Quick answer
Aberdeen is built largely from granite, which loses heat faster than brick or harled walls, so an accurate heat loss calculation is critical. Rural Aberdeenshire has many oil-heated farmhouses and steadings that are strong candidates for a heat pump. A proper survey covers the outdoor unit position, electrical supply and radiator sizing.
Aberdeen and the surrounding shire have distinctive granite housing, rural oil-heated properties and a cold North Sea climate. Each factor affects how a heat pump is designed and sized, and a proper survey accounts for all of them.
Aberdeen is known as the Granite City, and many of its terraces, tenements and villas are built from solid grey granite. Granite is denser than sandstone and conducts heat readily, so solid granite walls can lose heat faster than cavity walls. This makes the room-by-room heat loss calculation especially important, and some rooms may need larger radiators or insulation improvements to work well at lower flow temperatures. The surveyor measures each room individually rather than relying on floor area estimates.
Beyond the city, much of Aberdeenshire is rural, with farmhouses, steadings and cottages heated by oil or LPG. These properties are often excellent candidates for a heat pump, since replacing oil with a heat pump usually offers a better running cost comparison than replacing mains gas. The survey covers oil tank decommissioning, the electrical supply capacity, and whether the incoming supply needs to be upgraded for the heat pump load.
Aberdeen is one of the colder cities in Scotland, with North Sea winds bringing wind chill to coastal and hillside homes. The cold-day design temperature used in the heat loss calculation is lower here than in the Central Belt, which affects the heat pump size. The outdoor unit should be sited with shelter from the worst easterly winds, and the surveyor checks this as part of the design.
Many Aberdeen suburbs are permitted development, but conservation areas in the city centre and Old Aberdeen may require a planning application. In rural Aberdeenshire, listed farm steading conversions and buildings in conservation areas need permission. The surveyor checks what applies to your property before any work is planned.
Yes, but granite loses heat faster than cavity walls, so the heat loss calculation is critical. You may need larger radiators or insulation improvements for the heat pump to run efficiently. The survey measures each room and tells you exactly what is needed.
Yes, oil-heated farmhouses are often excellent candidates. The running cost comparison is more favourable than against mains gas, and the survey covers oil tank decommissioning, electrical supply and outdoor unit siting. Steading conversions may need planning permission if listed.
Aberdeen has a lower cold-day design temperature than the Central Belt, so the heat pump may need to be slightly larger. The surveyor uses the correct local design temperature in the heat loss calculation, so the system is sized for the coldest day you will actually experience.
SSEN covers Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Your installer notifies them before the heat pump is connected. If the incoming supply needs upgrading, this is identified at survey stage.
Many Aberdeen suburbs are permitted development, but conservation areas in the city centre and Old Aberdeen may require a planning application. Listed buildings always need listed building consent. The surveyor checks your address and tells you in writing.
Reviewed by the Scottish Energy Efficiency team.
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