We have a vastly experience team in all areas of heating and heat management and are experts in designing and integrating heat pumps and underfloor heating. We know what it takes to provide you with an efficient system that effectively heats a home, whilst also keeping running costs low.
We can provide the perfect heating package, tailored to each home.
We project manage the entire process from design to installation through testing for complete customer satisfaction and complete peace of mind.
Air source heat pumps use the same type of technology that keeps your fridge cold, but in reverse. A liquid refrigerant that has a very low boiling point is pumped on a loop between two heat exchangers. This refrigerant takes on heat energy from the outside ambient air temperature and turns into a gas as it warms up. This gas is then compressed back into a liquid, which increases its temperature further. The warm refrigerant then goes through a heat exchanger, which transfers the warmth to a separate body of air circulating around a room or water for circulating round the central heating system. During the final stage the liquid refrigerant goes through an expansion valve reducing the pressure and temperature and the cycle repeats.
Coefficient of Performance or COP is why heat pumps are a useful technology: if you put 1kWh of energy into a system you will get more than 1kWh of heat energy out. Typically, a heat pump has a maximum CoP of 2 or 3, meaning for 1kWh of electricity you will get 2 or 3 kWh’s of heat, in some cases it can be even more.
By making the switch to heat pump technology, not only will you be reducing your carbon emissions and doing your bit for the planet – you’ll also enjoy a warm home AND save money! Heat pumps operate almost silently and with their sleek, modern design, they perfect fit for the modern home.
Heat pumps provide an alternative way of heating our homes, offering us the chance to cut down on our carbon footprint and also reduce our energy bills. The two most widely used types of heat pump are air-source (or ‘air-to-water’) and ground-source (or ‘geothermal’) heat pumps.
What all heat pumps have in common is that they extract heat from natural sources, such as the air or the ground, which they then use to provide hot water and central heating to our homes.
Unlike boilers, heat pumps are most often located outside our homes, with many fixed on an external wall or placed securely on the ground outside a property.
Heat pumps absorb warmth from sources of heat including the air, ground and bodies of water. They do this by transferring the heat to a liquid (called a ‘refrigerant’), which circulates through a looped system of pipes. As it heats up it becomes a gas and the Heat pump systems then use a compressor which heats this gas up by increasing its pressure.
The hot gas then transfers its heat to the water in your system through a heat exchanger, it’s then able to provide the heating we need in our homes, for our radiators, hot water and other domestic heating like underfloor heating.
What’s an air source heat pump system?
The biggest advantage of installing a heat pump is that it’s much more energy efficient than traditional central heating systems, even modern condensing gas boilers. This means they will have a positive impact on both your carbon footprint and your energy bills.
Heat pumps are designed to run efficiently all year round and are well equipped to run in cold temperatures. Some heat pumps can continue working in outside temperatures of -20°C and will run defrosting cycles in very cold weather to make sure they continue working properly.
Choosing the right heat pump depends on how much space is available in your garden. An air-source heat pump is easier to install and simply needs space outside your house for an outdoor unit, either mounted on a wall or positioned safely on the ground.
A ground-source heat pump requires piping to be buried in the earth and you’ll need enough space to accommodate it, which will ultimately depend on the size of your garden. Ground-source heat pumps can be more efficient, which means they could be a better choice for larger homes EG 6 BEDROOMS PLUS.
The average lifespan of a heat pump is roughly 15 years, which is around the same length of time as a modern gas boiler. Newer heat pump models may actually continue to work efficiently for even longer and could possibly last up to 25 years.
By keeping your heat pump well maintained you will help it work more efficiently and last longer, so it’s always worth taking good care of it, which can include annual checks from qualified engineers.
It’s recommended that you have your heat pump serviced at least once a year by a heating engineer to make sure it’s running efficiently. It will also mean the system is checked for problems, so any issues can be discovered and fixed quickly before they get worse.
Finding problems with your heat pump early can help prevent them from causing larger issues that could be more expensive to fix further down the line.
Heat pumps will most likely work with the radiators you currently have in your home (there may be a need to increase the size of your current radiators), and a heat pump engineer will be able to help you understand whether any changes are necessary. Heat pumps also work very efficiently with under floor heating, which could be another option for your property.
If the outside of your heat pump unit needs cleaning, turn off the power to the appliance before wiping it down with a non-abrasive cloth and warm water. If you notice a build up of leaves or debris around the outdoor unit, you can carefully brush them away.
If you think there’s a technical problem with your heat pump unit you should never try to clean it out or fix it yourself. By having your heat pump serviced at least once annually by a qualified engineer, you can make sure that any potential issues are spotted and resolved quickly.
The size of the heat pump you’ll need for your property depends on factors including how large your home is and the size of its radiators. If the heat pump is too small it won’t provide the amount of heat you need, while if it’s too large that could also cause issues.
An oversized heat pump can ‘short cycle’, which means it will keep switching on and off in a short space of time and use far more energy than it should. Contact one of our qualified engineers or installers to help you find out which size heat pump is the best option for your property.
Heat pumps don’t need a flue because they don’t burn gas to create heat like boilers do, which is the process that creates waste gases. Heat pumps work very differently from gas boilers, using naturally occurring heat energy to provide our central heating, meaning a flue is not required.
