No outdoor fan unit
Quiet operation with the main heat pump plant located indoors.
Sustainable comfort. Greener futures.
Ground Source Heat Pumps
Highly efficient heating systems using stable ground temperatures, designed for suitable homes, larger properties and new build projects.
Site suitability, collector design, plant space and low-temperature heating reviewed together.
MCS Certified
Quality. Safety. Trust.
RECC Member
Consumer protection you can trust
Manufacturer Training
Expertise you can rely on
Open System Design
Flexible, efficient, future ready
Support & Maintenance
Here when you need us
Why choose a ground source heat pump?
Ground source is a higher-value route where the site, collector design and heating specification all need to make sense together.
The strongest results come from early design work: land availability, collector type, heat loss, emitters, hot water and plant space reviewed as one complete system.
Stable year-round performance
Uses the relatively consistent temperature of the ground.
Excellent for larger properties
Well suited to bigger homes, rural plots and new build projects.
Long-term efficiency
Higher upfront work, but strong performance when designed correctly.
Collector options
Borehole or ground loop?
The right collector is not a style choice. It depends on land, access, ground conditions, budget, heating demand and the wider project plan.
Horizontal Ground Loops
Best where there is enough outdoor space for trenches or collector loops.
- More land required
- Suited to larger plots
- Groundworks planned around the project
Vertical Boreholes
Ideal where land is limited, subject to site access, design and ground conditions.
- Less surface area
- Specialist drilling access
- Ground conditions reviewed first
How it works
From stable ground temperature to low-temperature comfort.
A ground source heat pump circulates fluid through buried collector pipework, gathers heat from the ground, then transfers it into an indoor heat pump, cylinder and heating system.
Ground loop or borehole
Collector pipework absorbs low-grade heat from the ground.
Indoor heat pump unit
The heat pump raises the temperature for the water circuit.
Hot water cylinder
Cylinder and controls are sized around demand.
UFH or radiators
Low-temperature emitters deliver steady comfort.
Smart controls
Settings keep comfort, flow temperature and efficiency aligned.
A ground source project is won or lost in the design: collector length, heat loss, flow temperatures, plant space and commissioning all have to line up.
Site suitability
Is a ground source heat pump right for your property?
Ground source systems are best assessed around land availability, machinery access, property heat loss, heating emitters, hot water demand and project budget.
Good fit
Projects where the collector and plant can be planned early.
- New builds
- Larger plots
- Rural homes
Needs checking
Ground source is site-led, so access and practical constraints matter.
- Land access
- Groundworks
- Borehole feasibility
AquaTherma review
The heating design and collector route are assessed together.
- Heat loss
- Collector options
- Full specification
Ground source project routes
Ground source is a considered purchase, so the page needs to show the kind of projects where it can make sense.
Ground source reviewLarge rural home
Ground source route reviewed around land access, heat loss, hot water demand and low-temperature heating.
Ground source reviewNew build property
Efficient heating and hot water design suited to early-stage specification and underfloor heating.
Ground source reviewLarger renovation
Collector feasibility, cylinder space, emitters and controls checked before committing to the system route.
Ground source questions
Answers to the site, budget and collector questions that make ground source different from air source.
Not sure whether the site is suitable?
Send us the plot details, plans or project stage and we will advise the best review route.
Send site detailsDo I need a large garden?+
Not always. Horizontal ground loops need enough outdoor space for trenches, while vertical boreholes can suit tighter sites subject to access, ground conditions and drilling feasibility.
What is the difference between boreholes and ground loops?+
Horizontal loops are laid in trenches across available land. Boreholes are drilled vertically and can reduce the land area required, but they need specialist access, ground assessment and drilling work.
Is ground source better than air source?+
It depends on the property and budget. Ground source can deliver very strong seasonal efficiency and avoids an outdoor fan unit, but it usually involves more upfront design, collector work and installation cost.
How disruptive is the installation?+
The disruption depends on the collector route. Horizontal loops involve trenching, while boreholes involve drilling. AquaTherma will assess access, land, plant location and project timing before recommending a route.
Can it work with underfloor heating?+
Yes. Underfloor heating is often an excellent partner for ground source systems because it can provide comfortable heat at low flow temperatures.
Is it suitable for existing homes?+
It can be, especially on larger plots or renovation projects, but the existing heat loss, radiators, cylinder space, ground access and budget all need careful review.
Do you handle the design and specification?+
Yes. AquaTherma can review heat loss, emitter design, cylinder requirements, collector options, controls and the full heating specification.
Related design-led services
Useful next pages for making a ground source project work as a complete low-temperature heating system.
Underfloor Heating (UFH)
Comfortable, efficient UFH design and supply for private clients, housebuilders and heating engineers.
Explore service
System Design and Specification
Clear, practical system design for heat pumps, UFH, MVHR, controls and open-system performance.
Explore service
Servicing and Maintenance
Practical servicing for air and ground source heat pumps, UFH systems, cylinders, filters, settings and system health.
Explore serviceReady to review a ground source route?
Share the plot, plans, property size or project stage and AquaTherma will advise whether ground source is worth exploring.