Air Source Heat Pumps Cost
What is an air source heat pump?
Air source heat pump is a renewable energy technology that takes heat
from the outside air (even when it freezes) and uses it to heat the home. You
can use other heat pumps to use the heat in the ground and in the water to do
the same thing, but air source heat pumps are suitable for a wider range of
properties. Since the air (or ground or water) is heated by the sun, the energy
produced by the heat pump is still classified as "renewable". Even if
the pump itself is driven by electricity, the electricity may or may not have
renewable energy.
Types of air source heat pumps:
There are two types of air source heat pumps. Air-to-water systems are
more common. They heat water and then circulate around the home through a
radiator or underfloor heating system. They can also be used to heat water in
water storage tanks in bathrooms or kitchens. Air-to-air systems usually use
fans to circulate hot air around the home and cannot be used to heat water.
How does the air source heat pump work?
Air source heat pumps use the same type of technology to keep your
refrigerator cool, but the opposite. Liquid refrigerant with a very low boiling
point is pumped into the circuit between the two heat exchangers. This
refrigerant absorbs heat from the outside ambient air temperature and becomes a
gas when it rises. This gas is then compressed back into the liquid, thereby
further increasing its temperature. The warm refrigerant then passes through the
heat exchanger, transferring the heat to a separate body of water to circulate
around the central heating system. In the final stage, the liquid refrigerant
reduces the pressure and temperature through the expansion valve, and then the
cycle repeats.
The coefficient of performance (COP) is why heat pumps are a useful
technology: if you put 1 kWh of energy into the system, you will get more than
1 kWh of heat energy. Generally, the maximum CoP of a heat pump is 3 to 4,
which means that for 1 kWh of electricity, you will get 3 to 4 kWh of heat. The
actual ratio of "electricity input" to "heat output" will
change throughout the year.
How much is the installation cost of the heat pump system?
A rough estimate is that the cost of installing a ductless air source
heat pump is between USD 3,500 and USD 5,000 per indoor unit. The cost of a
central heat pump system is between US$12,000 and US$20,000. Depending on where
you live and the type of air source heat pump technology you install, there may
be tax credits and tax rebates to reduce your upfront costs. Local installers
will be able to provide more information about available rewards.
1. Factors that determine the cost of air source heat pumps
The total installation cost of the heat pump system depends on the system
type (central and ductless), system size, equipment quality, installation
complexity, other services included, and any additional features you might want
to add.
2. System size
Your installation cost will depend on the size of the area you want to
heat and cool. For ductless systems, the higher cost is due to the use of more
internal headers and the possible use of equipment that produces a higher level
of BTU per unit. For example, if your project is a small project that focuses
on simply heating and cooling several rooms with ductless devices, the size of
the entire system will be very low and the cost will be very low. If you plan
to use ductless appliances to heat and cool your entire home, you need a larger
system. For central systems, the size of the total living space for heating and
cooling of the system is usually the main driver of project costs.
3. Equipment quality
Any home technology upgrade will have a range of equipment to choose
from. Some equipment is at the low end of the quality level (sometimes referred
to as "contractor level"). This may be driven by the efficiency of
the system and the reputation of the manufacturer. Heat pumps have several
levels associated with them to indicate product quality, including heating
seasonal coefficient of performance (HSPF), seasonal energy efficiency rating
(SEER) and sound level.
The heat pump HSPF evaluates its ability to effectively heat the area,
while SEER evaluates the cooling efficiency. The sound level of an air-source
heat pump is just a way of indicating how much noise it produces during
operation. Generally speaking, devices with higher ratings in these areas will
cost more.
4. Installation complexity
Installing a ductless system in each living space poses a challenge for
installers because they need to determine where to place internal and external
units, and route wiring through the house to connect these units. Sometimes, it
is easy to enter the attic or crawl space to run the line, but sometimes a more
complicated installation process is required. The work on the second and third
floors may also require the use of special equipment, which may increase costs.
As mentioned above, the cost of central systems usually does not change
much because they are only integrated with existing distribution systems. In
other words, if any adjustments to the piping system are required, the cost may
increase significantly.
