Air source heat pumps are changing the way people heat their homes in the United Kingdom. These heat pumps take the heat present in the air outside and use it to warm the water and the internal temperature. People in the UK are gradually prioritizing air source heat pumps due to their less polluting and manageable nature.
In the following guide, we will thoroughly discuss how air source heat pumps work, how they are installed, and what their benefits are. We will also share the grants provided by the UK government for heat pumps and how you can qualify for the offer.
What is an air source heat pump?
An air source heat pump is an air-based heating solution that promotes an eco-friendly approach while keeping your home warm. Even when it's minus 15 degrees outside, it still efficiently extracts the heat and provides hot water for your house. This heat pump works on electricity, unlike typical gas or oil boilers, which include combustion.
Because it doesn't include combustion and directly uses electricity, it doesn't release greenhouse gas (CO₂). This less carbon-emission approach increases its value and accessibility. Due to this, there was a 25% increase in MCS-certified air source heating system installations last year.
How does an air source heat pump work?
An air-source heat pump works like a refrigerant but in reverse. It doesn't keep the things inside cool, but takes outside heat and uses it to heat your home.
The refrigerant liquid inside the heating system takes heat from outside air, gets compressed, and turns into a gas. This gas transfers its heat through your central heating system, causing the water inside your home to increase its temperature. After that, the gas cools down and again transforms into a liquid to get ready to repeat the cycle.
Here's a clearer picture of how an air-source heat pump boiler actually works:
- Taking heat from outside to evaporate: The Air-source heat pump has a chemical liquid filled in it. This liquid takes heat from outside by using fans that blow outside air directly on the heat exchanger. This heat converts the liquid into gas through evaporation. This gas has low pressure and low temperature.
- Compressing the gas: The cooling gas is compressed using electricity via a compressor. This compressed gas now has a high temperature and pressure.
- Converting back to liquid through condensation: The gas reaches another heat exchanger, where it loses its heat energy through condensation. This heat energy flows through your underfloor heating systems and hot water cylinder to provide them with heat. The gas has now converted into a cool, but high-pressure, liquid again.
- Expansion: The liquid expands and gets cooler to extract the outer air inside the heat exchanger. This cycle goes on, and the outside air continues to make your house environment hot.
How can you install an air-source heat pump?
A properly installed Air-source heat pump allows you to save money on bills and cut down your energy consumption. To get a trusted, effective, and affordable Air-source heat pump installation, you can contact us. Fixsavvy can assist you throughout the process, including solar connection and grant application. Here's how our installation process makes an air source heating pump a complete success:
Beginning with a detailed assessment:
If you give us the privilege to install the heat pump at your place, then our qualified retrofit worker will visit your place. He will monitor the existing heating system, location, and size of your home to come up with a suitable installation suggestion for your home. After assessing the installation place properly, he will suggest to you the best installer for your house heating needs so that you only pay for what you need.
Installation
Select and get a heat pump, and our MCS-certified installer will come to your place with all the necessary tools in hand. He will quickly install the Air-source heat pump according to the UK standards.
Testing and guiding
Once the installation process is done, we perform reliable testing to check the functionality and security of the electricity connection. We then guide you through the controls of the heat pump to make it easy for you.
Post-installation assistance:
We don't leave you after installing the heat pump. We remain focused on resolving any issues that you face unexpectedly. We will help you figure out the problems and provide you with quick solutions.
That's how we help you get a secure, hassle-free, and compliant-to-standard installation of an air source radiator.
What grants are available for air source heating pump installation?
Although the initial air source heat pump cost is a little high, with the help of government grants, you can get a chance to qualify for significant financial aid in the UK. The boiler upgrade scheme offers approximately £7,500 in grants for air-source heat pumps that can be supplied to you directly or through accounts. As a professional home solution company, we can assist you in qualifying for and getting government grants. We will tell you the eligibility criteria to apply for air source grants and try our best to help you take advantage of this opportunity.
Is it possible to receive a free air source heat pump?
The ECO4 scheme allows the needy and poorly efficient homes to get air-source heat pumps at a high cost margin. If you are a patient or allergic to the existing heating system, the ECO4 scheme can also sometimes offer complete relaxation on heat pump installation. It requires you to be eligible based on a defined criterion, about which you can ask your installer.
Air-source heat pump benefits
Air source heat pumps are three to four times more efficient than typical boilers. Because they transport heat directly into the house rather than converting it to combustion. Here are a few of the primary benefits of air-source heat pumps:
- Very easy to maintain: These air heat pumps are relatively more controllable and manageable as they are based on electricity. There's no need to perform combustion first to heat your home.
- Reduce Energy Bills: Apart from the initial cost, the air pump allows you to save money on your electricity bills. Having such an efficient heating system will reduce energy and heat loss, which results in less energy consumption. This way, it prevents you from paying high bills.
- Advanced motor and compressor design: The air source heating system is the embodiment of modernism and comes with advanced technology. Such improved infrastructure helps it to heat the house efficiently as compared to other boilers.
- Compatible with solar panels: Some models of air source heating pumps can be connected to solar energy, providing you with a renewable energy source. This makes it more beneficial.
- Highly Efficient: These heat pumps give you enhanced energy efficiency of up to 300 to 500% more than typical oil or gas boilers, which have a limit of 90% efficiency.
These are some prominent yet effective benefits of using Air-source heat pumps. You can discover more if you install one in your home.
Conclusion
Installing an Air-source heat pump gives you the relief of using an efficient and low-carbon-emitting heating system. The idea behind this heating system is to utilize external air to generate heat without combustion. Getting an Air-source heat pump through grants can even make this upgrade easier and more helpful. Get your Air-source heat pump to heat your home efficiently.
FAQs
How does a heat pump with an air source work?
Utilizing heat from the environment, an Air-source heat pump warms the house and its inside water.
Do air-source heat pumps work in the UK in winter?
Usually, it is said that an Air-source heat pump can endure temperatures of minus 15. But to prevent the worst situation, we should buy a high-quality Air-source heat pump.
What is the British standard for air source heat pumps?
It should endure up to -7 degrees.
Where is the best place to put an air source heat pump?
The places where the exchange of air is facilitated don't pose any safety issues for residents.