Need some advice? - 01293 821 345 - consult@iso.co.uk

Ground and air source heat pumps have been successfully installed in a wide variety of properties for over a decade in the UK, with an even longer history throughout other countries in Europe. Despite this, there is a general feeling that heat pump technology can be unreliable and problematic. We are increasingly coming across sites where the heat pump unit has suffered a compressor failure, having been in constant operation for the last six or seven years. This does not mean that the technology itself is poor and although every site is different our experience shows that there are certain measures that can be taken in order to increase the longevity of the compressor.

Compressors are the main mechanical part of the heat pump, and therefore almost invariably undergo the largest amount of stress. They undergo maximum strain when starting up and stopping. Historically, heat pump systems that were installed relied on the volume of water in the heating distribution system to minimise the number of times that the compressor would start and stop every hour. It has now become commonplace for installers to add a buffer tank to ensure that compressor operation can be controlled more effectively.

Owners whose heat pump feeds directly to their heating system, or whose system control has been set up incorrectly, should therefore take steps in order to minimise the stress on the compressor. We treat each site individually and will advise on what this course of action should be – whether the control settings need to be changed, flow temperatures altered or if the owner should consider changing their heating regime. There is plenty that can be done to prevent compressor failure, ensuring that the right option is taken is the key! We only supply replacement compressors of the highest quality as these are most beneficial to your system in the long term.

The worst case scenario comes when we attend sites where the compressor has already failed. Although we are able to replace broken compressors, there may be other options available. Prior to carrying out any work, we present these options and our recommendations to the system owner. The technological advances in the last decade mean that there may be a heat pump unit that is more suited to the property than the one that was originally installed. If this is the case, we could undertake a system redesign for you.

If you have concerns about the functionality of your heat pump compressor, feel free to contact us for free and impartial advice. Call 01293 821 345 or drop an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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