Air / ground source heat pumps

Jet

I have 2 rental properties which require upgrading from old storage heaters.  Neither are on mains gas.  I thought my only options were oil or lpg or modern storage heaters, but someone has mentioned air or ground source heat pumps and explained that there is government funding over 7 years to fit these.  

My understanding is that it could cost around 15k to install in each house, but I could recoup the cost of this over 7 years from the government.  Both are old properties with no cavity walls.  I have read that if the EPC states that cavity wall insulation is recommended it must be completed as a condition of getting the government funding.  Whilst the EPC's do recommend wall insulation, it does not clarify "cavity" wall insulation, so I assume this would not apply to these properties?

Be really interested to hear from anyone who has had an installation done.

Thanks.

matelodave

It's probably worthwhile trawling through this as it may affect what you can claim if you properties aren't your own place of residence so may not come under the domestic category (I don't know coz I haven't read it all).

You need a minimum EPC rating, but you need that anyway if you are renting out properties so check the rules.

I do get RHI payments for mine, and it was based on the EPC  and a COP of 2.5 because we've had it quite some time. the rules and calculations have changed in the intervening years so you might get more or less and you might have to fit heat meters.

So far I've had six years worth and got another year to go - mine started at £170 every three months and its now up to £190 -  I'll get around £5k in total over the seven years.You may get more or less depending on how yours might get calculated.

Ground source is a lot more expensive to install than airsource as you've got to either dig up large areas of ground or drill very deep boreholes for the collectors.

One problem I can foersee is that a lot (if not most) people have a lot of trouble understanding them and if they aren't specified, installed or used correctly they can cost a hell of a lot to run.