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This comes down to whether you choose a vertical or horizontal heat pump. It’s also worth noting that larger homes will need a bigger network of pipes to generate enough heat.

Below we’ve summarised how much space a ground source heat pump needs:

Vertical heat pumps

Installed in a deep borehole, vertical heat pumps need very little surface space so may be more suited to small gardens. It’s important to note that vertical heat pumps are also more efficient than horizontal pumps. Generally, a vertical ground source heat pump will be up to 100m deep and only 0.25m wide.

Horizontal heat pumps

Often called trenches, horizontal heat pumps are buried closer to the surface of your outside space than vertical pumps. They tend to be cheaper to install but do require a large area for installation. Generally, a horizontal ground source heat pump will cover a minimum of 700m2.

Initially, ground source heat pump installation costs can be quite high. This is due to the labour intensive fitting process. Vertical heat pumps need to be installed using a drilling rig which can really push up the price. However, you will recover your investment through savings on your energy bills.

So, how much does it cost to install a ground source heat pump? First, consider whether a vertical or horizontal heat pump better suits your needs. This can have a big impact on the installation cost with vertical heat pumps costing an average of £15,000 and horizontal pumps costing an average of £9,000.

The price you pay is also affected by the complexity of the pump system and your home's energy requirements. Luckily you can find all the prices and information you need in our ground source heat pump cost guide.

To calculate the amount of electricity a ground source heat pump uses, we need to look at the CoP (coefficient of performance). This is how the efficiency of your pump is measured. Heat pumps are often 300% efficient, which means for every 1kW of electricity they use, they produce 3kW of heat. This would mean your heat pump has a CoP of three.

An average home uses an estimated 12,000 kWh of heat annually. So, if your heat pump has a CoP of three, it’ll only use 4,000 kWh a year.

How much does it cost to run a ground source heat pump?

This will depend on how much heat your ground source heat pump generates. As a rough guide, a heat pump that creates 15,000 kWh a year will cost between £540 and £700 to run. You can calculate the running cost of your heat pump by multiplying the average cost of electricity (15p per kWh) by the amount of electricity your pump uses.

How much can you save on your energy bills?

There are a few factors that affect how much you can save on your energy bills, for example, the type of heat pump you choose and the size of your home. As a rough guide, you could save between £790 and £1,425 annually on your energy bills.

In theory, you could try to install a ground source heat pump yourself, however there are risks and drawbacks to this option. For one, your pump won’t be as efficient unless it’s installed correctly. In addition, you won't benefit from the Renewable Heat Incentive (more on this in our ground source heat pump cost guide).

What’s more, it can be unsafe to carry out the installation yourself and you risk causing serious damage if you don’t follow proper fitting guidelines. This is particularly true for vertical heat pumps as they require the use of heavy machinery.

If you’re considering having a ground source heat pump installed on your property, you’ll want to contact a qualified, experienced installer. They’ll be happy to advise you on the right pump for your home and answer any burning questions you have.

We can help you find companies that offer ground source pump heat installation in SL3, saving you time and energy. Try our free search feature to locate a variety of professionals in your area.

Or, consider using our request a quote feature. Send us the details of the work you need doing and we’ll forward this information to three local heat pump installers. They’ll then contact you directly with a quote. It really is that easy!