Air Source Heat Pump Downside
Cost of air source heat pump
Before we get too deep into the research, it’s important to understand how much an air source heat pump costs. Like many heat pumps, they can be a bit expensive to buy and install. For a typical pump, you’ll need to consider a price range of £8,000 to £16,000, while more advanced models can cost up to £20,000.
When it comes to running costs, these tend to vary depending on factors such as the size of your home, as well as the amount of insulation you have. Insulation is an important factor in determining the cost and overall efficiency of your system.
The main disadvantages of air source heat pumps are as follows:
1. The heat supply is lower compared to oil and gas boilers, so larger radiators may be required
Generally speaking, if the radiators are double-walled and the pipes are 15mm (rather than microporous), then a CH system may not require much modification.
2. They work better with underfloor heating or air heating, and are more efficient with larger radiators
3. They take quite a while to heat up
4. Heat pumps are designed to be on most of the time, creating ambient temperatures. Therefore, starting a heat pump from cold will take longer to heat a house than a standard combustion boiler.
5. If you have a gas mains, an air source heat pump may not reduce your heating bills.
6. Although air source heat pump systems are 4 times more efficient than gas boilers, gas is 4 times cheaper per unit, so the potential savings from switching from a modern gas boiler to an air source heat pump may not be that great.
7. If there is no solar or wind power, they require electricity to run. As mentioned above, electricity is expensive. Be sure to understand the running costs when considering installing an ASHP.
8. You need a highly insulated home to get high energy savings.
9. Heat pumps are designed for modern buildings, and while there are now high temperature heat pumps, you will generally need to improve the energy efficiency of your home to make the heat pump work effectively.
10. Makes noise like an air conditioner when running Some ASHP systems are noisier than others, and there are now "low noise" systems that make almost no noise.
11. Need to run continuously in winter, which will increase your running costs.
12. Less efficient in winter due to lower coefficient of performance (COP) levels.
13. The cost of installing an air source heat pump is usually between £7,000 and £13,000, and even with the government's boiler upgrade scheme grant of £7,500, the upfront cost of an air source heat pump is higher than less environmentally friendly alternatives.
14. In order to get a high return on savings on the purchase and use of an air source heat pump, it is important to have a well-insulated house.
Want to know more?
Are you interested in air source heat pumps? If you would like to know more, please contact us. Leomon is a professional air source heat pump manufacturer, and our heat pump experts will give you the best advice.
