Case Study
All-Electric Bungalow Refurbishment Plumbing, Heating & Renewables Package
- Plumbing
- Heating
- Bathrooms
- Renewables
A complete plumbing and heating installation for the refurbishment of a three-bedroom detached bungalow, including underfloor heating, an air source heat pump and new services throughout.
Project Overview
The Brief
The client was carrying out a complete refurbishment of a three-bedroom detached bungalow and initially approached Biggs Heat Technologies for a new combination boiler and underfloor heating system.
The project also required new hot and cold-water services and drainage for the bathroom, en suite, kitchen and utility room, together with the associated first-fix and second-fix plumbing work.
After reviewing the proposed refurbishment, insulation improvements and the client’s plans for solar PV and battery storage, we identified a more suitable alternative to the original gas boiler specification.
The Challenge
The client had originally budgeted for a conventional combination boiler and had not considered that an air source heat pump could be suitable for the property.
However, the bungalow was being upgraded to meet modern insulation standards, significantly reducing its anticipated heat loss. Combined with underfloor heating, this made the property well suited to an efficient low-temperature heating system.
Our role was therefore not simply to install the system originally requested, but to provide clear, impartial advice and compare the technical, financial and environmental benefits of both options.
Quotation Comparison
Combination boiler package
£21,100 including VAT
Air source heat pump package
£13,633 after the available grant and applicable VAT treatment
Quoted project saving
£7,467
Our Solution
Biggs Heat Technologies designed and installed a complete all-electric plumbing, heating and hot-water system tailored to the refurbished property.
The works included:
- Installation of the complete underfloor heating system
- Coordination of the pumped screed installation over the UFH pipework
- Supply and installation of a 5kW Mitsubishi air source heat pump
- Installation of a 210-litre pre-plumbed unvented hot-water cylinder
- New domestic hot and cold-water services throughout
- First-fix plumbing for the bathroom, en suite, kitchen and utility room
- Installation of the associated waste and drainage pipework
- Second-fix installation of the bathroom, en suite, kitchen and utility
- System commissioning and performance evaluation
- Full client handover and operating guidance
Because Biggs Heat Technologies is MCS accredited, the client was able to access the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant available for the qualifying heat-pump installation.
The Result
The bungalow now operates as a fully electric property, with the former gas supply removed and heating and hot water provided by the air source heat pump.
The combination of improved insulation, low-temperature underfloor heating, solar PV and battery storage gives the client a coordinated system designed around the way the refurbished property will perform.
By reviewing the complete specification rather than simply installing the originally requested boiler, we were able to recommend a more appropriate renewable heating solution while reducing the quoted project cost by £7,467.
The completed project demonstrates the value of involving an experienced plumbing and heating contractor at an early stage, when the system design, available grants and wider refurbishment plans can all be considered together.
Project Gallery
Complete Support From Survey to Handover
This project demonstrates the broad range of services offered by Biggs Heat Technologies, from initial survey and system design through to plumbing, underfloor heating, renewable technology, commissioning and final handover.
By considering the property as a complete system, we were able to provide clear advice and deliver a tailored installation suited to the client’s home, budget and long-term requirements.