Heat pumps in Donegal: will one work in your house?
Most houses in Donegal can run well on a heat pump. Whether yours can comes down to three things: how well it holds heat, the ground or space around it, and what’s heating it now.
We’re based in Newtowncunningham and have been fitting heat pumps for over a decade, in new builds, old farmhouses and exposed houses on the coast from Inishowen down to Bundoran. These are the questions people ask us most.
Do heat pumps work in a Donegal winter?
They do. A heat pump doesn’t need warm weather. It draws heat out of the ground or the air, and there’s some there even in January. A ground source heat pump takes it from the ground, which stays at much the same temperature all year a couple of metres down. An air source heat pump takes it from the outside air and keeps going well below freezing.
For comparison, heat pumps are the normal way to heat a house in Sweden and Norway. Our winters are wet and windy, but they’re mild, and the cold snaps don’t last long.
Should I get air source or ground source?
Air source is the unit you see on the outside wall. It costs less to put in and suits most houses. Ground source runs pipes under the garden or down a borehole. It costs more to install, but it runs more efficiently and makes almost no noise.
A lot of rural houses in Donegal have the land for ground source, and that can tip the balance. We fit both, and we’ll tell you which makes sense for your site.
My house is right on the coast. Is that a problem?
It isn’t, but it does affect the choice. Salt air and wind are hard on anything left outside. On an exposed site we look at where an air source unit can sit out of the worst of it, and at units with extra corrosion protection. A ground source system keeps everything indoors, which is one reason it suits houses facing straight out to the Atlantic.
Will it work in an older house?
Often it will. A heat pump works best in a house that holds its heat, and in an older house that can mean some insulation or draught-proofing first. A technical assessment shows what’s needed. Some old houses are ready as they are. Others need work first, and that work can qualify for its own grants.
Can I replace my oil boiler with one?
Yes. Swapping out oil is the most common job we do. The heat pump connects to your existing heating, and sometimes we change a few radiators for bigger ones so the house heats properly at a lower temperature. Taking out an oil boiler can also qualify for extra grant support.
Do I need underfloor heating?
No. Underfloor gets the most out of a heat pump because it runs cooler, but radiators work well too. If you’re building or doing a big renovation, though, underfloor is worth putting in while the floors are up.
I’m building or rebuilding. When should I talk to you?
At the design stage, if you can. Planning the heat pump in from the start is cheaper and easier than fitting it afterwards, because the pipe runs, radiators or underfloor and the hot water cylinder can all be designed together. Architects and self-builders are welcome at the showroom.
Are there grants?
There are, and they cover a large part of the cost, with extra for radiator or underfloor upgrades and for taking out an old boiler. The amounts change from time to time, so check the current heat pump grants here . We have someone in the office who works only on heat pump grant applications, so you won’t be doing the paperwork yourself.
Can I see one running before I decide?
You can. The showroom in Newtowncunningham has working heat pumps on display, and it’s open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. You don’t need an appointment.
Why go with a Donegal installer?
Because we’re here when something needs looking at, not a day’s drive away. We’ve been in business since 2009, fitted the first Ecoforest heat pump in Ireland and are now the only Ecoforest distributor in the country . We train heat pump engineers at our own academy in Newtowncunningham, and we handle the grants from the first form to the final payment.
Book a free home survey , or call into the showroom and see one working.