Air to Heat , suitable Radiators

mikeecho

I'm looking at installing an Air to Heat pump, in the next few years.

I'm at the early stages, but I'm wondering if my current rads are suitable, or if I need to replace them.

This is what I currently have.

https://www.coopsuperstores.ie/Building/Plumbing--Heating/Radiators/Heatmaster-Double-Radiator-DOUBLERAD

John.G

To get the best performance (COP) from a heat pump it is essential that you keep the water temperature as low as possible, so assuming you will have a radiator flow temp (with a HP) of 40C and a return temp of 30C and assuming you require a room temperature of 22C then your present rads will only emit 17.4% of their rated output or to put it in perspective a 1.5 kw rad will emit 261 watts, hardly enough to maintain even a well insulated room at a comfortable level, maybe just possible if the heat pump is (and should be) running 24/7. IF you are replacing your rads it is essential that they are sized properly, I would suggest at least by a factor of 2 or even 3 if you are not installing UFH. You could also consider heat emitters like Solo which are basically a coil with a fan forcing air over them and would be far more compact. One way or the other I would strongly advise getting some professional advice re your actual energy requirements, it would be money well spent IMO.

mickdw

I'm not at all convinced that heat pump is suitable for any older housing stock unless brought right up to current standard of insulation and airtightness.
Be very careful. Get specialist advice and try to obtain realistic running costs for your house, too many will quote you running costs per sqm based on a brand new A rated house.

John.G

Simple calc attached gives some idea of savings based on known energy demand

mikeecho

I plan on getting a pro in at some stage to sus out what needs to be done.

If my current rads were adequate, I would probably go down the air 2 heat route sooner.

But as it stands, if they (the rads) need to be replaced, I'll put the conversion on the long finger.
My oil boiler is 10yrs old, regularly serviced and doesn't give any problems.
So no point in ripping it out and investing a large sum of money to upgrade until it's nearer end of life.

I just need to know what is needed so that any mods made to the house between now and then, can be done with a view to making the change a simpler process.

I've a 3000ft² house with about 20 rads and a towel rad.

I've a bit of land adjacent to the house, and the thoughts of a small solar farm and a power wall are long (very long) term options.

mikeecho

I'm not great with the maths side of energy efficiency/insulation.
But my next step it to replace the double glaze with triple.

And then look into air to heat.

Eventually looking at a power wall and a solar farm.

Hopefully bring able to charge a car and heat the house and water without needing to draw much from the grid.

.. very very long term project. 10 to 20yrs