INDEPENDENT HEAT PUMP DESIGN · NO SALES, NO INSTALLATIONS, NO COMMISSIONS
WEST YORKSHIRE · ENGLAND & WALES · HELLO@HEATLOSSHUB.CO.UK
BEFORE YOU START
Getting a heat pump quote is not the same as replacing an existing boiler.
A boiler replacement can often involve choosing a suitable replacement appliance and connecting it to an existing heating system.
A heat pump works differently.
The performance of the finished system depends on how well the heat pump, heating system and property work together.
Before a heat pump can be properly designed, it is useful to understand:
The good news is that you do not need to know all of this yourself.
You simply need to provide the information you already have.
Heat Loss Hub can then help identify what additional information is needed and what the next step should be.
A heat pump is not simply a replacement boiler.
The heat source is only one part of the final heating system.
A good design needs to consider the complete installation, including:
This is why two heat pump quotes can sometimes look completely different.
One installer may recommend larger radiators.
Another may suggest a different heat pump size.
Another may propose a different heating temperature.
These differences are often caused by different design assumptions.
A good heat pump quote should make those assumptions clear.
The aim is not simply to compare prices.
It is to compare the systems being proposed.
The first stage is understanding the property itself.
Some information can be collected from you, while other information may be available from existing records or an EPC.
The property address helps establish:
The location of a property matters because heat pump design is based around the conditions the system is expected to operate in.
Useful information includes:
Also:
This provides an initial understanding of the building.
However, the final heating requirement should not be based on these details alone.
Two homes of the same size can have very different heat losses.
The building fabric has a major influence on heat loss.
Useful information includes:
The more accurately the building fabric is understood, the better the final heating design can be.
An EPC can provide useful background information, including:
However, an EPC is a starting point.
It does not replace a detailed heat loss calculation or a complete heating design.
Understanding the current system helps identify what can stay, what needs changing and what opportunities exist.
Useful information includes whether the property currently uses:
Information such as:
can help understand the existing installation.
Useful information includes:
A heat pump design should consider the entire heating system rather than just replacing the heat source.
Domestic hot water is an important part of heat pump design.
Useful information includes:
A heat pump installation will often require a suitable hot water cylinder unless one is already installed. Our cylinder reheat calculator shows why the coil matters as much as the volume.
One of the most important parts of a heat pump design is understanding how much heat the property requires.
This is normally established through a heat loss calculation.
The calculation considers:
The purpose is to understand:
How much heat does each room need on the coldest design day?
This information helps determine:
A heat pump should not be selected simply because a property has a certain number of bedrooms or a particular floor area.
The building itself determines the heating requirement.
The heating emitters need to be considered alongside the heat pump.
Useful information includes:
Existing radiators do not automatically need replacing.
Each radiator should be assessed against:
Some may be suitable.
Some may need upgrading. Our radiator output calculator will show you what an existing radiator delivers at a lower flow temperature.
If UFH exists or is planned, useful information includes:
A heat pump and underfloor heating can work extremely well together, but the system still needs to be designed correctly.
The outdoor unit location is an important part of the design.
Useful information includes:
The heat pump should not simply be installed wherever there happens to be space.
The location affects:
Heat pumps can require different water flow rates compared with traditional boiler systems.
Useful information includes:
Existing pipework may be perfectly suitable.
Alternatively, targeted upgrades may be required.
The correct approach is to assess the system rather than automatically replace everything or assume everything is suitable. The mass flow rate calculator and the buffer flow visualiser both help show what a given circuit can actually carry.
Heat pumps require electrical planning.
Useful information includes:
This becomes particularly important when multiple technologies are being installed together.
A well-planned electrical layout can avoid unnecessary disruption later.
New builds benefit from early planning.
Useful information includes:
The earlier the heating system is considered, the easier it is to coordinate:
Renovations require consideration of both the existing and future property.
Useful information includes:
The heating system should be designed around the finished property.
Not just the house before renovation.
Not every project needs a survey immediately.
Photos and videos can provide valuable information, including:
For more detailed designs, videos can help show:
This can make remote assessment much easier.
You do not need to have everything ready before making contact.
Start with what you already know:
From there, the next steps can be identified.
You do not need to know:
Those are design decisions.
The process starts by understanding your property and your plans.
Basic information is collected about the home.
The current heating and hot water arrangements are reviewed.
Your project is identified as an existing property, renovation, extension or new build.
The information is assessed to establish what is needed next — additional information, plans, photographs, a technical survey, a heat loss calculation or a full system design.
A heat pump is a significant investment.
The quality of the final system depends heavily on the quality of the information used during the design process.
A good quote should help you understand:
The goal is not simply finding the cheapest heat pump quote.
The goal is finding the right heating system for your home.
Not necessarily before an initial conversation, but final heat pump selection and emitter design should be based on an appropriate heat loss assessment.
An EPC can provide useful background information, but it does not contain everything required for detailed heat pump design.
No.
Radiators should be assessed based on room heat loss and the proposed heating temperatures.
Not always for a straightforward existing property.
However, plans are extremely useful for new builds, extensions and major renovations.
Because the heat pump and associated equipment need a suitable electrical supply.
Yes.
Many projects can begin using property details, photos, videos and plans before deciding whether a physical survey is required.
START YOUR HEAT PUMP PROJECT
You do not need to know the answers before starting.
You do not need to understand heat loss calculations.
You do not need to decide what equipment you need.
Start with the information you already have.
Heat Loss Hub will help identify the next step.
