Air Source Heat Pump Definition

What is an air source heat pump?

Even when it's cold outside, a heat pump can extract thermal energy from the air or ground and use it to warm your home.

A well-designed heat pump system transfers approximately three to four times as much energy as heat into a property, which is then used to extract the heat. As a result, heat pumps are very efficient and have the potential to significantly reduce fuel bills, especially in properties where mains gas is not available.

1. Ideal for off-grid properties

2. Use energy stored in the air or underground to provide heating and hot water

3. More energy is produced than used

4. Eligible for Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payments to offset MCS-compliant installation costs

How does an air source heat pump work?

An air source heat pump works much like a refrigerator running in reverse to heat your home. Here's how it works:

1. Outside air is blown through a network of pipes filled with refrigerant. This causes the refrigerant to heat up and change from liquid to gas.

2. This gas goes through a compressor, which increases the pressure. Compression also adds more heat - similar to how an air hose heats up when you inflate a tire.

3. The compressed hot gas enters the heat exchanger surrounded by cold air or water. The refrigerant transfers its heat to this cold air or water, making it warmer. This circulates in your home to provide heating and hot water. At the same time, the refrigerant condenses back to the cold liquid and starts the cycle again!

Using an Air Source Heat Pump at Home

Air source heat pumps can be used to heat your home and water. Here are some things to consider.

1. Use an air source heat pump for heating

Heat pumps work best when the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures is small. Just like your refrigerator has to work harder on a hot day.

This makes them ideal for underfloor heating systems. Floors cover a much larger area than radiators, so they don't need to get as hot to provide the same amount of heat.

The output of an air source heat pump is also lower than that of a gas or oil boiler. This means they can't transfer heat quickly. Instead, they are best used to slowly heat your home over an extended period of time.

2. Air source heat pumps and radiators

If you have radiators in your home and you are switching from a gas heating system to an air source heat pump, you may want to buy some larger radiators to keep your house warm.

3. Use an air source heat pump to provide hot water

A heat pump can also be a good source of hot water - but the water will be cooler than a boiler. In practice, this means that if you're taking a shower, you'll need more hot water than water from a cold tap. Therefore, you may also need a larger hot water tank for your needs.

Advantages and disadvantages of air source heat pump

Advantages of air source heat pump

1. Efficient heat source and hot water

2. Zero carbon if used with renewable tariffs

3. Can closely match the running costs of other home heating systems

4. Installation costs are offset by renewable heat incentive payments

5. Low maintenance cost and long service life

6. Some systems can provide cooling in summer

Disadvantages of Air Source Heat Pumps

1. Lower output temperature compared to traditional boilers - you may need to update insulation and invest in larger radiators

2. May work best in older homes as part of a hybrid system with a traditional boiler

3. Requires outdoor space and can be noisy

4. The installation cost is high, and the effect is best when used with the water tank

5. Not working efficiently in extremely cold weather

Types of Air Source Heat Pumps

There are two main types of air source heat pumps, "air to air" and "air to water". Most air source heat pump units in the UK are of the so called "air to water" type.

1. "Air to Water" Air Source Heat Pump

Most air source heat pump units are of the so-called "air to water" type. In these systems, heat is transferred to conventional "wet" heating systems. This setup provides you with hot water and central heating.

2. "Air-to-air" source heat pump

Air source heat pumps are "air to air". And, as their name suggests, they transfer heat into the air, which is distributed around the house. However, they do not provide hot water.

There is also a hybrid air source heat pump, which can often be combined with an existing central heating system and boiler. In these hybrid air source heat pump systems, the heat pump provides the "base load" for daily heating and hot water. The boiler only burns to provide more hot water. Or a quick reheat when it's extra cold.

Heat pump cost

In a well-insulated property, each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity used to power a heat pump can provide about three to four kWh of "free" thermal energy. This means that heat pumps can be around 400% efficient—much higher than boilers, which typically run at around 92%.

In addition to reducing operating costs, the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) also provides quarterly tariff payments to help eligible households offset the cost of their renewable energy installations.

How much is an air source heat pump?

You can expect a high quality and well-designed air source heat pump system to cost from £5,000. This includes:

1. Bespoke design tailored to the property

2. Installation diagram

3. Lifetime technical support

4.MCS supports successful application for RHI

5. Brass utensils for ASHP, domestic hot water tank, buffer tank, circulating pump and all connecting parts

The initial cost of installing an air source heating system can be offset by applying for government incentives such as the Renewable Heat Incentive.

How much does an air source heat pump cost to run?

A properly designed ASHP system can offer low running costs comparable to mains gas, so you can heat your home in a more environmentally friendly way that is also cost-effective in the long run.

How much does it cost to maintain the ASHP?

Like most heat sources, air source heat pumps should be serviced annually by a qualified heating engineer.

The service will mainly consist of a visual inspection to check that the settings have not been changed and that the heat pump is still working efficiently.

Maintaining your ASHP annually is also a requirement for RHI duty payments.

You can expect an air source heat pump service to cost around £200 a year.

Air Source Heat Pump Grant

The government recognizes that ASHP plays an important role in reducing household carbon emissions. That's why the air source heat pump subsidy is included in the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

To help offset installation costs, the electricity price for the RHI air source heat pump subsidy is set at 7.3p/kWh. The exact amount of ASHP assistance for seven years depends on the amount of energy the home uses.

A typical home using around 20,000 kWh of heating needs per year can receive payments of around £7,000 over a seven-year period - a substantial amount when compared to saving on energy bills.

Visit https://www.chinaheatpumps.com/ to learn more about ASHP.