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SUSTAINABILITY

How far can I run the pipework from a heat pump into my house?

I am building a five-bedroom property in Lancashire and my local council has adopted higher than standard eco guidelines. When people are choosing a sustainable energy source, many seem to go for solar PV, but I have opted for a heat pump. My issue is the size of the plant needed for the heat pump. I don’t think I have allowed enough room in the house to accommodate for it, but I have plenty of space in the detached garage, which is 12m from the main house. Is it feasible to run underfloor heating and hot water pipes that far?

Please note that solar PV (photovoltaic panels, which produce electricity) and heat pumps aren’t mutually exclusive – they do very different jobs. That said, I’m glad you have not fallen into the trap of installing both and then claiming to automatically be carbon neutral, as there is a mismatch between supply and demand. The production of electricity by PV during heating season is very low, so a heat pump often relies on power from the national grid.