Air Source Heat Pumps: Everything You Need to Know

Heat pumps are becoming the future of heating sources for homes. Especially with the current living crisis and what feels like forever rising energy bills, cost efficiency is key as well as looking after the environment. One type of heat pumps are air source heat pumps (ASHPs). Warmaway are excited to give you our in-depth guide so you can find out everything you need to know about air source heat pumps.

What are Air Source Heat Pumps?

Air source heat pumps are low carbon heating systems that are used as a replacement for the traditional gas boilers commonly known and fitted in homes.

They are a more efficient, environmentally friendly, renewable heating system and work all year round even through those freezing winter nights.

Installation of ASHP:

With Warmaway, installation can take just 2 days.

Through the installation process you can choose to keep your current heating system. However, ASHPs can be built into your current heating systems. Alternatively, they can be built through your electric heating systems offering adaptability to suit your current systems.

For more general information around air source heat pumps and Warmaway’s installation process, you can read about our air source heat pump installation process.

How do air source heat pumps work?

In simple terms – air source heat pumps transfer heat and air from outside into water to generate heat and hot water for your home.

Here is the process:

1. Air from outside your home is absorbed through a liquid refringent. This is an air compressor which works in the reverse way of a refrigerator.
2. Through this, air and heat are compressed. Here, the pressure of the air is increased and as a result the air increases in temperature. This allows the temperature to be high enough to warm your home. See below for a visual understanding of this:
3. This generated heat is then sent to your underfloor heating or your radiators.
4. If there is any excess, this is stored in hot water cylinders which can be used for hot water through your showers/baths and taps.

Benefits of an Air source heat pump

Opting to transfer to air source heat pumps come with many benefits to accommodate you during the energy crisis:

1. Lowers energy bills and carbon emissions – more energy and cost efficient: Air source heat pumps generate up to 400% more heat energy than the electricity they consume in seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP). This means for every 1kWh of energy it uses, ASHPs generate up to 4kWh of heat. As a result, they are more energy efficient thus lowering your energy bills due to the reduction in fossil fuel or renewable energy it uses in comparison to a normal gas boiler.
2. Can be paired with renewable energy: Carbon emissions can be further lowered as ASHPs can be paired with your solar panels as well as other renewable energy sources. As a result, using less fossil fuel energy making it environmentally friendly and even more cost effective, especially when your solar panels use solar battery storage.
3. Provides all year: Due to ASHPs extracting air from outside, heat and hot water is generated all year round even during winter, when temperatures drop to as low as -15 o -20° See our blog on renewables in winter for further details. 
4. Long life span: Air source heat pumps have a whopping lifespan of 20-25 years, in comparison to gas heating systems with average life spans of only 10-15 years.
5. Government Grants: The government are now offering up to £5,000 grants through their boiler upgrade scheme. To check if you are eligible click here to apply. Furthermore, if you are changing ownership of your household heating, you can apply to the change of ownership application for a government grant.

Want to find out more? Learn about how heat pumps can be a more sustainable heating solution with being cost effective.

Air source heat pumps disadvantages

To make a well-rounded decision, we want to give you everything you need to know about ASHPs, including disadvantages. Here are things to consider if you decide to buy and install and air source heat pump:

1. Initial cost can be expensive depending on what your budget is. In terms of how much air source heat pumps cost when both buying and installing, they can range from £8,000 to £ 15,000. However, this initial cost will ensure long-term savings and, if you are eligible, you receive government funding to help cover these costs through the boiler upgrade scheme.

2. Changing seasons: There are changes through the bitter cold days where during the night there may be small temperature drops in your thermostat average temperature i.e., from 20/21°C to 18/19°C meaning it may feel cooler during the nights. This is because the air source heat pumps extract air from the outside which naturally will be colder through the winter nights. This results in the air source heat pump having to work harder or use more energy. However, ASHPs are still effective through the winter in providing heating from temperatures as cold as -15 to -20°.

For a more in-depth explanation on how this works contact and discuss with our engineers.

So how effective are Air source Heat Pumps?

As discussed through the benefits and drawbacks, air source heat pumps are very effective especially in the long run in terms of being cost effective, and environmentally friendly.

Here are a few ways to get the most out of your air source heat pump:

1. Ensure your home is fully insulated: This will make sure the heat generated in your home will keep your home warm for extended periods of time.
2. Keep your thermostat at a constant temperature: doing so at a recommended 18-21°C will ensure you are still reducing your electricity bills.
3. Water temperatures: the lower the temperature you are using for water, electricity usage will be more efficient.

Want to find out more?

If you have any further questions or queries around air source heat pumps in Yorkshire, please see our other blogs around for the most common heat pump questions answered and some of our most frequently asked questions around ASHPs for more information.

Alternatively, please feel free to contact us to speak to one of our engineers or to find out more on how we can provide our services as air source heat pump suppliers and air source heat pump installers for you.