I have been researching various topics in preparation for a major home renovation project and one aspect I am currently planning to include is to replace a traditional gas boiler with an ASHP.
My house is about 140 years old, detached with solid brick walls. I therefore plan to also fit internal wall insulation and in order to minimise the thickness I am planning to use combined plasterboard/aerogel as the solution. Whilst this will not provide as much impact as either external wall insulation or traditional thicker rigid insulation panels it will provide the best solution for the thinnest approach although with a commensurate higher cost of course. I will be sticking with radiators although I will replace the current ones with newer, bigger ones.
I have also found some smart air bricks and I am considering fitting these as this would help retain heat under the ground floor from the pipes which feed the radiators.
I do however still have areas about ASHP I do not yet feel I know enough about yet.
- Am I right in thinking that the outdoor unit heats water which is stored in a water tank which is then circulated around either radiators or of course underfloor heating, rather than directly circulating hot water? (A traditional boiler circulates hot water direct to the radiators.)
- Am I also right in thinking the same hot water tank is used for supplying hot water to taps and showers?
- As ASHP have a reputation of taking a long time to heat up a house would this then also mean a problem in supplying sufficiently hot water to a shower?
- What if any options are their for smart home heating controls and ASHP? Is there any point to this? (There is for traditional boilers.)
- What ASHP brands are friendliest for smart home implementations?
- Do the hot water tanks sold by ASHP brands all support also linking to STP - Solar Thermal Panels i.e. hot water from the roof?
- Would this boost the performance of the system and be worthwhile?