Air Source Heat Pumps
Air source heat pumps are a proven, low-cost alternative to gas and electric heating systems. They are also a great way to reduce carbon emissions in the home, helping you save on your energy bills and your home’s impact on climate change.
During the heating season, air source heat pumps use outdoor air to absorb and transfer thermal energy. During the cooling season, the same outdoor air is used to extract and reject heat.
Energy Efficiency
An air source heat pump is an energy-efficient way to keep your home warm and comfortable without relying on fossil fuels. When professionally right-sized to your building, they can cut heating and cooling bills dramatically after installation. They also offer year-round seasonal comfort with improved temperature controls.
An air-source heat pump works by extracting heat from the outside atmosphere and transferring that heat into your home. It can be used for space heating or water heating (hot water heating, radiators or underfloor heating).
Depending on the model, an air source heat pump can extract and release a lot of heat in a short period of time. A heat pump system typically consists of two main parts: an indoor coil and an outdoor condenser and evaporator unit.
The indoor coil, which is located in the room where the unit is installed, contains a heat exchanger coil. The ambient air flows across this coil, which heats the refrigerant to a gas state.
A refrigerant then moves to the outdoor condenser, where it is subjected to pressure. It becomes a hotter gas, which is then transferred into the ductwork.
In ducted installations, the ductwork distributes this heated or cooled air to your house’s occupied spaces via fans. Alternatively, a ground-source heat pump uses a ground-heat exchanger to absorb thermal energy from the earth.
It is important to understand that a heat pump’s efficiency varies significantly depending on the temperature of the outdoor and indoor units. As this temperature decreases, the heat pump’s ability to transfer heat is reduced, and supplementary heating may be required.
As a result, it is imperative to select the right size air-source heat pump for your home’s climate and heating load. The sizing process should consider your location and objectives, such as maximizing annual energy savings or dispensing with an existing heating system during certain periods of the year.
To help you with this sizing process, NRCan has developed an air-source heat pump sizing and selection guide that is freely available online. It provides a tool to help energy advisors and mechanical designers choose an appropriate system based on local climate and heating and cooling loads.
Low Carbon Heating
An air source heat pump takes the heat from the ground or air around a building and uses an electric compressor to extract it, warming your home and making it more comfortable. Unlike gas or oil boilers, which burn fossil fuels and emit carbon into the atmosphere, heat pumps are a clean heating technology that is low on emissions.
They’re a key part of achieving Net Zero, which means they help to cut global carbon emissions and meet the air source heat pump UK’s climate change goals. They can also save you money on your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint.
These systems can be installed in new builds and existing homes, and are cheaper to run than gas boilers or central heating. They’re also available in a range of sizes, so you can find one to suit your needs.
Heat pumps are popular because they can reduce carbon emissions and increase the efficiency of your home’s heating system. They’re a key part of the UK government’s heat and buildings strategy, which aims to make heating in new homes more environmentally friendly.
If you’re considering installing a heat pump, you could be eligible for a PS5,000 grant through the government Boiler Upgrade Scheme. These grants are not means tested and apply to all homes.
The energy savings associated with a heat pump are huge, and can make a big difference to your home’s energy costs. In addition, they can also cut your greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
However, you should bear in mind that switching to a heat pump can be expensive. Fortunately, there are government grants for low carbon heating systems, which you can apply for with the help of your installer.
Another type of renewable heating solution is micro-CHP (combined heat and power) systems. These can generate electricity and heat simultaneously, but they still use gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
While it may be expensive to install an air source heat pump in your home, it’s likely that you will be able to save on your heating bills and reduce your carbon emissions. This will be especially true if you’re on a time-of-use tariff, which allows you to pay less for your energy overnight (typically 12pm-7am).
Low Maintenance
Air source heat pumps require little upkeep and will typically last for more than 20 years. However, there are some maintenance tasks that should be conducted by a professional. These include cleaning the indoor coils and changing out the filters, as well as checking for system leaks and refrigerant levels.
While this type of heating and cooling system has its limitations, such as the noise it can make when running, it is an excellent option for homeowners who want to reduce their carbon footprint without breaking the bank. In fact, according to our calculations, the typical air source heat pump owner could cut their CO2 emissions by 44% per year, compared to using an oil boiler or gas heating system.
It is also a great choice for anyone looking to increase their insulation, and can help prevent cold spots in your home. It also has the potential to save you money in the long run as it uses up less electricity than traditional central heating systems.
Unlike a conventional air conditioning unit, this type of system works by pulling heat out of the outdoors and transferring it to your home via a pair of condensers. The outdoor unit also features a compressor, which helps to compress and circulate the refrigerant fluid that transports the heat from the coils to your house.
The indoor unit, on the other hand, looks and operates like a small air conditioner, with an aluminum fin and coil to release or collect heat. This device hooks up to ductwork and has a blower that helps circulate the heated or cooled air throughout your home.
This system can be a bit of a technical task to perform on your own, so it’s best to call in the professionals. A qualified technician will be able to check for any problems, such as system leaks and low refrigerant levels. They will also be able to clean the coils, remove any leaves or dust that may have built up and change the filters on your heat pump.
Reduced Noise
All heating products make noise, but heat pumps are typically much quieter than boilers powered by fossil fuel. A ground source heat pump produces noise levels of up to 42 decibels, whereas an air source heat pump can reach 40 to 60 dB depending on the manufacturer and how it is installed.
Noise can be a real nuisance for residents living nearby, and it can often make people uncomfortable or even depressed. If the problem is severe, a complaint can be made to the local environmental health department.
Luckily, modern heat pumps can be controlled air source heat pump to minimize their noise level at certain times of the day or when temperatures are mild outside. For instance, many units have schedules for silent mode operation with reduced fan speeds that can be used at night without losing efficiency.
In addition, heat pumps can have their defrost cycles paused at night to reduce the noise and energy consumption. This is particularly helpful in insulated buildings.
Another way to reduce noise from a heat pump is by installing an enclosure that can block sound and improve its performance. This is a simple and effective solution that can be easily installed in a variety of locations.
When choosing a heat pump, look for one with an ENERGY STAR label. This is an indication of a more efficient unit that will cut energy costs significantly.
You should also choose a unit with a demand-defrost control. This will ensure that your air source heat pump doesn’t constantly cycle on to defrost when the weather is warm, thereby reducing energy use and making it more environmentally friendly.
Finally, you can consider purchasing a sound reduction wrap to lower the noise level of the compressor. This will help to reduce the noise level and improve your overall comfort.
While the sound from an air source heat pump is a little higher than what you might hear in your own home, this is a very minor issue for most people. However, if you notice a significant amount of noise from your system or you live near a noisy neighbour, this may be a sign that it is time for an upgrade.