Our Complete Guide To Air Source Heat Pumps

Interested in learning about how upgrading your old heating system can benefit you? Stick around, and we’ll walk you through the different types of heat pumps, how they work, what they cost, and the potential savings you can expect from a heat pump installation.

Proven!

Heat pumps use the tried and tested principle of a refrigerant cycle (like your fridge at home) to heat your home.

Carbon Zero!

Cost-effective, renewable, and a low maintenance alternative to combustion systems like your gas boiler.

Funds Available!

The boiler upgrade scheme, backed by the government, gives homeowners £7,500 off the installation cost.

Cut Your Gas Bill!

By replacing your system you could save thousands on your energy bills and will reduce your carbon footprint.

How Does A Heat Pump Work?

So, how exactly do heat pumps work? It’s often described as fridge but in reverse, for the most part that isn’t far off as it uses the same principles of a refrigerant cycle.

A heat pump works by extracting what heat is outside and transferring it into your home. An air source heat pump takes heat from the air outside, while a ground source heat pump absorbs warmth from the ground. 

They use a chemical substance known as a refrigerant in them. What heat, or energy, they’ve managed to extract from the outside is transferred to the refrigerant. The heat pump then squeezes (“compresses”) the refrigerant to increase it’s temperature. Once hot enough it transfers this heat to water flowing through your home.

Air source heat pumps are renowned for their high efficiency which can be as high as 400% compared to a conventional boiler. This means for every 1 unit of energy used they produce up to 4 times more, helping you enjoy optimal heating and save on your heating bill at the same time. 

Are heat pumps worth it?

Yes, heat pumps are worth it! One of the main benefits of installing a heat pump is that they offer savings on your yearly energy bills and as they are designed to last you can expect to see savings for many years to come.

Air source heat pumps run on electricity, and all indicators point to gas prices rising and electricity falling. As this happens you will see even bigger savings by making the switch.

Heat pumps are also worth it because of their reduced impact on the environment. They are 3-4 times more efficient than traditional heating or cooling systems, meaning that they produce fewer carbon emissions than a gas boiler and an air conditioning unit. 

Household

Size

Heat

Pump

Estimated

Cost

2 Bedroom

5kW

£5,000+

3 – 4 Bed

9 – 12kW

£6,500+

5+ Beds

14kW

£8,000+

The Costs

The cost of an air source heat pump can vary wildly depending on multiple factors

  • The grants you are eligible for
  • The size of the heat pump your home requires
  • The level of work needed to upgrade your current heating system
  • How many radiators need changing in your home

Installing an air source heat pump typically costs you between £5,000 and £9,000 after the grant.

Grants Available

Your contribution to install an air source heat pump is a significant investment for most people. The good news is there are several grants available to help those who wish to make the switch.

boiler upgrade scheme

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives homeowners who have never had a renewable heating system installed before £7,500 off the cost of installation.

ECO4

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) gives opportunity to those on lower incomes to receive larger funding.

0% VAT

Renewable technologies like air source heat pumps and solar panels also currently have no VAT charge associated with them.

System Design Matters!

The most important part about a heat pump installation is the design process. If an efficient low temperature heating system is designed incorrectly due to design incompetence or the information they’ve received from the home survey being incorrect, it can have a detrimental impact on performance and cost. To get your air source heat pump running efficiently it can cost thousands to put right. There is no going back once you’ve agreed on a system design with your installer.

At Your Energy your home’s bespoke heat loss survey and heat pump design are carried out by our specialist team in-house as a result of us relying so much on information gathered and being calculated correctly.

Design Temperature

We allow you to choose the temperature you wish to achieve in the house. By doing this in every single room we are ensuring you are warm even in the coldest of winters.

Our standard is 20°c, all year round.

Maintaining a steady, ambient temperature throughout your home can feel much warmer compared to running your boiler at higher temperatures for just a few hours at a time.

Flow Temperature

This is the temperature going through your home to radiators and/or underfloor heating.

Practicality must be considered;
The lower the flow temperature, the larger the radiators but by the same token also means the greater the system efficiency.

We find that a design temperature of 45 degrees is the ‘sweet spot’ where a compromise has been made between system efficiency/cost/practicality.

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