Why Install an Air Source Heat Pump
Energy from a renewable source
Air source heat pumps extract thermal energy (heat) from the outside air and convert this into heating and hot water for your home. Air source heat pumps are designed to work in cold temperatures and are suitable for a range of homes, from a small apartment to a large detached home. Air source heat pumps do require electricity to operate, but 75% of the energy required is generated from the outside air, with only 25% being required from electricity. This means that 75% of the energy you use will be from a renewable source, which will reduce your emissions and CO2 impact.
Air source heat pumps will be installed outside your property and are very quiet during operation.
Benefits of using a Heat Pump
Here are some of the many advantages of using an air source heat pump.
Is an air source heat pump suitable for my property?
Here are a few things to consider when looking into an air source heat pump system for your property.
Do you have an outside space for the heat pump to be installed?
Apartments often have air source heat pumps installed on a structurally supporting balcony, or outside wall if this is permitted – it is best to speak to us first to ensure that this option is possible.
Is your home well insulated?
Generating heating and hot water sustainably is only beneficial if you have improved the efficiency of your home. Each property is unique, but it is important to understand what other measures can be done to reduce heat being lost in your home. Looking at loft insulation and whether you have double glazing windows will be a good start, but consult us for further guidance on what is feasible for your home.
Are you looking to replace a heating system?
Or for new build homes, is this the first heating system to be installed? Replacing an ageing heating system will deliver faster benefits due to the improvements in efficiency. However, for new build homes, it is worth discussing with us on how your heat pump system will work throughout your home – this includes choosing underfloor heating or radiators, as well as suitable controls to operate it.
An air source heat pump is a low-carbon way of heating your home
They absorb heat from a cooler place and use it to increase the temperature inside your home. Air source heat pumps look similar to air-conditioning units. Their size depends on how much heat they’ll need to generate for your home – the more heat, the bigger the heat pump.
The main cost of a heat pump is the upfront cost for buying and installing it. The pump will use a small amount of electricity, but the running costs are minimal. Exactly how much your heat pump costs to run depends on: the temperature you want your home to be, the size of your home and how well-insulated your home is.
The payback time (how long it takes to recoup the cost of the system in energy savings) depends on: how efficiently your system works (including how well the heat is dispersed and your home retains it), the type of heating system you’re replacing.
Are air source heat pumps efficient?
An air source heat pump system can help to lower your carbon footprint as it uses a renewable, natural source of heat – air. How much CO2 you’ll save depends on the fuel you are replacing. For example, the figure will be higher if you are replacing coal or an oil boiler rather than natural gas. A heat pump needs a power source, usually electricity, to power the heat pump, so there will still be some resulting CO2 emissions. To get the best from your heat pump, you’ll need to know how to use it most effectively. Often you’ll need to set your heating to come on for longer than with a traditional system. We will show you how to control and look after your heat pump system, although we do advice to have your heat pump serviced every year.
Example of air source heat pump savings on a modern four-bedroom house
Energy prices vary, and our homes and energy use differ too. So it’s hard to give an exact figure for how much money you could save in a year. But, based on some industry-wide figures, we’ve put together this example.
£874 in gas per year
A modern four-bedroom house might need about 19,000kWh of heat per year (although this will vary). This would cost around £874 in gas (90% efficient gas cost of 7.2kWh multiplied by 19,000kWh).
28p per kWh
Using an air source heat pump and electricity priced at 28p per kWh the cost would be almost identical (28p/kWh divided by coefficient of performance of 3.5, multiplied by 19,000kWh).
Save 25%
If you did only half of your heating overnight – using the cheap-rate electricity – you could save 25%, which is about £215– calculated at 2.3p/kWh based on our GoElectric tariff. You save 25% because it’s half the cost of gas for half of the time.
Hot water savings
The savings increase when you consider hot water. On average, a four-person household uses about 160 litres a day. This requires about another 2,800kWh per year (4.2xlitresxtemp difference)/3,600. For 160 litres heated from 10-50 degrees that gives 7.5kWh per day.). Using a 90% efficient gas boiler that’s a saving of £129. If you got all your hot water from an air source heat pump powered by cheap-rate electricity, you might only pay £65. It’s 4.6p/kWh (90% efficient gas) vs 2.3p/kWh (GoElectric tariff).
Environmental benefits
Here are some environmental benefits of using an air source heat pump.