Heat pumps are often located outdoors and are very effective at absorbing heat from the ground or the air, even when the weather outside is cloudy and dull. In fact, air-source heat pumps can absorb enough warmth to heat our homes in temperatures as low as -20 °C.
The experts at the Energy Saving Trust say air-source heat pumps are “an energy efficient method of heating your home” as they use renewable heat from all around us. The amount of heat that they provide is greater than the amount of electricity that is used to power them.
Heat pumps do use electricity as part of the process of providing us with domestic heating and hot water, but you can make them even more environmentally friendly by using an energy provider that offers 100% renewable power.
Heat pumps are likely to be used in many new build homes going forward, with new homes built after 2025 not being able to use a gas boiler as their primary source of heat (this is due to legislation set out by the UK government to help the country reach its target of lowering CO2 emissions).
However, heat pumps can provide an energy-efficient heating option for existing homes too. Get in touch with Scottish Air Source to find out whether a heat pump would be the right choice for your home.
Heat pumps do use some electricity as part of the process of creating heat for hot water and domestic heating. However, they can provide far more heat per unit of electricity than traditional appliances such as boilers, as they use heat from natural sources.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, the cost of installing a typical heat pump system will be between £9,000 – £11,000. However, this is an average and the typical install cost for a 3-4 bedroom detached house is more likely to be around £14,000.
Heat pumps are much more energy efficient than gas boilers, so it’s likely that switching to this method of central heating will actually save you money on your utility bills in the long run.
The amount of time it takes to install an air-source heat pump will generally be between one and three days, depending on factors including the size of the property.
As there is no need to burn any kind of fossil fuel, no naked flame, no need for an oil storage tank or cylinders of highly flammable gas to fuel your heating then you can see that the safety argument for installing an Air Source Heat Pump is very strong indeed. According to Energy Saving Trust, air source and ground source heat pumps are the safest form of heating available.
This is one of the most common myths you’re likely to hear about air source heat pumps.
Today’s heat pumps are no longer the big, bulky and noisy pieces of equipment they were when they first came onto the market. Modern heat pumps are compact, energy efficient and make about as much noise as your refrigerator.
The noise you hear is from the pump’s fan pulling air into the system – if yours is installed correctly by a certified installer, you shouldn’t be able to hear the sound indoors.
From 1 December 2011 the installation of an air source heat pump on domestic premises is considered to be permitted development, not needing an application for planning permission, provided ALL the limits and conditions listed below are met.
These permitted development rights apply to the installation, alteration or replacement of an air source heat pump on a house or block of flats, or within the curtilage (garden or grounds) of a house or block of flats, including on a building within that curtilage. A block of flats must consist wholly of flats (e.g. should not also contain commercial premises).
As there is no need to burn any kind of fossil fuel, no naked flame, no need for an oil storage tank or cylinders of highly flammable gas to fuel your heating then you can see that the safety argument for installing an Air Source Heat Pump is very strong indeed. According to Energy Saving Trust, air source and ground source heat pumps are the safest form of heating available.
Air source heat pumps work well with radiators and underfloor heating to heat your rooms but they can also be used to heat your all your domestic hot water requirements.
An air source heat pump can extract heat from the ambient air even at a lower temperature, down to -20°C. An air-to-water heat pump can generate 40°C heat when outside temperatures are as low as -20°C.
Installing an air source heat pump can take as little as two days. They typically don’t require planning permission either. It’s also an ideal option for both retrofits and new build homes.
Servicing and maintenance should be done by a qualified technician annually, which will ensure optimal performance of your heat pump. This includes cleaning filters, checking for system leaks, checking refrigerant levels, clearing leaves and dust from your heat pump etc. In addition to the annual service, to help your heat pump operate effectively, you must keep the air intake clear of any debris, leaves, foliage, etc.
Air source heat pumps have a long lifespan, and with proper maintenance, they can be operational for up to 20 years. What’s more, is that air source heat pumps come with a standard 5-year warranty.
Air source heat pumps are powered by electricity, but this only accounts for 25% of their energy use, the remaining 75% is provided by renewable energy sources. Unlike many more traditional forms of heating used to heat both your home and water, there is no gas or fossil fuel burning involved. This is excellent news for the environment because it means a significant carbon emission saving can be made. To give a better idea of just how efficient air source heat pumps really are; for every single unit of electricity that the pump uses, 3 to 4 units of heat are produced in the average set up.
One of the most significant benefits to the consumer of changing to an Air Source Heat Pump is, of course, the saving that can be made on energy bills. This type of pump works by using the air outside the home in order to warm the water pipes, producing both hot water and heating – the system works regardless of what the temperature is outside the home. You might be worried that this type of system will not work to heat your home during the colder winter months, but in fact, it can continue to extract air even when outside temperatures are as low as -15°C. Air source heat pumps use air in order to help heat your home and water. This renewable source is readily available, and better still, it is free.
No fuel storage is needed with air source heat pumps, because the fuel used is the outside air. Not relying on fuel such as oil or LPG means you can say goodbye to the cost of those fuels and the additional fees for fuel deliveries.
This system also works a little differently to more conventional forms of heating, maintaining your entire home at a more comfortable ambient temperature throughout. This will also help to reduce your bills.
Air Source Heat Pumps are renewable heating units that are fitted in place outside your property and offer a number of benefits to the consumer.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
