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A ground source heat pump, sometimes referred to as a ground-to-water heat pump, transfers heat from the ground outside your home or business to heat your underfloor heating or radiators. It can also heat water stored in a hot water cylinder for your hot taps and showers.

Almost anyone, provided that they are in the right geology can have a GSHP borehole.

Yes, provided the geological conditions permit the drilling of boreholes. We have completed boreholes in basements and also installed them under buildings prior to construction.

It is perfectly possible to have a GSHP borehole system at an older property and the system can be linked to radiators as well as underfloor heating.

The savings vary depending on the existing heat source. A GSHP system is low maintenance and can add value to your property. A GSHP can also reduce your carbon footprint. As part of any proposal we can estimate the reduction in your carbon footprint.

At the surface you normally wouldn't see anything as the top of the borehole is buried.

It will depend on the size of the property, for a 3 bed dwelling you will require approximately 3m x 1m of floor space.

This depends on how much heat loss there is from your building, what kilowatt your system is and the geology below the site. The bigger the property, the more boreholes you are likely to need.

This can depend on design, however, boreholes usually need to be over 10 metres apart in order to maximise the efficiency of the heat pump system.

Our purpose-built geothermal rigs can fit through 5ft gaps and work in an area of approximately 5 parking spaces per borehole.

We use rotary drilling rigs and drill using compressed air or mud flush with drilling fluids.

Not usually. However, each site should be assessed individually. There are sometimes drilling restrictions from the Environment Agency, local planning departments and London Underground. We can check this for you and complete any necessary paperwork.

Probes are used to extract heat from the geology and transfer it into the system.

We use Probes manufactured from PE100 virgin grade High Performance Polyethylene Pipes (HPPE) with a Probe tip factory fitted and welded in accordance with SKZ HR3.26 test regulations. Each probe is metre marked to ensure the correct depths are achieved.

The average depth of borehole probes is 100 metres but depending on the nature of the site they can go as deep as 200 metres. It is essential that the correct number of probes are installed.

The geology is assessed at each site and the most appropriate grouting used. This ensures that maximum efficiency is achieved from your borehole. Thermally enhanced grout can be up to 3 times more conductive than cheaper grouts in certain geologies.

No, these systems need to be kept separate. However, they may be able to be installed on the same site. In larger projects an open loop system may be used for the heat source which uses the ground water and re-injects it back into the geology. An abstraction licence would be required from the Environment Agency if over 20,000 litres is used per 24 hour period.

For your complete peace of mind, Nicholls Boreholes and Ground Source offer an ongoing Service and Maintenance Agreement for your GSHP. This would usually occur annually.

Yes, for a domestic GSHP borehole, but not for commercial usage. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides £6,000 for installing a GSHP provided certain criteria are met. Email or call us now on 01403 820750 Option 2 for more information.

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Almost anyone provided that they are in the right geology can have a water borehole.

Yes, we have installed waterwell borehole systems in towns. Each project would need to be reviewed individually.

If you use 20 cubic metres per day you may be able to reduce your annual costs by over £11,000 per year.

Usually a 600x600 GRP box.

We review the geology along with existing boreholes and on some occasions we contact a specialist Water Dowser.

Usually, but not always. We test the water after installation and can supply and install the appropriate filtration if necessary.

Not usually. Anyone is allowed to extract up to 20,000 litres per day without a licence or a charge. If you do want to extract more than this, you will have to get an abstraction licence from the Environment Agency. The Nicholls Licensing Team can help you with this. Contact Jeff Reid and his team on 01403 820750 (option 3).

This depends on the geology of the site and can vary from 10-350 metres.

When the job is completed we offer you an ongoing maintenance contract for your complete peace of mind.

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Yes we can drill in your garden, so long as we can get our equipment in there – our smallest rig can access through a gap of just 1.5m. We require approximately the same area as six car parking spaces to undertake the work.

Drilling boreholes does create a certain amount of spoil/debris. At Nicholls we have developed some extremely effective solutions to reduce the impact.

This depends on the geology of the site and can vary from between 10-300m. Please discuss this with us, call Mark Aylwin and his team on 01403 820750 (option 2).

Our purpose-built geothermal rig can fit through 5ft gaps and work in an area of approximately six car parking spaces per borehole.

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We recommend that all systems are serviced at least annually to ensure optimum performance and lifespan.

This can vary depending on the type of system installed and the amount of filtration that is required. We would be happy to discuss service plans with you. Please contact Barbara Bolitho our Service Coordinator on 01403 820750 (option 2).

We are able to cover servicing across the South East.

Usually, but not always. Your system would be assessed. Please feel free to contact Alina Cornea our Installation Coordinator to discuss on 01403 820750 (option 2).

Need help with something specific?

We are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding your project. Please call us on 01403 820750.

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