Air source heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular with homeowners and businesses looking to lower their fuel bills and decrease their carbon footprint. As a renewable energy source, air source heat pumps can provide cheap, efficient heating for homes and businesses with a fraction of the carbon expenditure of gas heating systems.
What is an air source heat pump?
An air source heat pump is a type of heating system that works by transferring heat between the outdoor air and the indoor air of a building. An outdoor unit that contains a compressor and a heat exchanger will heat air which is then distributed through the building via an indoor unit.
The air source heat pump works by absorbing heat from the outdoor air and transferring it indoors to heat the building as required. This process is accomplished using a refrigerant that flows through the system and changes the state from a gas to a liquid and back again, releasing heat in the process.
Compared to traditional heating systems that use electricity or burn fossil fuels to generate heat, air source heat pumps are highly efficient and can provide significant energy savings over time.
What are the advantages of an air source heat pump?
An air source heat pump has a range of advantages over other forms of home heating. They are highly energy-efficient forms of heating and provide significant energy savings compared to heating systems that use electricity or fossil fuels. Over time, these savings can be substantial, more than offsetting the initial cost of installation.
Air source heat pumps are also highly environmentally friendly when compared to traditional fossil fuel-reliant heating systems. They use electricity to transfer heat from the outdoor air to heat the indoor air, rather than burning fossil fuels that produce greenhouse gas emissions.
How efficient are air source heat systems?
The efficiency of an air source heat pump depends on several factors, including the outdoor temperature, the size and insulation of the building, and the efficiency of the heat pump itself.
In the UK, air source heat pumps are most effective when outdoor temperatures remain above freezing. In colder temperatures, the heat pump may need to work harder to extract heat from the outdoor air, which can reduce its efficiency and potentially increase energy costs. However, modern air source heat pumps have improved in efficiency in recent years and can still provide heating even in colder temperatures.
To ensure the most effective use of an air source heat pump it’s important to ensure that your building is well-insulated and a correct size heat pump is installed. Regular maintenance and cleaning of the heat pump can help to ensure its ongoing performance.
Is an air source heat pump right for me?
Deciding whether an air source heat pump is right for you depends on several factors, including your location, building size and insulation, heating needs, and budget. Although the costs of installing an air source heat pump may initially be higher than other forms of boiler, the energy savings over time can be considerable.
If you have any questions about air source heating systems the knowledgeable team at Stourflex is always happy to help. We currently supply JP1001 rubber support feet which are designed to support air source heat pumps, pipe work and cable tray. They are made from environmentally friendly recycled rubber materials and comply with the EU ROHS standard. You can buy them here.
Contact us today to find out more.