Heat pumps are often criticized for requiring extra room, but one home project showed the opposite. In that installation, a 12-kilowatt system was set up in a way that gave the homeowner the utility room back.

For households considering an upgrade, that space-saving benefit can also come with lower bills. A heat pump water heater, for example, typically uses much less electricity than a standard electric resistance unit, which can translate into savings depending on local energy prices and household usage.

Here's what to know

In a YouTube video, Lloyd's Gas & Renewables (@LloydsGasRenewables) walked viewers through a Vaillant aroTHERM Plus 12kW heat pump installation in which the heating and hot water equipment was relocated from the utility room to the garage.

The old boiler and hot water cylinder were removed, and the replacement system was tied into the house via underground pipework.

"We actually gained some additional space inside the property," the installer said. By shifting the equipment into the garage, the project opened up the utility room and turned the garage into a dedicated plant area.

The buried insulated connections carried hot and cold water, the heating circuit's flow and return, the secondary hot water return, and the heat pump's primary pipework. Including the primary flow and return, the creator said the installation used seven insulated underground pipes.

According to the walkthrough, the homeowner handled part of the site preparation by digging the trench and getting the base and soakaway ready for the outdoor unit. The creator described that work as "absolutely backbreaking stuff" but also said it can be "a good way to save money on an installation" for anyone willing to do the labor.

More background

The installation addresses a common concern about electrification: whether cleaner equipment will be hard to fit into an existing home.

The installer also said the new cylinder and associated components could have taken up less room than the old boiler-and-cylinder setup even if everything had remained in the utility room.

Heat pumps can help households cut pollution from home heating while reducing energy use, especially when older systems are due for replacement. This installation also illustrated how much the experience can depend on the way a system is laid out.

As part of checks performed in line with VDI 2035 guidance, the installer measured the system water and got a conductivity reading of 410 µS/cm and a pH of 7.2. Those numbers were presented as a starting point for monitoring water quality and corrosion risk as the system operates.

What can be done?

Placement flexibility matters just as much as equipment choice. Garages, utility rooms, and outdoor routing options can all affect the final result, and installation design may be worth discussing early with a contractor.

For homeowners specifically thinking about water heating, Cala makes customizable smart heat pump water heaters that can reduce energy bills by heating water when it's needed. That approach can cut wasted energy compared with conventional tanks that repeatedly heat water whether or not a household is using it. It also gives homeowners another way to pair electrification with practical monthly savings.

Whether the goal is freeing up a room, replacing aging equipment, or trimming utility costs, smart planning and products such as Cala can make the upgrade easier to live with.

"A heat pump installation doesn't necessarily mean losing valuable space inside your home," the installer concluded. 

Where can I learn more?

This project is a good reminder that every heat pump upgrade is shaped by the home itself, the local climate, and how a homeowner wants to make the switch. The articles below dig into those same questions, covering cold-weather performance, retrofit-friendly designs, and the tools and policies making more conversions possible.

• In sub-zero climates, homeowners are seeing lower bills while maintaining comfort with modern heat pumps.

• Quilt is building a next-generation heat pump system to simplify home conversions and controls.

• EnergySage gives homeowners their own expert energy adviser to compare installers and cut upgrade stress.

They make clear that freeing up space is just one piece of the puzzle. Real-world performance, installation support, and local rules can all affect how smoothly a heat pump upgrade fits into everyday life.

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