When Ben Perkins was building three three-storey houses and a bungalow on a new development in Westbury, Wiltshire, he hit an unexpected challenge that would ultimately lead him to the Alpha Hybrid Heating System. As the homes had been designed with gas boiler systems, the SAP assessor advised that solar PV panels would need to be added to comply with Part L of the Building Regulations.
However, this change would cause a major problem. The solar panels would need to be located in the same place the rooflights were due to be positioned. Without the rooflights, the bedrooms would have no natural daylight. Relocating them to the opposite roof slope, however, would require a new planning application, delaying the project.
The alternative was to reconsider the gas boilers. Ben turned to heating engineer Lee McClurg for advice. Lee suggested the Alpha Hybrid Heat Pump System, which combines an air source heat pump with a gas boiler to reduce carbon emissions while maintaining the convenience of a familiar heating system. This satisfied the SAP requirements, eliminating the need for solar panels.
The hybrid system also proved to be the more cost-effective option. It was significantly cheaper to install than solar PV and cost around a third of the price of a standalone air source heat pump.
Installing the Alpha Hybrid Heating System
Although Lee has extensive experience installing air source heat pumps and gas boilers, this was his first Alpha Hybrid installation. Alpha’s technical team supported him throughout the process. He explains:
“Alpha has very good customer service. I install a lot of Alpha boilers and find my account manager, Andrew, very helpful. If I need technical support I either phone customer service for a quick response or for assistance on site I often call my local Alpha engineer direct and he usually comes the next day.
“For my first installation of the hybrid system one of the Alpha engineers, Patrick came to site to commission the system with me. He showed me how to set it up and answered the electrician’s questions. The system was very simple to install and when we turned it on for the first time the home was soon nice and warm.”
The houses have underfloor heating on the ground floor and radiators on the first and second floors. The compact 4kW outdoor units were installed at the front of each property. Lee and Ben took care to make the units as visually unobtrusive as possible, installing them on wall brackets and building surrounds to smarten their appearance.
One concern Ben had was that the homes’ residents would find the heat pumps noisy. However, those concerns were quickly put to rest. “We had to double check that the heat pump was turned on because the fan was so quiet we couldn’t hear it!”
The benefits of the Alpha Hybrid Heating System
Ben is impressed with the hybrid system: “I hadn’t heard about the hybrid heating system until Lee mentioned it, but it sounded like a good solution. The hybrids have now been installed and they’re working really well – I’m impressed.
“The 4kW heat pumps are smaller than a standard 9kW heat pump so even though they’re on the front of the houses they’re not too obvious. I would definitely install them on other projects.”
Lee is also impressed with the system, saying: “I was surprised how good the system is. When I install air source heat pumps it can be difficult explaining to customers that they won’t be able to warm up their homes quickly. However, hybrids offer the best of both worlds. The heat pump works at a lower temperature but if the customer wants a higher temperature or immediate hot water, the boiler kicks in.
“The hybrid system meets everyone’s needs and, as most people are used to combi boilers, it’s easier for them to get used to. I’m really impressed. I’d recommend the hybrid and would absolutely fit the system again.”
The new homes are now in the final stages of completion and will soon be available to let, having met Part L requirements without compromising the original design or construction programme.
Contact us for more information on our hybrid heating solutions and the benefits of hybrid heating.