The owners of this 500-year-old, four-bedroom thatched cottage in Carlton, Bedfordshire, had been searching for a better way to keep the property warm through the colder months, from late autumn through winter and into spring.

While the house stayed pleasantly cool during the summer, it was particularly cold at other times of the year. The existing heating system was clearly not fit for purpose and was not properly geared towards the needs of the home. As with many owners of older properties, they were naturally sceptical about whether an air source heat pump could really cope with the demands of a thatched cottage of this age and character.

‍

Following a number of discussions and meetings, the owners came to understand that an air source heat pump should not be viewed in the same way as a traditional boiler. Instead, the approach was centred around the specific requirements of the property and what would be needed to heat it properly.

Cost was a factor in the decision, but after taking the available discount into account, the owners decided to proceed with a SmartMist Renewables installation. The project proved to be a trickyone and took six days to complete, but the system was installed with care and professionalism throughout by the three-man installation team.