High‑Efficiency Air‑to‑Water Heat Pump Upgrade in Ivybridge

A modern renewable heating solution installed in a five‑bedroom Ivybridge home, replacing an ageing gas boiler with a highly efficient Daikin air‑to‑water heat pump system designed to improve comfort, reduce energy use, and future‑proof the property.

The homeowners of a five‑bedroom detached property in Ivybridge, Devon contacted us for advice on replacing their dated gas boiler and traditional radiator setup with a cleaner, more efficient renewable heating system. Built in the mid‑1980s, the house already benefited from cavity wall insulation, upgraded double glazing, and roof insulation—yet lacked insulation below floor level.

Their original heating configuration included a wall‑mounted gas boiler in the garage, a vented hot water cylinder, and a mixture of old and newer radiators. Cold water for the upstairs bathroom and cylinder was supplied via a loft tank, and each shower relied on its own booster pump.

After carrying out a detailed assessment, we recommended installing a Daikin low‑temperature split air‑to‑water heat pump system, consisting of an external unit paired with an indoor hydrobox positioned where the boiler once stood. Because heat pumps operate most efficiently at around 45°C, we upgraded the radiators and replaced the hot water cylinder to ensure optimum performance.

The property already enjoyed strong mains pressure, so we rerouted the cold water feeds to run directly from the incoming main supply. This allowed us to remove all the old shower pumps and completely decommission the loft tank—leaving the roof space dry and unused.

Our Technical Surveyor performed a full room‑by‑room heat loss evaluation to size the heat pump and radiators accurately. The external unit was installed on the side of the garage, directing airflow away from the house and down the garden, while also keeping pipe runs short between the unit and hydrobox.

A particular challenge was the engineered oak flooring on the ground floor, where existing radiator pipework emerged through the boards, limiting the range of radiator sizes we could select. Thankfully, high‑output triple‑convector radiators—available in standard dimensions but offering exceptional heat output—provided the ideal solution.

The homeowners shared their feedback after completion:

“We are delighted with our new heating system and the level of service throughout the installation. The team were friendly, tidy and took the time to explain how everything works. The biggest improvement has been the water pressure in our showers—no more noisy pumps first thing in the morning! We’re extremely happy with AMS and would gladly recommend them to friends and family.”

Mr & Mrs C. Ivybridge