Why use air heat pumps?

An air source heat pump can provide efficient heating and cooling for your home. When properly installed, an air source heat pump can deliver up to three times more heat energy to a home than the electrical energy it consumes. In order to achieve net zero by 2050, the UK government intends to install 19 million heat pumps in new construction. With the increase in the deployment of heat pumps, the UK government's heat pump grants make this renewable energy source even cheaper to operate and reduce the cost burden of the source heat pump.

Air source heat pumps have a long service life and, with the proper maintenance, can work up to 20 years. What's more, most air source heat pumps have 5-year warranties. With various technological developments, modern heat pumps can work efficiently for about 25 years before they need to be replaced. While air source heat pumps can operate at temperatures as low as -20°C, they lose efficiency below 0°C.

This is because they rely exclusively on outside air and because the temperature drops, so does the total heat production that the pump can produce. Air source heat pumps will work for most properties, but some will be better suited for air source heat pumps than others. Homes with good insulation and energy efficiency will save the most with air source heat pumps, as they will require less electricity overall to maintain warm or cold temperatures in the house. If you live in an old house or one that is simply not well insulated, you may want to start the process with an energy audit.

Simply put, an air source heat pump (ASHP) is a device that can move heat into or out of a space, heating or cooling it. The final disadvantage (if it could be considered as such) is the appearance of the air source heat pump, which tends to resemble an air conditioning unit. The existing heating and cooling system (or systems) in your home will influence whether air source heat pumps make sense, as well as how much you will save in the long run. These relationships change depending on the temperature of the air and also the temperature of the water that the heat pump is trying to produce.

The operating costs of heat pumps depend on several factors, from efficiency to the amount of heat needed and the temperature of the heat source. An air source heat pump requires an outdoor unit that contains moving mechanical components, including noise-producing fans. It is necessary to ensure that a house is well insulated to make the most of an air-source heat pump. The lower outlet temperatures of the heat pump would mean that the size of the radiators would have to be increased or a low-temperature underfloor heating system installed instead.

In temperate climates with an outdoor temperature of 10 °C (50 °F), the COP of efficient air source heat pumps ranges from 4 to 6.A heat pump with an air source is able to match the entire repertoire of a traditional gas boiler, but it does so with minimal electricity and little damage to the environment. The government also seems to recognize this, so it includes a grant for air source heat pumps in the RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive). For example, if you work from home and spend most of your time in one section of the house during the day, you can use zone heating and cooling with heat pumps or mini-partitions to heat and cool only the areas where you work during the day. Compressed liquid (now heated) releases stored heat and can be transferred throughout the house through normal heating systems such as radiators and underfloor heating.

We have a complete guide to the pros and cons of an air source heat pump versus a ground source heat pump that you can find here. However, there are a few things you should consider before deciding if a heat pump is right for you. .