What are Air Source Heat Pumps?
Air Source Heat Pumps are a low-carbon, renewable way of heating your home. They absorb latent heat from the outside air and use it to increase the temperature inside your home.
Air Source Heat Pumps come in a various range of sizes and models, often mistaken for air-conditioning units, but their use is different. Their size depends on the heat that is required for your home, the more heat, the bigger the heat pump.
The Air Source Heat Pump transfers heat from the outside air which is absorbed into a fluid. It boosts it to a higher temperature using a compressor which then passes through a heat exchange which raises the temperature and then transfers that heat to water.
It then provides heat to radiators or underfloor heating and provides domestic hot water, stored in a hot water cylinder for your hot taps, showers and baths.
What are the benefits?
- Reduced Fuel Bills. Save money on heating compared with older systems
- Reduce carbon emissions. Air Source Heat Pumps generate less CO2 than many conventional heating systems
- Heats your home and hot water
- More energy efficient than traditional systems
Would it Work For my Home?
When choosing to install an Air Source Heat Pump system into your home there are many factors that are considered. An existing heat source can be replaced with heat pumps. Depending on the system and property specifications, Air Source Heat Pumps can be integrated with existing heating systems.
Heat pumps can easily be connected to existing radiator systems to work more efficiently, however to optimise the system, it is best to install under floor heating as these require a lower level of heat over a longer period of time.
The following are taken into account when calculating how efficient an Air Source Heat Pump system will be:
- Property Insulation - The level of insulation will have an impact on the cost and energy efficiency offered by Air Source Heat Pumps. New build and newly renovated properties are therefore ideal for the installation of heat pumps.
- Current Heating System - Your current heating and hot water source also has an effect on the financial rewards of renewable heat systems. For example, if you are replacing an electric, liquid gas or solid fuel system with a heat pump, the financial benefits are likely to be reasonably high.
