Case study: Getting a heat pump when the only space is under the stairs
Have you considered getting a heat pump, but given up because you can’t find space for a hot water cylinder? We managed to fit a Sunamp Thermino – a space-saving alternative to a hot water cylinder – under the stairs in this 1930s end-of-terrace house.
Home Type
1930s end-of-terrace with 4 bedrooms
Location
Harrow -
North West London
Project Specifics
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Samsung 12kW air-to-water heat pump
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Upgraded mains pipe to improve shower flow
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Sunamp Thermino xPlus 300L fitted under stairs
The Challenge: No space for a hot water cylinder?
The customer wanted a heat pump, but did not have space for a hot water cylinder big enough for a 4-bedroom home with a growing family. The original hot water cylinder had been ripped out in the 90s to make way for a more spacious bathroom.
However, their gas combi boiler was now under the stairs, surrounded by hoovers, mops, shoes and winter coats. We managed to re-use this space to fit a space-saving Sunamp Thermino xPlus 300L heat battery, which stores energy from the heat pump and provides instant hot water for taps and baths.
We also planned to increase the size of their water supply pipe to allow both showers to be used at the same time.
The Solution
Step 1: Increasing flow to showers by upgrading the plumbing
Despite having a 25mm incoming mains water pipe, the original plumbers had reduced this down to 15mm, meaning that the shower would slow right down if someone starting washing up. With two showers and a growing family, the homeowner wanted to upgrade their plumbing to get the maximum flow possible.
They also wanted to move an existing water softener from under the kitchen sink, where it took up half the cupboard, to the lowest space underneath the stairs.
We upgraded the mains pipe to 22mm, more than doubling the flow rate to the showers. This required running new 22mm pipework from the kitchen to the understairs cupboard, and relocating the water softener under the lowest end of the stairs, freeing up valuable kitchen cupboard space. We also fitted a more plastic easy-turn stopcock, which will not seize (unlike traditional metal stopcocks).
Step 2: Fitting the heat pump
The homeowner didn’t want to lose any garden space, so we agreed to place the heat pump at the end of their patio, tucked away out of sight of the patio doors.
The pipework ran down the side alley, protected from bicycle pedals by strong black trunking.
Step 3: Fitting the Sunamp Thermino hot water heat battery under the stairs
The customer wanted to preserve space for storing shoes and a Henry hoover, so we positioned the Sunamp in the middle to leave the highest space under the stairs available for shelving.
After we finished installation, the customer built shelving around and above the unit (making sure that key parts were removable within 10 minutes, to allow access to the Sunamp if needed in the future).
In total, the space taken up by the Sunamp and pipework was around 1.5 times that taken up by the original boiler, and by moving the water softener from the kitchen cupboard to under the stairs, we freed up valuable space in the kitchen.
Ready to start the switch?
Want to discuss it first? Give us a call on 02080 50 40 30.