Air source heat pumps are the energy source of the future for the home. As gas prices rise and the country aims to reach net zero for carbon emissions by 2050, this sustainable method of powering your domestic central heating is the obvious solution. Plus, the government is about to launch a grant for homeowners looking to install new heat pumps, so make sure you read this article about how air source heat pumps work.
What is an Air Source Heat Pump?
An air source heat pump takes the heat from outside your home and draws it into the property, powering your central heating and hot water. The ratio of the amount of energy it takes to power the pump versus the amount of heat it disperses makes it an efficient and environmentally friendly solution for your heating.
As you are generating your own renewable energy, this can save you a significant amount of money on your bills.
How it Works
Many people say that an air source heat pump works like a fridge in reverse. It uses a compressor to boost the heat of the air brought in from outside, rather than the fridge, which uses a compressor to turn the coolant from a liquid to a gas that cools the appliance down.
Here’s the process for an air source heat pump:
- The pump takes in the heat from the air and stores it in a refrigerant, which is a liquid. The hat turns this into a gas.
- The gas goes through a compressor, which adds more heat and then through a heat exchanger, where it heats cool air or water which runs through your heating system.
- The heat flows through your central heating, warming your radiators, underfloor heating and anything else connected.
- Any heat left over is used to heat your hot water cylinder, which feeds your sinks, baths, showers and more.
There are air to air heat pumps and air to water heat pumps. Most of those in the UK are air to water, meaning the pump heats up water that flows through your central heating. If you currently have a gas boiler, this is how your central heating works, just with a different energy source for heating it.
Advantages of an Air Source Heat Pump
- Heat in the air is a sustainable energy source, unlike gas, coal and many others that are common in heating systems across the UK. We will not run out of air, and an air source heat pump can extract warmth even on a cold day. In fact, our heat pumps can continue to provide central heating when the outside temperature reaches as low as -20°C.
- Air source heat pumps are quiet and efficient, meaning that they sit there, getting on with the job, without you having to worry about a noisy mechanism kicking in when you require warmth.
- They take up very little outside space, meaning that you can enjoy the benefits of an air source heat pump in most urban environments. They are also suitable for a range of different property types, so wherever you live, you could be taking advantage of this innovative device.
- For the amount of heat and hot water you receive, you use relatively little electricity, making a heat pump an efficient and, therefore, environmentally friendly heat source. In fact, it is estimated that the average home could save up to 35% per annum in energy costs with a heat pump.
- Once installed, an air source heat pump requires little maintenance and will usually enjoy a long service life, heating your home sustainably.
If you want to find out more, contact us today to talk about your requirements.
