Edinburgh — 1960s flat, balcony access only
Vaillant aroTHERM plus 5kW mounted on the flat's balcony, properly permitted.
(01) The building
This 1960s flat in Edinburgh came to us with an EPC rating of G — the lowest possible. The owners were caught in fuel poverty, spending a significant portion of their income just trying to keep warm, and still living in a cold, uncomfortable home. Many people assume heat pumps are only for houses with gardens. With no garden here, the only option was the balcony, which meant planning permission from the council before any work could start. The flat was also small, so every design decision had to earn its place.
(03) What we measured
Balcony was the only viable siting for the outdoor unit; planning permission secured before works began.
(04) What we did
We designed a system that would transform the flat's comfort and efficiency without eating into its limited floor space. Underfloor heating replaced radiators throughout, freeing up wall space while giving gentle, even heat that suits a heat pump's lower flow temperatures. A compact cylinder went into existing cupboard space, with supplementary radiators only where heat loss is highest — the bathroom and bedroom.
Underfloor heating manifold and screed installation.
Compact 210L cylinder fitted into the existing airing cupboard.
(05) What it does now
“We'd been told heat pumps don't work in flats, but Hearth Energy showed us it was possible. The flat used to be freezing and expensive to heat. Now it's warm all winter and our bills are a fraction of what they were.”
Sarah T.
(06) What we'd do differently
[Ask Robin — one honest line, required on every record]
A lived-in room in the flat, post-installation.