5. Other services and upgrades
The installer will usually include dismantling and disposing of existing
equipment. For those who change the oil heating system, some installers may
include removing and disposing of the fuel tank, but others will charge extra
for this. This can cost 500 to 1,000 US dollars and can be a good investment
because it can be difficult to sell a house that contains unused fuel tanks
because it is technically hazardous waste.
The central system has many bells and whistles that you can choose to
include, such as humidifiers and air filtration systems. The humidifier is
connected to your water supply system to ensure that the humidity level of your
home matches your preferences. This is especially valuable in winter. The air
filtration system can include a thicker filter element or can use ultraviolet
light to purify the air. All these additional features come at a price, and the
extra cost for each feature is usually between $250 and $1,000.
6. System type: pipeline and no pipeline
The cost of your air source heat pump system will depend on the type of
air source heat pump you install and whether the system is ducted or ductless.
Piping (or central) systems tend to be more expensive, but the cost is
more standardized, because the installer only needs to replace the old air
handling device that has been connected to the existing piping system with an
air source heat pump. If you don't have a plumbing system in your home,
installing a complete plumbing network in your home will add significant
additional costs (US$15,000 to US$30,000). However, if you don't want to pay
extra, or you just want to provide supplementary heating to a smaller area of
your home, you can always choose to install a ductless heat pump system.
If you want to install a single ductless air source heat pump, then it
will be cheaper than a piping system. However, an indoor ductless air source
heat pump is not enough to heat or cool your entire home. If you wish to use
this technology as your only source of heating and cooling, the cost of the
entire ductless system will vary greatly because the number of internal and
external units required will vary according to the unique characteristics of
your home. These The unit must be installed in the entire home in every area
you want to heat or cool, so the overall cost can be significant, from a
single-story ranch house to a three-story townhouse.
Should you install a ducted or ductless air source heat pump?
The type of air source heat pump you should buy for your home depends on
your goals and the layout of your home. If you have an existing plumbing system
and want to heat or cool the entire house, then the plumbing system may make
sense. Or, if you don’t have an existing plumbing system, or just want to
provide supplemental heating and cooling for a small part of your home, the
ductless air source heat pump will do the job.
Advantages and disadvantages-is the air source heat pump worth buying?
The way the air source heat pump extracts heat from thin air looks
almost magical. This does not mean that they must be a panacea for all your
heating needs.
Heat pump advantages
The advantages of having ASHP are based on energy efficiency and
sustainability:
1. Reduce energy costs in most cases, especially if it comes from
electricity or storage heating.
2. Improving energy efficiency means that air source heat pumps lead to
fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Heat pumps are driven by electricity, which means they can operate
entirely on renewable energy sources such as solar, tidal, biomass and
geothermal energy.
4. Heat pumps may be eligible for renewable thermal incentive payments.
5. Even in extremely cold conditions, some models can still generate
heat.
6. They are suitable for space heating and hot water applications.
7. Easier to install than ground source pumps, ground source pumps need
to dig out a considerable garden or yard.
What are the disadvantages of heat pumps?
The disadvantages of owning a heat pump mainly focus on the perceived
convenience and setup cost:
1. Although they don’t need space like their ground-source cousins, they
still need outdoor space—about as much as air conditioning.
2. Compared with oil or gas boilers, their heat output is lower. A
larger heat sink may be required.
3. It requires under-floor or warm air heating to make full use of the
heat pump.
4. Houses with poor thermal insulation will not benefit from heat pumps.
5. At present, due to the cost of electricity, heat pumps are not as
cost-effective as natural gas heating methods.
Our conclusion is: Is a heat pump a good idea?
We believe that air source heat pumps are the ideal heating and hot
water choice for most new houses. They are also a good choice for those who
have well-insulated old houses and are looking for energy saving and
sustainable upgrades, providing them with savings and green peace of mind.
For rural or remote households who are trapped between rocks and hard places when choosing liquefied petroleum gas, petroleum, or expensive electric heating, AHSP is a true alternative that can be easily installed and maintained.
