With the rising popularity of renewable energy sources and the drive to meet net zero targets, heat pumps have become one of the most effective alternatives to fossil fuels. They could significantly reduce your utility bills and with schemes such as the Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) you could qualify for £7,500 off your upfront costs.
What is a heat pump?
In simple terms, a heat pump is a device that transfers heat from one source location (soil, water or air) to another location, such as the radiators in your home. They run on electricity and are up to 300% more efficient than a traditional boiler as the amount of heat produced is much higher than the energy consumed.
Air source heat pumps use the principles of vapour compression to generate heat. They use outdoor air to produce heat for your home. Air source heat pumps consist of 4 major elements that allow the refrigerant to pass from the liquid form to gas: a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator.
When the refrigerant passes through the system, it absorbs the heat from the outside air. Then, the compressor increases the heat by increasing the pressure. In the condenser, this higher temperature heat is transferred to the heating and hot-water circuits of your home. After that, the medium temperature liquid flows into the expansion valve where upon the release of pressure, its temperature also drops. Finally, the now cooled down liquid is returned to absorb more heat from the air and repeat the process.
ASHPs can be used for heating water for domestic use, radiators, and underfloor heating. Such systems are called air-to-water heat pumps. If suddenly a large amount of hot water is needed, they are also equipped with an electrical resistance heating element that would supply additional heated water (at a lower efficiency rate, though).
Alternatively, air source systems can be used for heating and cooling the indoors air using air-to-air heat pumps. These work similarly to an air conditioning unit but can both heat and cool the house efficiently, adding tot he list of benefits of air-to-air systems.
Things to consider
Government Incentive Schemes
An important factor to consider when evaluating the cost of an ASHP installation is the amount you can save on installation costs. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a government backed incentive that could give you £7,500 towards the cost. There is also the option to pay for the remainder of your installation costs on finance with easy to manage monthly payments.
Warranty periods of Heat Pumps
Most heat pump systems will come with a warranty period with options to extend this. Heat pump warranties can be anything from 2-5 years and are dependent on the manufacturer.
Planning Permissions for Heat Pumps
Many heat pump installations have no need for planning permissions. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, if you live in a conservation area or a listed building you may be need planning consent. It is always worth checking. Our team of expert consultants will help you with any questions you have.
How long will my heat pump last?
A heat pump’s lifespan is approximately 20-25 years which is far longer than traditional gas boilers or other comparable home heating systems.