Daikin heat pumps work by utilizing a refrigerant to absorb energy from the outdoor air or ground and transferring it indoors for heating and hot water. In cooling mode, the process is reversed, and heat is removed from indoors and expelled outside, providing cool air.
Yes, Daikin heat pumps are designed to operate effectively in cold climates. They utilize advanced defrosting features and are engineered to provide efficient heating even when outdoor temperatures drop significantly. We have installed Daikin heat pumps across Scotland for over 15 years, so you can be assured your system will work year round to keep you and your family warm.
Daikin heat pumps are known for their energy efficiency. They use advanced technologies like inverter compressors and variable-speed fans to optimize performance and reduce energy consumption, resulting in lower utility bills.
Daikin heat pumps are considered environmentally friendly and can significantly reduce your carbon footprint. They use refrigerants with low global warming potential, and their energy-efficient operation helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional heating and cooling systems.
Yes, Daikin heat pumps are compatible with various smart home systems, allowing you to control the heating, or cooling from anywhere. Your system can be connected to Wi-Fi networks, enabling remote control and monitoring via smartphone apps or integration with voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant, making operating your new system easy.
With proper installation and regular maintenance, Daikin heat pumps can have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years or more. Regular servicing, including filter cleaning, refrigerant checks, and component inspections, can help maximize their longevity. At the Natural Energy Company we offer you a maintenance contract following your installation to ensure your system remains as efficient as possible. It is worth noting that your Daikin warranty does require a maintenance contract to be in place.
Once installed, you can register your Daikin heat pump system for a free 5-year Parts & Labour Daikin End User Warranty, provided an annual maintenance contract is in place for the 5 year term. As a Daikin Sustainable Home Centre our customers also have the option to upgrade to a 7-Year Warranty with Daikin at an additional cost. The system, once installed, will also have 2 years labour and workmanship Warranty supported by The Natural Energy Company. Warranty commences when power is provided to the system
Currently, homeowners can apply for £7,500 cashback grant towards a heat pump installation, which can really help with the cost of an install.
In total, you can borrow £15,000 in the form of an interest free loan from Home Energy Scotland (who are funded by the Scottish Government) with £7,500 of the loan balance being cleared by the Scottish Government as cashback. They are also offering additional support under the Rural Uplift scheme if your property is in a rural or island location. The funding is in place for the financial year and is not means tested, meaning you don’t have to be receiving benefits to apply. They have advised however, that it is only available until the 'pot runs dry'. If it is something you are considering, then it is worth contacting them at the early stages of considering a heat pump for your home.
Heat pumps can be suitable for a wide range of properties in Scotland, but their suitability does depend on various factors. Certain models are best suited for new build homes, but that doesn’t mean your older traditional home can’t have a heat pump that not only works in heating your home, but works efficiently.
As part of your enquiry, we will complete a full heat loss calculation and tailor-made design for your property to determine the correct model and system set up for your home and typical usage. The model, size and capacity of the heat pump must be appropriately matched to your property's heating and cooling load, and every home is different. We also need to consider whether the radiators or the underfloor heating system in your home are suitably sized for the heat loss of the space, if not these may need to be upgraded.
It may be that, as part of your project, we would recommend some other improvements prior to the Heat Pump being installed, to improve it’s efficiency, such as additional insulation to reduce the heat loss of your home.
We will always be honest and transparent with you about the right option for your home. In rare cases it may be that the heat loss figure of your home does make it unsuitable for a heat pump alone due to the size and age of the building. For example the restrictions on Listed Buildings may make reducing your heat loss figure very difficult as you would need to seek planning permission for the upgrades. Whilst the goal is to reduce our environmental impact by moving away from fossil fuel heating completely, it may be that we need to consider a Hybrid Heat pump or a Bivalent set up for those few homes that can’t be supported by a Heat Pump alone.
The short answer is yes, we do. So if you are considering a Ground Source Heat Pump, please do get in touch, we would be delighted to help with your design.
The longer answer is that whilst we do offer Ground Source, Air Source Heat Pumps have improved substantially over time, making them often the best recommendation.
Firstly, the lower installation costs of Air source heat pumps, compared to ground source, make it a much more economical investment for most properties. Whilst in previous years the additional cost could be justified by the difference in efficiency of ground source over air source, technology has advanced with air source heat pumps meaning this may no longer be the case.
Air source heat pumps also typically have significantly lower installation costs compared to ground source heat pumps. Ground source heat pumps require excavation and installation of ground loops or boreholes, which can be more expensive and complex. These ground loops require large grounds to be installed – typically around triple the square meterage of your home, which is often not feasible. Air source heat pumps are therefore much more flexible and easier to install compared to ground source heat pumps. They can be retrofitted into existing buildings with relative ease, while ground source heat pumps may require more extensive modifications and disruption during installation.
It's important to note that ground source heat pumps do have their own advantages, such as more stable performance, especially in colder climates. The choice between air source and ground source heat pumps depends on various factors, including your property's characteristics, location, available space, budget, and climate conditions.
Whilst the goal is to reduce our environmental impact by moving away from fossil fuel heating completely, it may be that we need to consider a Hybrid Heat pump or a Bivalent set up for those few homes that can’t be supported by a Heat Pump alone.
A Hybrid heat pump – combining a heat pump with another heating source, such as a fossil fuel-based boiler or a traditional heating system. The hybrid heat pump system intelligently switches between the heat pump and the alternative heating source, depending on factors such as outdoor temperatures, energy prices, and system efficiency. It aims to provide the most efficient and cost-effective heating solution by dynamically adapting to the changing conditions.
A bivalent heat pump is a specific type of heat pump system that has two heat sources permanently integrated into a single unit. It typically combines a heat pump with a supplementary heating element, such as an electric resistance heater or a fossil fuel-based burner. The supplementary heating element is activated when the heat pump alone cannot meet the heating demand, typically during extremely low outdoor temperatures. The bivalent heat pump operates in one of two modes: heat pump mode or bivalent mode, depending on the outdoor temperature and heating load.
In summary, while both hybrid heat pumps and bivalent heat pumps involve the combination of different heat sources, a hybrid heat pump refers to a system that intelligently switches between different heat sources based on conditions, while a bivalent heat pump is a heat pump system with two heat sources permanently integrated and operates in different modes depending on various factors.
