Heat pumps for larger household (more than 8 people)

matelodave

Although we've got a 200litre tank, we don't use all of it.

There are only two of us so there's enough for two showers and other ablutions in the morning, some minor washing up during the day (we have a dishwasher which does most of it), hand washing and night-time ablutions (and another two showers if we want - although the last one is getting a bit cool). We probably use around half a tank or less per day. We have an economy shower head which only uses around 6lpm and I can shower and wash my hair in around 3 minutes and my wifie only takes a couple of minutes more

At 45 degrees we don't need to mix much, if any cold water. The heatpump reheats the tank in around 45 mins in the summer and just over an hour or so in the winter. and uses around 1.5kwh in the summer and about 1.5-2.5kwh in the winter when its ever so cold and thus working harder.

The only time we need it to heat more water is when the family come and stay. when there are ten of us to get sorted., Even then, we don't run out unless the kids go stupid.

Patrol

You might find it's more important to have a suitably sized hot water cylinder so the heat pump isn't having to repeatedly heat up a smaller cylinder. My ground source heat pump heats a 300 litre cylinder, no idea if that is too large for an air source heat pump or enough for your hot water requirements but those sorts of questions could be put to a manufacturer or installer (my installer asked questions about size of house plus number of baths and showers when sizing everything up).

mrmmhf

SamK2022 said:

Hi all,

Has anyone had a heat pump fitted in a large household?  Do they actually save money?  What about the tank capacity needed for hot water for everyone?  I'm thinking of a system without any additions such as an electric shower or wood burning stove, just in a moderately well-insulated 1930s semi.  This would be a move from a gas boiler with no immersion.  I don't mean the set up costs, just the actual running.

Many thanks!

We have an 18KW heat pump that heats our home (approx. 4,000sqft). It does a good job but is expensive to run this year because of crazy electricity tariffs.

SamK2022

Thanks everyone.  Really appreciate the info.