If you’re committed to adopting a more environmentally conscious lifestyle or seeking alternative methods to heat your home, air source heat pumps could be the viable ECO Friendly option you have been looking for. In the United Kingdom, Air Source Heat Pumps are among the various types of heat pumps available. In this Article we aim to provide you with a GOOD understanding of Air Source Heat Pumps, their functionality, advantages, and drawbacks.
What Are Air Source Heat Pumps?
Air source heat pumps, often abbreviated as ASHP. Innovative systems based on same technology as air conditioning systems designed to extract heat Energy from the outside air and transfer it into your home. This extracted heat is then compressed and utilized to warm your central heating system. Two primary types of ASHP systems exist: air-to-water and air-to-air.
Air-to-Water: This system generates hot water for your radiators, showers, underfloor heating, and other water-dependent appliances.
Air-to-Air: In this setup, heat is directly conveyed into your home through a fan or air conditioning system.
Moreover, air source heat pumps come in two configurations: monobloc and split systems. A monobloc system incorporates all components, except the hot water cylinder.
In a single unit placed outside the home. Conversely, a split system has an external unit housing the heat exchanger and refrigerant, along with an internal unit typically located in a utility or boiler room.
How Do Air Source Heat Pumps Work ?
Similar to a refrigerator, air source heat pumps utilize electricity to absorb the heat energy from the surrounding air and convert it into heat for your home. The process can be broken down into several steps:
Air is drawn into the heat pump, where a heat exchanger and refrigerant work in tandem to absorb heat from the air. This heat raises the temperature of the refrigerant, transforming it from a liquid to a gas.
The compressed gas is then transferred to the air or water intended for heating, effectively warming it. This heated air or water is distributed throughout your home, providing warmth and hot water.
Once sufficient heat has been transferred, the refrigerant condenses back into a liquid, ready to restart the cycle.
The Pros and Cons of Air Source Heat Pumps.
Considering whether to invest in air source heat pumps requires an evaluation of their advantages and disadvantages.
The Pros:
Environmentally-Friendly Heating: Air source heat pumps reduce your carbon footprint by harnessing renewable outside air, as opposed to fossil fuels.
Energy Cost Savings: They can lead to reduced energy bills, especially with rising costs of traditional energy sources.
Government Funding: The UK government offers a Boiler Upgrade Scheme, providing £7500 towards ASHP installation costs.
Heating and Cooling Capability: Some models of ASHPs (not all of them) can serve as both heating and cooling systems, offering year-round comfort.
No Fuel Tanks Required: Unlike systems relying on fuel tanks, ASHPs solely depend on outside Air & Electricity, eliminating the need for storage (this relates to if you have an oil boiler).
The Cons:
High Installation Costs: ASHPs are more expensive to install compared to traditional gas Boilers, making them financially challenging for some homeowners.
Lower Heat Output: They may not produce as much heat as gas or oil boilers, potentially they in most cases they will require additional or larger radiators and pipework upgrades.
Effective Insulation Needed: Proper insulation is crucial to maximize ASHP efficiency, as poor insulation can result in higher energy consumption.
Reduced Efficiency in Low Temperatures: ASHPs can lose efficiency in sub-zero temperatures, Thus sometimes necessitating supplementary heating methods.
Noise Levels: Some ASHPs can be noisy, though efforts are underway to minimize this issue.
Home Adaptation Required: Adapting existing UK homes for ASHP installation can be complex, involving plumbing changes and adequate space for equipment.
Is It Worth Getting an Air Source Heat Pump?
Before installing an ASHP, consider several factors:
Cost: Evaluate the total costs involved, considering potential government grants and savings on energy bills.
Insulation: Ensure your home is well-insulated to maximize ASHP performance.
Size: Determine if the ASHP can provide adequate heating and hot water for your home’s size.
Space: Assess whether your property has sufficient space for ASHP unit installation.
How Can the Boiler Upgrade Scheme Assist with ASHP Funding?
Air Source Heat Pump Grant?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) offers grants and funding to help 90,000 UK homes install environmentally friendly devices. Property owners can apply for a £7500 grant to cover the installation of an air source heat pump. If you aim to reduce your carbon footprint and save on energy costs, consider utilizing this valuable service.
Conclusion.
An air source heat pump can be a significant investment, but its benefits, including reduced environmental impact and potential cost savings, make it a viable option for many homeowners. Careful consideration of costs, insulation, home size, and available space is essential when deciding whether an ASHP is the right choice for your home’s heating needs. Additionally, government programs like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme can help make the transition to ASHPs more accessible for UK residents seeking to reduce their carbon emissions and energy expenses.
for an indepth guide on heat pumps please go here.
https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/in-depth-guide-to-heat-pumps/
My Personal Thoughts.
Personally, I think air source heat pumps are a great piece of technology.
The main stumbling blocks I see are these points listed below.
The big one is cost how many do you know can afford the cost of a new which on average is around £20000 before grants and even if you do qualify for a grant of £7500 through, the government BUS scheme. How many people do you that can afford £12500 to fit a new heating system.
Bad design and set up
The main area where ASHP’s get a bad name is because they have been poorly designed for the house they are intended or the installer hasn’t set up or commissioned the system.
The criteria for installing ASHP’S as an installer.
I personally won’t be installing heat pumps even though I am qualified I passed all my exams in November 2023.
There are overwhelming barriers for small businesses to install them to be able to qualify for the Grants available.
I’m Talking about the MCS accreditation System.
The amount of paperwork involved is absolutely ridiculous for small businesses to be able to accommodate. There is typically 2/3 days worth of paperwork per installation
I feel as if this is done on purpose to keep the price of ASHP’s artificially high.
In turn this will exclude small businesses.
If the government want more gas engineers and small plumbing and heating businesses switching over to installing heat pumps. It would be a good idea to remove the barriers involved to fitting heat pump as a small business.
Please take a look at some of my other blogs
https://bradfordboilercompany.co.uk/replacing-an-old-inefficient-combi-boiler/
https://bradfordboilercompany.co.uk/20-top-tips-for-saving-money-on-your-gas-and-electric-bills/
