External Building - Extending ASHP vs Infra-Red Heating
Hi,
I'm after some insights/advice into how best to heat an external building that I use as a studio workspace.
The building is a brick-built 9.44m2 (2.5m Height, 1.93m Wide, 4.89m Length) structure that was refurbished last year to modern building standards, with insulated floor, ceilings and apex roof.
It is located approx 12-13m away from our main house.
The outbuilding is currently heated by 2 x Herschel Select XLS 400watt Infrared Panel Heaters which are connected to smart thermostats which we can turn on/off as needed.
Without the infrared heating turned on (and during the current cold-snap, with 0c external temperature here in Newcastle-upon-Tynet, UK) the temperature inside the outbuilding will drop to around 6c.
Our challenge is, that while the outbuilding is used a few times per week, but not in continuous use, the infra-red heating takes around 40mins to raise the temperature by 1c -- so to bring the building up to habitable warmth can take hours.
Our main house is heated by a recent installed Daikin Altherma Low Temperature Monobloc 4kW Air Source Heat Pump (EDLA04E2V3) which works really well.
My questions are...
1. Is it worth exploring extending the existing house ASHP heating to incorporate the outbuilding, so the outbuilding is kept at a stable temperature and always ready to use?
2. Or, is it more cost-effective to leave the Infrared heating on at a lower temperature, so that the outbuilding can quickly be warmed to a habitable temperature when needed.
Any advice and thoughts are most welcome. 🙂
Regards,
Richard Tubb.
Posted by: @weoleyricHi,
I'm after some insights/advice into how best to heat an external building that I use as a studio workspace.
The building is a brick-built 9.44m2 (2.5m Height, 1.93m Wide, 4.89m Length) structure that was refurbished last year to modern building standards, with insulated floor, ceilings and apex roof.
It is located approx 12-13m away from our main house.
The outbuilding is currently heated by 2 x Herschel Select XLS 400watt Infrared Panel Heaters which are connected to smart thermostats which we can turn on/off as needed.
Without the infrared heating turned on (and during the current cold-snap, with 0c external temperature here in Newcastle-upon-Tynet, UK) the temperature inside the outbuilding will drop to around 6c.
Our challenge is, that while the outbuilding is used a few times per week, but not in continuous use, the infra-red heating takes around 40mins to raise the temperature by 1c -- so to bring the building up to habitable warmth can take hours.
Our main house is heated by a recent installed Daikin Altherma Low Temperature Monobloc 4kW Air Source Heat Pump (EDLA04E2V3) which works really well.
My questions are...
1. Is it worth exploring extending the existing house ASHP heating to incorporate the outbuilding, so the outbuilding is kept at a stable temperature and always ready to use?
2. Or, is it more cost-effective to leave the Infrared heating on at a lower temperature, so that the outbuilding can quickly be warmed to a habitable temperature when needed.
I would say its difficult to say. However 12m is a long way to run pipes, particularly if you decide to go underground (which you probably want to to get better insulation). As you use it relatively rarely, it may well cost more to keep it constantly warm even with the efficiency gain of an ashp, and definitely the case with the IR heaters - so I definitely wouldn't leave these on all the time.
TBH I would be tempted to get a fan heater so you can quickly bring the air up to temp, or buy a small self install air to air ASHP for the outbuilding alone. Heating the air only for the occasional use may well be a better bet than trying to heat the fabric. I dont know if you can get heated office chairs to sit on though
4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.
@jamespa Thanks for the advice, and I wasn't aware that self-installed ASHP existed! Are there any you'd recommend?
I forget to mention that I have an Air Conditioning unit (a Toshiba RAS-B13J2KVG-E 45W) in the outbuilding, that can also heat. I could use that to quickly bring the temperature up if necessary -- I've always been reluctant to as I'd assumed it was far less efficient than Infra-Red Heating or ASHP.
Posted by: @weoleyric@jamespa Thanks for the advice, and I wasn't aware that self-installed ASHP existed! Are there any you'd recommend?
I forget to mention that I have an Air Conditioning unit (a Toshiba RAS-B13J2KVG-E 45W) in the outbuilding, that can also heat. I could use that to quickly bring the temperature up if necessary -- I've always been reluctant to as I'd assumed it was far less efficient than Infra-Red Heating or ASHP.
An Aircon unit is an air to air heat pump. I think you already have all you need. A2A should get you good cop so should save relative to the ir heater.
4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.
- 26 Forums
- 2,158 Topics
- 47.4 K Posts
- 42 Online
- 5,736 Members
Join Us!
Podcast Picks
Latest Posts
-
RE: Is Your Broadband Router the Weak Link in Your High-Tech Home?
It's the UK Government who want to set your heating sch...
By Transparent , 24 minutes ago
-
RE: Humming sound on new install.
@jamespa this is the third attempt to sort the flexis a...
By AdamK , 27 minutes ago
-
I agree with @jamespa. If you are not using the tank ...
By Old_Scientist , 2 hours ago
-
RE: Is a Valliant Inline 6kW heater a BUS buster?
Much of that is true in principle, but its not likely t...
By JamesPa , 15 hours ago
-
RE: Heat Pump Servicing & Maintenance – Good Value or Rip-Off?
@dgclimatecontrol I attach the responses from 2 potenti...
By pash44pump , 19 hours ago
-
I didn't want to say that, bus since you have said it n...
By JamesPa , 19 hours ago
-
RE: Midea ASHP – how to set weather compensation
Mostly, I think, but with some caveats. I set the TI...
By cathodeRay , 21 hours ago
-
RE: Buffers, hot water and cooling
@dgclimatecontrol thanks, that's helpful.
By JamesPa , 2 days ago
-
RE: Failing heat pump system - seeking thoughts on a rebuild
I realise im overdue an update on my situation. first...
By Cleardene-ashp , 2 days ago
-
RE: Replacing Worcester oil boiler with an ASHP
@toodles thanks. I was told by the engineer that this h...
By JulianC , 2 days ago
-
RE: Who’s Caved and Switched the Heating On Already?
@allyfish Dogs have owners - Cats keep staff. You are o...
By Toodles , 2 days ago
-
RE: What crazy nonsense are inverter limits and why are they imposed?
A week later, I'm finally picking up this comment... ...
By Transparent , 2 days ago
-
RE: COP is not the only measure of efficiency
We keep all our TRVs fully open using the whole house a...
By Old_Scientist , 2 days ago
-
RE: Havenwise App Help & Forum Support – Get the Most from Your Heat Pump
I am pleased to say at 4pm today we have added another ...
By ASHP-BOBBA , 3 days ago
-
RE: Renewables & Heat Pumps in the News
To unpack this a little.... 1) how many of us in this...
By Lucia , 3 days ago
-
RE: Vaillant aroTherm Plus 10kW thoughts?
@realevil the fans and fan speed / coil size (height, w...
By ASHP-BOBBA , 4 days ago
-
RE: Mitsubishi Ecodan 11kw Defrosting Issue.
@morgan this can just be done by your sepecilist when t...
By ASHP-BOBBA , 4 days ago
-
RE: Anyone still weathering it out with Agile?
@toodles I guess it all comes down to import averages. ...
By Tim441 , 4 days ago
-
RE: 300 Liter Tank - Do I have to heat it all?
The size of DHW tank affects the anti-legionella cycle....
By Transparent , 4 days ago