the earth.
Traditional boilers are great, don't get us wrong, we’ve installed thousands of them. But the world is moving toward energy efficiency and renewable energy. A heat pump doesn’t burn fuel to create heat; it moves it from the outside air into your home. Even when it’s freezing outside in the middle of a Surrey winter, there is still usable heat in the air.
Understanding the Different Types
Before you jump in, you need to know what you’re looking at. Most people in Farnham will go for an Air Source Heat Pump because they’re easier to install and don’t require you to dig up your entire garden.
- Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP): These look a bit like an air conditioning unit sitting outside your house. They pull heat from the air and use it to warm your radiators or underfloor heating.
- Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP): These are incredible but require a lot of space for pipes underground. If you’ve got a massive garden in the Surrey Hills, this might be for you, but for most of us in town, ASHP is the winner.
The Step-by-Step Installation Journey
We know that getting a new heating system can feel like a massive headache. You’ve got people coming in and out, floorboards coming up, and plenty of technical jargon. We like to keep things simple. Here’s how we handle a typical installation in Farnham.
1. The Initial Chat and Survey
We don’t just turn up and start drilling. Every home is different. Who wants a cold house because the unit was too small for the rooms? Not us. We start with a proper heat loss calculation. We look at your insulation, your windows, and how you actually use your home. If your house is leaking heat like a sieve, we’ll tell you straight, you might need to top up that loft insulation before the pump goes in.
2. Choosing the Right System
Once we know how much "oomph" your house needs, we pick the unit. We look for a high Coefficient of Performance (COP). Basically, that’s just a fancy way of saying how much heat you get for every unit of electricity you put in. A good system should give you about 3 to 4 units of heat for every 1 unit of power.
3. Preparing the Infrastructure
Here is the bit most people forget: your radiators. Heat pumps run at a lower temperature than old-school gas boilers. This means you might need larger radiators or, even better, underfloor heating to get the same level of comfort.
If we are doing a bathroom renovation at the same time, it’s the perfect moment to lay down some underfloor heating. It’s a game changer for those cold mornings.
The Technical Bit: What Happens on the Day?
When the big day arrives, our team shows up ready to go. We’re local, so we know the Farnham roads and the best places to park the van without bothering the neighbours too much.
The Outdoor Unit: We find a spot that’s level and has plenty of airflow. You need at least 300mm of clearance around it so it can breathe. We mount it on a solid base so it doesn't vibrate or make a racket. Modern units are surprisingly quiet, so don't worry about it keeping you up at night.
The Pipework: We run refrigerant lines between the outdoor unit and your indoor cylinder. This is where the magic happens. We use high-quality copper piping and make sure everything is insulated to the max. You don’t want to lose that precious heat before it even gets into your living room!
Electricals: A heat pump needs its own dedicated circuit. We’ll handle the wiring and make sure your consumer unit can take the load. If you’re also looking at boiler installation alternatives or hybrid systems, we can talk through those options too.
How to Save Money (The Grants!)
Let’s talk cash. Heat pumps aren’t cheap upfront, we won’t lie to you. But the government really wants you to have one. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) can give you a massive chunk of money toward the cost, often around £7,500.
To get the grant, you must use an MCS-certified installer. That’s us. We handle the paperwork so you don’t have to. It makes the whole thing a lot more affordable and ensures the job is done to a standard that won't let you down in five years.
Getting Your Home Ready
You can help us out by doing a bit of prep before we arrive. It makes the job go faster and keeps the tea flowing smoothly.
- Clear the decks: Make sure we can get to the area where the outdoor unit is going. If there are old flower pots or a pile of bricks in the way, try to move them before we get there.
- Access: We’ll need to get into your utility room or wherever your water cylinder is kept. If it’s buried under ten years of old coats and shoes, give it a quick tidy.
- Check your insulation: As we mentioned, heat pumps love a well-insulated home. If you’ve been meaning to fix that drafty door, now is the time.
Life After Installation: Maintenance
Once the system is in and we’ve shown you how to use the controls (which are actually quite easy, we promise), you’re good to go. But like any bit of kit, it needs a little love.
We recommend a quick annual check-up to make sure the filters are clean and the refrigerant levels are spot on. It’s much cheaper to maintain a system than it is to fix a broken one. Plus, it keeps your warranty valid.
Is a Heat Pump Right for You?
We get asked this a lot. If you’re in a brand-new house in Bordon, the answer is almost certainly yes. If you’re in a 200-year-old cottage in the middle of Farnham, the answer is… maybe, but we might need to do some extra work first.
The results speak for themselves though. Our clients who have made the switch love the consistent, steady heat. No more "clanking" pipes or waiting for the boiler to fire up. Just a nice, warm home all year round.
If you aren't quite ready for a full heat pump, we still offer plenty of boiler options and combi-boiler installs that are much more efficient than the old ones.
Let’s Get Your Farnham Home Future-Proofed
At Heat Eco Building Services, we’re all about making homes better. Whether it's a bathroom-to-wetroom conversion or a full eco-heating overhaul, we treat every job like it’s our own house.
Farnham is leading the way in Surrey for green energy, and we’d love to help you be a part of it. It’s about more than just a new box on the wall; it’s about making sure your home is comfortable, sustainable, and ready for whatever the future throws at us.
Give us a shout if you want a no-nonsense chat about what’s possible for your property. We don't do the hard sell: just honest advice from local experts who know their stuff.
Coming up tomorrow: We’re diving into battery storage: how to keep all that lovely solar power for when the sun goes down! Catch you then.