Updating post from Reddit.
As above
This should make it easier to install heat pumps, including air to air heat pumps in terraced housing. My parents (in a terraced house) can't exactly get an air to water heat pump, but they could get AC in reverse (air to air), which would decarbonise their heating, it not their water
It also means that for me in my semi detached house, I don't have to think about boundary lines any more too and fortunately my next door neighbour that is directly attached to me are just as "on board" with an ASHP too so it wouldn't be an issue regardless for me. My next door neighbour that is 1m away and isn't directly attached to me, is very anti EV, and very anti clean technology in general because apparently he needs to go to Cornwall 10 days in a week
But for thousands of others, especially those living next to say someone who's just spoon fed propaganda from the daily mail, they may well otherwise object to their neighbour installing an ASHP
As an aside, I would definitely recommend either getting a "heat geek" and/or a local installer from here
That way you're getting a COP of 4-5 in winter which makes it cost about the same price, if not a bit cheaper than gas. If however you have batteries, it can be considerably cheaper. Equally I would definitely make sure that the house is as insulated as possible before getting such a thing
For me, I have microbore piping so I figure "Screw it. It's best to rip it out anyway, so why not go for underfloor heating instead" This way I'd be creating perfect conditions for a heat pump, but it isn't necessary. After all, you shouldn't let good be the enemy of perfect
I know the noise is much lower in modern pumps but it'll be 'interesting' when two rows of terraced houses are all hummimg away together.
Came here to say that. The great British hum 🤦
It's fine. I live in a country with ex communist block housing (so brutalist multi storey architecture) where everyone has used AC for heating for a few decades now. Even multiple floors doesn't make a difference. You cannot hear it when it's more than 2m away.
So not 'collective' noise volume. Sorry about the pun! Seriously though is it not a product of all the machines at once? In the UK we have small gardens at the back of terraced houses. Can you sit in a quiet garden and not hear them together?
Inverters help keep it quieter.
Cost, and the fact they generate a worse EPC rating is still a huge stumbling block.
EPCs are also being overhauled which would favour hest pumps
https://www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk/blog/2024/10/01/epc-reform-consultation-expected-this-winter/
Cost however is indeed a genuine issue. The EPC thing shouldn't matter in a few months though
You mean mid-2026 at the earliest
This is great news for us, thanks for posting! Mad diesel-loving neighbour will no longer be able to prevent us upgrading our system.
every apartment and house in Europe has multiple of these and no one moans