Air source heat pumps – benefits, costs and fuel savings

Producing your own renewable energy at home is becoming essential, so find out how you can heat your home and cut your fuel bills with an air source heat pump.

An air source heat pump could save
you as much as £700 a year

There has been a steady increase in demand for renewable technology in the last ten years and although solar panels have become popular, an easier to install and perhaps more efficient solution is an air source heat pump. Find out why you should consider installing one here.

What are air source heat pumps?

Air source heat pumps work by extracting warmth from the atmosphere to provide heat and hot water for your home. They provide clean, renewable energy, are easy to install and can work in reverse as an air conditioning unit in the summer. Tim Bartlett, Managing Director of Eco Hometec Ltd in Doncaster says: “I think that air source heat pumps will become the next big trend in renewable technology for the UK, like it has done in France.”

According to the Heat Pump Association, there are two types of air source heat pump: air to water pumps which produce warm water and air to air pumps which are the most common kind and circulate hot air through indoor fans. Air source heat pumps work better with underfloor heating then with traditional radiators. Mark O’Brien, from Terra Therma in Essex says: “Heat pumps are optimised and most efficient when heating water to around 35 degrees C, which is perfect for underfloor heating.”

Is an air source heat pump suitable for your home?

Air source heat pumps are easy to install

Heat pump installer Tim says: “Air source heat pumps are more accessible then ground or water source pumps, which you need a lot of land for.” In fact air source heat pumps are suitable for most properties as they are usually about the size of a fridge and fit neatly outside your home. At the moment you need planning permission to install an air source heat pump, especially if you live in a listed building.

Heat pumps, like a conventional boiler, will run most efficiently if the property is well insulated to minimise heat loss. So make sure your loft and walls are insulated and draught proof your home before you install a heat pump.

Benefits of air source heat pumps

Pumps are energy efficient – the efficiency of air source heat pumps is measured by a coefficient of performance (CoP), which tells you how much heat the pump produces compared to how much energy is used to run it. “Air source pumps produce two and a half times the electricity they take to run (2.5 CoP),” says Tim. This means you will spend less money on powering the heat pump electrically; you could even use solar PV to power the pump, making it entirely carbon neutral.

Air source pumps provide clean,
renewable heat for your home

Can cut your fuel bills – according to the Energy Saving Trust (EST), a typical air source heat pump for a detached home where it provides all the heating and half of the hot water can save £700 a year if replacing electric heating, £50 for gas and £460 for solid fuel heating.

Will reduce your carbon footprint – an air source heat pump can save 5 tonnes of CO2 a year if replacing electric heating and 4.6 tonnes for solid fuel heating.

Are easy to install – “Air source heat pumps are the easiest type of renewable to install,” says Tim. The system is fitted simply to the back of your home.

Require no maintenance – the EST point out that air source heat pumps are very low maintenance and should last 20 plus years.

Can cool as well as heat – “People are really interested in air source heat pumps for cooling right now,” says Viki Beaney, from ACS Air Conditioning Services in Surrey. Air con models like the Daikin Altherma allow you to make use of your air source heat pump in summer as well as winter.

Renewable Heat Incentive

Starting in April 2011, you could even earn money with an air source heat pump under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). It is expected that the scheme will provide annual grants based on how much renewable heat is generated per year. The RHI is similar to the feed-in tariff scheme launched this April which gives cash back for renewable electricity generated by things like solar panels.

Cost of air source heat pumps

According to the EST, a typical air source heat pump for a detached home would cost from around £5,000 to £9,000 including installation. Be sure to get at least three quotes for the work and be careful to hire a reputable tradesman. There is no legal installer network at the moment but you can hire someone who is registered with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme to be safe.

AB