Air source heat pumps are becoming an increasingly popular means of sustainably heating your home. The UK government is recognising how much the air source heat pumps will help both with becoming carbon neutral and with the energy cost crisis and rise of fuel poverty.
What Is An Air Source Heat Pump?
Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) is an alternative to a gas boiler, particularly useful if you are off the gas grid and burning fuel to heat your home such as coal, oil, LPG canisters or wood. They are becoming more popular because they have been found to be a far more sustainable way of heating homes. They do not generate energy but transfer heat from one source to another.
In 2020, the UK government set the goal of installing up to 600,000 heat pumps per year up until 2028. This was set to cut emissions from homes. Heat pumps tend to have a high efficiency rate compared to other heating systems. This could revolutionise the way we heat our homes in the UK.
Our Energy Saving Club calculator lets you check in less than 60 seconds if you are eligible for a free heat pump that is fully paid by the UK government under the ECO4 scheme.
Complete the questions below to check now.
What To Be Aware Of Before Installing A ASHP
- For a heat pump system to be efficient you should first invest in insulating your home. This actively keeps the heat generated within the house.
- If you are getting your heat pump via a government grant, insulation is usually included as part of the package – Free Heating Scheme
- Make sure to have a survey done so that you can install the right size heat pump for your home. Installing an oversized heat pump will result in higher running costs than necessary, while installing an undersized one may not adequately heat your house.
- It is important to know that it works differently to a traditional gas boiler. Ask your installer for training on how best to use it to heat your home.
- The fully installed cost of an air source pump can range from £7,000 to £13,000. The cost is high because it requires the services of a fully trained engineer to complete the work. However, the government acknowledges the benefits of heat pumps and has established grants to assist with free installations..
How Do ASHPs Work?
Air source heat pumps work by absorbing heat that is present in the air outside. From taking this heat, the pump can transfer it to any kind of indoor heating, from radiators to underfloor heating to hot water.
The Process of ASHPs:
- ASHPs absorb heat from the outside air.
- They utilise a refrigerant fluid that a closed-loop system pumps through.
- The system compresses the fluid to increase its temperature.
- The system directs the warm refrigerant through an outdoor heat exchanger to absorb heat from the outside air.
- The system circulates the hot refrigerant through an indoor heat exchanger to release its heat and warm up the indoor space.
- The cooled refrigerant flows back outside and the process repeats.
- Air source heat pumps can also work in reverse to provide cooling during hot weather.
The Benefits Of ASHPs
- The biggest benefit that homeowners find from ASHPs is that they lower their energy bills, especially if you are using them to replace using wood, heating oil, coal or LPG and other alternative fuel sources for heating purposes.
- Users of heat pumps can receive compensation for their usage through the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive.
- Unlike fossil fuel heating systems, heat pumps lower the carbon emissions of your home.
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