Air source heat pumps are suitable for people who do not have enough land or space to install a ground source heat pump. They work by heating your home with the energy absorbed from the outside air. This is a great renewable energy solution for heating your home all year round.
How do air source heat pumps work?
Air source heat pumps absorb the heat from the outside air in the same way a fridge extracts the heat from its inside. The heat taken from the outside air can then be used to heat radiators, under floor heating and for your hot water supply. These pumps can extract heat from the outside air at temperatures as low as -15oC.
Air heat pump benefits
By installing an air source heat pump at your property, you will enjoy a range of benefits, including:
- Heat pumps are a renewable energy solution, so you are eligible for funding with the Renewable Heat Incentive to help with installation costs and provide an income.
- Can heat and supply your home with hot water all year round.
- They require little maintenance – they can be left without much thought.
- Easier to install than a ground source heat pump, but the efficiencies may be lower than a ground source heat pump.
- They require no fuel, so you don’t need to store fuel or have fuel deliveries.
- They reduce your CO2 emissions because the air is naturally occurring.
- Fully automated controls on larger systems so you can control your air source heat pump from anywhere in the world.
- Due to the lower temperatures produced compared to a fossil-fuelled heating system air source heat pumps are great teamed up with under floor heating systems due to the lower temperature needed over a longer period.
Disadvantages of air source heat pumps
There are a handful of disadvantages to air source heat pumps, however, they are not considerable for air source heat pumps being ruled out for your renewable energy heating solution. The cons for air source heat pumps include:
- Air source heat pumps require electricity to work the pump, so you will not have a zero-carbon footprint unless you have a solar PV system you can connect it to.
- You need space outside your home or in your garden for the external air source pump unit to be installed.
Installation considerations, are they suitable for you?
Before installing your air source heat pump, you need to consider whether you have somewhere outside your home, such as a wall where your unit can go. It needs air space around it to ensure a good air supply. Also is your home well insulated and draught-proof? These pumps work best when they are producing heat at lower temperatures compared to a conventional boiler. Therefore, by draught-proofing your home, which can be done yourself, will make your air source heat system more effective.