Green Building Forum - Upgrading ground source heat pump using original ground array Tue, 19 Dec 2023 06:45:27 +0000 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 Upgrading ground source heat pump using original ground array http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288888#Comment_288888 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288888#Comment_288888 Thu, 15 Apr 2021 18:16:20 +0100 MikeZeidler
We're building a first floor extension on a bungalow and have an existing 12 year old ground source heat system. The company that made the pump has gone bust and although it works fine and has good enough capacity, we want to upgrade to get a quieter and more energy efficient model. For the record, it's a TES (Thermal Engineering Systems Ltd) 16-1 16kW 230V/1Ph/50Hz and the tank is a Ecocat 360/200L

Consultants have suggested abandoning the ground source and moving to air source because a) the wells and ground collectors can't be inspected, b) the fittings between collection and pump won't match up and c) we could get RHI for a new system, but not the upgrade.

The idea of simply declaring the groundsource system redundant really goes against the grain. Anyone had this problem and overcome it?]]> Upgrading ground source heat pump using original ground array http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288895#Comment_288895 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288895#Comment_288895 Thu, 15 Apr 2021 20:34:44 +0100 tony
insulate or hope the extension insulates the house better than thew walls did before - aim to reduce energy use

silly to ditch it, ASHP can ice up , perform badly, be noisy etc]]> Upgrading ground source heat pump using original ground array http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288896#Comment_288896 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288896#Comment_288896 Thu, 15 Apr 2021 20:54:57 +0100 jfb Posted By: tonyASHP can ice up , perform badly, be noisy etc

as can GSHP to be fair.

But I agree it does seem a little crazy to abandon a working ground array.]]> Upgrading ground source heat pump using original ground array http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288901#Comment_288901 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288901#Comment_288901 Thu, 15 Apr 2021 22:49:24 +0100 MikeZeidler Upgrading ground source heat pump using original ground array http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288903#Comment_288903 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288903#Comment_288903 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 07:10:38 +0100 Peter_in_Hungary Posted By: MikeZeidlerConsultants have suggested abandoning the ground source and moving to air source because a) the wells and ground collectors can't be inspected, b) the fittings between collection and pump won't match up and c) we could get RHI for a new system, but not the upgrade.
Hmmm....

Posted By: tonyIt should be OK - nonsense about not being able to inspect. that is true of all gshp arrays! pipe connectors and converters available...................silly to ditch it


Posted By: jfbBut I agree it does seem a little crazy to abandon a working ground array.

+1
If it ain't broke why fix it ! Sounds like job creation to me.]]> Upgrading ground source heat pump using original ground array http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288905#Comment_288905 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288905#Comment_288905 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 09:35:27 +0100 Ed Davies Posted By: MikeZeidlerConsultants have suggested abandoning the ground sourceSounds like botty covering to me. They might worry that if they recommend continuing with the existing ground-source pipes and it turns out there's a problem you might have some come back against them.]]> Upgrading ground source heat pump using original ground array http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288906#Comment_288906 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288906#Comment_288906 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 10:19:38 +0100 philedge Posted By: MikeZeidler
Consultants have suggested abandoning the ground source and moving to air source because b) the fittings between collection and pump won't match up

Without knowing the details, it sounds like youd be better abandoning the consultants rather than the collector piping!]]> Upgrading ground source heat pump using original ground array http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288911#Comment_288911 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288911#Comment_288911 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 12:41:19 +0100 Mike1 Upgrading ground source heat pump using original ground array http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288912#Comment_288912 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288912#Comment_288912 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 12:46:14 +0100 revor Upgrading ground source heat pump using original ground array http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288918#Comment_288918 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17025&Focus=288918#Comment_288918 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 17:20:32 +0100 Paul in Montreal
One other thing you could do is change all the working fluid too when you change the heatpump. Might not be technically necessary, but probably a good idea (depending what antifreeze was used, if any).

Paul in Montreal.]]>