Good advice

Good advice on heat pumps

• Choose a heat pump with the Energy Saving Label – your guarantee that it is very energy efficient.
• Choose an installer that is either registered under Denmark's heat pump VPO ("Varmepumpeordningen") installer scheme (link only in Danish), or an installer recommended by the producer or supplier. This ensures that the system is energy efficient, and properly rated and installed.
• Ask for several quotations for the installation. The offer should include burying the closed loop (geothermal system), the heat pump with type approval markings, pipework, and electrical work including the insulation of the pipework, building-related work in connection with the installation, the installation of any additional radiators necessary, set-up, and initial start-up and adjustment. Ensure that the offers are prepared on the same basis, so you can compare them. When choosing an installer, you will often also be choosing a particular producer, because many installers only install models supplied by one producer.
• Use Energy Solutions provided by the Danish Knowledge Centre for Energy Savings in Buildings to comply with the legal requirements. Read more here. (Link mostly in Danish)
• Heat pumps with the Energy Saving Label have a lifespan of at least 15 years. Heat pumps in Denmark are covered by a 2-year warranty. If suppliers offer additional guarantees, these should be provided in writing.
• When operating, heat pumps produce a small amount of noise. Geothermal heat pumps are therefore normally located in utility rooms or basements. Ensure that there is sufficient noise insulation in relation to other rooms. Your installer can help you to find a good place to put the system.
• Air to water heat pumps have an inside component and an external component. Avoid locating the external component directly outside the bedroom window or any other location where the noise can be a nuisance. The external component should not be located closer than 5-10 metres from the boundary to a neighbour. Your installer can help you to find a good place to put the system.
• In most cases, the installer will come to your home to get information on the size of the house, the existing heat and hot water consumption, etc. Please note that some installers will still send a token invoice for this work, in situations where they do not perform the task.
• Check the terms of your insurance policy before you install a heat pump. For example, it would be good to know whether you are covered in the event of a leak in the closed loop pipework buried under the ground.
• Some municipalities in Denmark can be a little slow processing the applications. So it is worth applying for permission to install a heat pump in plenty of time before you expect to commission the system.
  Remember that the pipework in a geothermal (water source) system should not be laid in periods when the ground is frost-bound. Start the project well before the onset of winter.