Insulation
The better insulated, the lower the water temperature and the cheaper the heat pump is to run.
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Heat Pumps: Installation, Servicing and Repairs
Replacing your boiler with a heat pump, equipping a new build or having an existing heat pump serviced or repaired? We survey, install and service air-to-water heat pumps from the major manufacturers, and we tell you honestly whether a heat pump suits your home.
5,0on Google· 22 years of experience
On-site surveyOutput calculated
Itemised quoteBefore the work
ServicingAnd repairs
22 years of experience5.0 on Google
Air-to-water heat pump: how does it work?
An air-to-water heat pump takes heat from the outside air, even when it is freezing, and transfers it to the water of your radiators, underfloor heating and hot water cylinder. For each kilowatt-hour of electricity it delivers several kilowatt-hours of heat.
Whether it works well in your home depends mainly on the water temperature the house needs in very cold weather. In a well-insulated home with underfloor heating or large radiators, a heat pump is ideal. In a poorly insulated house with small radiators, a hybrid system that keeps a boiler may be wiser.
The outdoor unit is placed where it can draw air freely without disturbing the neighbours: in the garden, on a rear wall or on a flat roof, on anti-vibration mounts.
Indoor unit, cylinder and connection
Indoors goes a hydraulic module: a floor-standing unit with built-in cylinder, or a wall-mounted model with a separate cylinder. It contains the circulation pump, the controls and often an electric backup heater for the coldest days.
The engineer connects the module to your heating circuit, flushes the old system so radiator sludge does not damage the new heat pump, and fits a filter. The electrical supply is on a dedicated circuit.
At commissioning he sets the heating curve: the warmer it is outside, the cooler the water. That is the key to low running costs. He shows you how to use the controls.
Underfloor heating and radiators
A heat pump works best with underfloor heating, which heats a large surface with lukewarm water. In new builds and major renovations we lay the pipes on insulation, with a manifold and one loop per room.
In an existing home with radiators, the engineer calculates whether they are large enough to give enough heat at a lower water temperature. Sometimes replacing a few radiators with larger or low-temperature models is enough.
That way you get a heat pump that runs economically, without the electric backup heater kicking in all the time.
Heat pump servicing
A heat pump has no burner, but it still needs regular servicing to keep its efficiency. The technician cleans the outdoor unit's heat exchanger and checks the fan, the condensate drain and the water circuit filters.
He also checks the refrigerant pressures, the defrost cycle, hot water production and settings. Depending on the amount of refrigerant, a periodic leak check is required by law.
You receive a report after the service. A well-maintained heat pump uses less electricity and breaks down less often in mid-winter.
Heat pump repairs
Outdoor unit covered in ice, error code on the screen, fan stopped or a backup heater pushing up the electricity bill: our technicians repair heat pumps from the major manufacturers.
First check the breaker has not tripped and nothing is blocking the outdoor unit. Note the error code: it points the technician to a sensor, the board or the refrigerant circuit.
He tests, finds the cause and gives you the price before the repair. A lukewarm house is often not a fault but a badly set heating curve, which he corrects on the spot. For heat pumps we installed ourselves, he already has the commissioning data, which speeds up the diagnosis.
Is a heat pump right for your home?
The questions the engineer answers during the survey.
Emitters
Underfloor heating or large radiators are ideal; small radiators sometimes need adapting.
Outdoor space
There must be room for the outdoor unit, with free airflow and no nuisance for neighbours.
Electrics
The electrical installation and supply must handle the load.
Your consumption
From your current gas or oil use, the engineer checks how much heat the house really needs.
Which type of heat pump?
There are several kinds of heat pump. The choice depends on your home and what you want to heat.
Air-to-water
The most common: heats radiators, underfloor heating and hot water through an outdoor unit.
Hybrid
A small heat pump with a boiler: the heat pump does most of the work, the boiler helps in hard frost.
Air-to-air
A reversible air conditioner that also heats: a good top-up in a few rooms, not for hot water.
Heat pump water heater
For hot water only: replaces an electric water heater and uses much less power.
Ground source
Takes heat from the ground through boreholes: very efficient but more costly and not possible everywhere.
From survey to commissioning
Visit and survey
The engineer visits, measures and calculates the heat demand.
Quote
You receive an itemised quote and an explanation of the grants that may apply.
Installation
Installation, commissioning, heating curve set-up and an explanation of the controls.
What our customers say
Where do we work?
We install and service heat pumps throughout Belgium: Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia.
BrusselsWalloon BrabantFlemish BrabantHainautNamur provinceLiège provinceLuxembourg provinceAntwerpEast FlandersWest FlandersLimburg
The brands we work with
Our technicians work on all brands: they install, service and repair appliances from the major manufacturers. For a new installation, we recommend the model that suits your home and budget.
We buy our equipment from all the major Belgian wholesalers and suppliers, including Facq, Van Marcke and Desco: genuine parts, quickly available.
Frequently asked questions
Can a heat pump fully replace my boiler?
In a well-insulated home, yes. If insulation is limited, a hybrid system that keeps the boiler may be better. The survey gives the answer.
Do I need to replace my radiators?
Not always. The engineer calculates room by room whether the radiators are enough at a lower water temperature.
Is the outdoor unit noisy?
A recent outdoor unit is fairly quiet, but placement matters. We fit it on anti-vibration mounts as far as possible from bedrooms and neighbours.
Are there grants?
Regions offer grants for heat pumps under conditions that change regularly. We explain them during the quote.
How often should a heat pump be serviced?
Yearly servicing is recommended; depending on the refrigerant amount, a periodic leak check is compulsory.
Do you repair heat pumps installed by others?
Yes, from the major manufacturers. Call 0477 03 88 98 with the brand and error code.
Can a heat pump cool too?
Some air-to-water heat pumps can provide gentle cooling through underfloor heating or fan coils. The engineer tells you if your system can.
How long does installation take?
For an air-to-water heat pump replacing a boiler, usually two to three days, depending on changes to the circuit and electrics. The duration is in the quote.
Thinking of a heat pump?
Request a quote, book a visit or call us for servicing or a repair.