Air Source Heat Pump Drawbacks

The air source heat pump and the heating system powered by it have many commendable points. Air source heating systems can reduce your energy bills and carbon footprint because they greatly reduce your dependence on fossil fuels.

Although they can provide you with heating and hot water like ordinary gas boilers, their cost is also lower than most other renewable heating systems.

However, the choice of air source heating system also has some shortcomings, and these shortcomings are often ignored by some people who are keen on all positive factors. But our point is that when people make such a huge investment, they need to have all the facts.

With this in mind, this article will delve into the shortcomings of air source heat pumps and provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision.

Maintain

Usually, you will find that the warranty period of the heat pump is about two to three years. You can also get a workmanship warranty, through programs such as QANW (Quality Assurance National Warranty), which tends to last up to ten years. You can also choose to extend the warranty period, which is a feature provided by many manufacturers for free. Generally, these can be extended for up to 20 years, but they require regular maintenance. This usually includes an annual inspection performed by you, followed by a detailed inspection by a professional installer every three to five years.

Your installer should leave you with clear written details and indicate any maintenance inspections that you need to perform at any given point during your ownership. This will ensure that things run smoothly and consistently throughout their entire life cycle. Before you decide to buy a heat pump, you should always discuss the exact maintenance requirements with your supplier. You will most likely be asked to check items such as air intake grilles and evaporators every year to make sure they are free of leaves and debris. You also need to remove all the plants that started growing there.

Your installer may take steps to suggest that you check the central heating pressure gauge in your home from time to time. If this is the case, you should be shown how to do this, so make sure that your installer is done. This is to prevent the heat pump from freezing in winter using antifreeze. When the installer comes to your home to repair the pump, it will take time to check the antifreeze concentration level. If your heat pump has external refrigeration pipes (very uncommon), they will require annual service from refrigeration engineers.

The cost of air source heat pump

It is important to understand the cost of air source heat pumps before over-involving. Like many heat pumps, they can be a bit expensive to purchase and install. For a typical pump, you see prices ranging from £7,000 to £11,000, while more advanced models can cost as much as £20,000. When it comes to operating costs, these tend to vary depending on factors such as the size of the house and the amount of insulation. When it comes to the cost and overall efficiency of the system, the latter is an essential aspect.

Disadvantages of air source heat pump

The main disadvantages associated with air source heat pumps are listed below:

1. Compared with oil and gas boilers, the heat supply is lower, so a larger radiator is needed

2. They perform better under floor heating or warm air heating, and work more efficiently when used in conjunction with a larger radiator

3. They may take quite a long time to heat up, making your home very cold in the morning

4. If you live on a gas main, air source heat pump is not the best choice

5. If there is no solar or wind energy, they need electricity to supply power

6. You need a highly insulated house to get high energy-saving benefits

7. Noisy like an air conditioner when running

8. It needs to run continuously in winter, the noise will become louder and the cost will be higher

9. Due to the low level of coefficient of performance (COP), the winter efficiency is low

10. The cost of installing an air source heat pump is usually between £3,000-£11,000

11. In order to obtain a high return on the savings in the purchase and use of air source heat pumps, it is very important to have a well-insulated house, especially the attic. This ensures that the heat generated in the home will not be lost

Generalize

There are many advantages to using an air source heat pump to heat your home. But there are some disadvantages that can be ignored.

The main disadvantage is the upfront cost. Although it is cheaper than other environmentally friendly heating systems, the cost of air source heating systems is still much higher than that of gas or LPG boilers.

Do you have an air source heating system? What are the main disadvantages you found? For other readers who are considering buying, do you have any tips or suggestions? User feedback is always helpful to our readers and us, so please share your thoughts with us.