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Air source vs ground source heat pumps in the UK

How air source and ground source systems compare in real homes, including space, disruption and project complexity.

A broad system comparison, with survey-stage detail available in the air source heat pump survey guide, the ground source heat pump survey page, and the ASHP survey page. · Published: 12 March 2026 · 3 min read

Air source and ground source heat pumps both deliver low-carbon heating, but they are very different projects once the work starts.

Air source heat pumps

Usually lower upfront complexity
External unit and appropriate siting needed
Often suitable for a wide range of existing homes
Design still depends on good heat loss and emitter checks

Ground source heat pumps

Can offer stable performance, especially in suitable sites
Typically higher installation complexity
Ground loop or borehole requirements can be material
Site access and ground conditions become critical

How to choose

Most decisions come down to three things: site constraints, budget, and project timescale. A proper survey should clarify whether either route is practical before detailed design starts.

Practical use

How to use this page on a live job

Use this guide as a decision check, not as a generic reading page. The useful question is whether the evidence behind air source vs ground source heat pumps in the uk is strong enough for an installer, designer, or homeowner to move to the next step without another round of avoidable questions.

Before booking

Confirm what evidence is missing

For ashp survey evidence, the weak point is usually not the headline requirement. It is the missing photo, document, measurement, or site note that stops the next person from trusting the job record.

During survey

Capture the detail once, then label it properly

A survey report should show what was seen, what was measured, what could not be accessed, and what still needs a design or installer decision. That keeps assumptions visible instead of hiding them inside a photo set.

After delivery

Use the report to reduce internal handover friction

The office, design, and install teams should be able to open the same report and understand the evidence path. If the page helps you spot what to ask for before survey day, it has done its job.

For a live project, pair this guidance with the sample report, deliverables, and guide price builder so the job is reviewed against the same standard Vertex uses for survey delivery.

The practical test is whether the page changes what happens next on a real property. If it helps your team ask for the right evidence, avoid a weak assumption, or brief the surveyor more clearly before the visit, it is supporting the job rather than adding another generic resource to the pile.