Guest Blog: A Complete Guide for Homeowners on Ground Source Heating

This is a guest blog by Dragon Renewable Energy, our sister company which we launched in 2022 to ensure our customers can transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy easily with one point of contact. By having the two companies in-house as part of the Dragon Group we can ensure complete peace of mind and ease for any customer questions or queries throughout the installation. Our staff can now take care of every aspect of the installation from initial customer enquiry all the way through to handover after the installation is completed. In a world which is increasingly focused on sustainable living, ground-source heat pumps are gaining significant traction for being the leading solution for efficient and eco-friendly home heating. Harnessing the earth’s natural thermal energy, ground source heating offers a compelling alternative to traditional fossil fuel-based methods.

Ground-source heating uses the earth’s warm temperature to provide green and efficient heating for your home. This guide covers everything you need to know about GSH systems.

Ground source heating systems work by using 40mm ground loop pipework, installed into a borehole, to extract heat from the earth. These pipes circulate a mixture of water and antifreeze.

In winter, the water and antifreeze mixture (the heat transfer fluid) absorbs heat from the ground, which maintains a constant temperature of around 10-12 degrees Celsius, even in freezing weather, carrying it to the heat pump. The ground source heat pump then increases the temperature of the fluid and transfers the heat to your home’s heating system e.g. radiators, underfloor heating or air distribution.

There are a couple of different types of ground loop collectors. Horizontal loops are suitable for properties with large amounts of land, however because they are susceptible to surface conditions they are inefficient and can result in high electricity costs as the heat pump has to work harder. The horizontal collectors also require customers to sacrifice large areas of land. Secondly, there are vertical loops, which involve drilling boreholes down to a typical depth of 100 metres and then installing the pipes vertically. Usually, a property will require more than one borehole but due to the depths being drilled to the vertical collector method is vastly more efficient given the constant temperature of the ground. The boreholes are also typically only a 4’’ diameter which means they are ideal for smaller footprint properties or customers who do not want to sacrifice large areas of land. 

Ground source heat pumps are advantageous for many reasons, particularly due to their significantly higher efficiency (300-400%) compared to traditional systems, resulting in lower running costs. They’re environmentally friendly, long-lasting, quiet – making the same amount of noise as a domestic fridge – and require less maintenance compared to combustion-based systems.

You can save a lot of money in the long run by installing a ground source heat pump, offsetting the higher initial cost, but the cost of installing it can depend on factors like the size of your home, the ground conditions in your area and the number of boreholes required. The government Boiler Upgrade Scheme will also contribute £7500 towards the installation costs. When you’re thinking of installing a ground source heat pump, it’s crucial to choose a reputable and experienced installer. At Dragon Drilling, we’re the leading UK specialists in Borehole Drilling, with 30+ years of experience and accreditations such as ISO 9001:2015, British Drilling Association membership, Achilles UVDB and SMAS Worksafe. If you’d like to get your personalised quote, contact us today.

Knowing the basics—how ground source heating works, and its pros and cons—will help you figure out if it’s right for your home. Getting a ground source heat pump installed by Dragon Drilling/Dragon Renewable Energy can be a game changer for your home or business. The installation process with Dragon Renewable Energy is straightforward and will save you money, with no planning permission and less maintenance required than your typical boiler. But remember it’s always a good idea to chat with one of our qualified professionals to get advice tailored to your situation and ensure everything’s installed correctly.

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