Is a heat pump the right choice to supply my hot water?

I intend to undertake a major renovation of my converted barn home. I’ve heard about ground source heat pumps (GSHPS), which sound like an attractive technology, but I can’t find information about whether this system supplies domestic hot water (DHW). If it can be provided by the same system, is this an efficient way of achieving a hot water supply? And would it need a bulky storage tank?

GSHPS can be used for domestic hot water and normally would do so in a standard installation. ey can be less efficient when providing DHW, however, as you need to raise the temperature to a higher level than with space heating – but this will still be better than using resistance heating (ie an electric immersion heater).

You should also consider a solar thermal system for domestic hot water. ese low-tech systems are available from UK manufacturers (keeping the embodied carbon footprint low) and are able to supply about 50% of a household’s hot water needs. So, it’s a cost-effective investment and a great partner for a ground source heat pump.

e size of the storage vessel would depend on hot water demand, but in general the cylinder will need a larger heating coil than in a standard gas boiler installation, as a GSHP runs at a lower temperature than a boiler. is doesn’t affect the size of the cylinder, however. If you plan to add a second resource, such as solar thermal, then you’ll need a dual-coil cylinder.